Deuteronomy 26 doesn’t necessarily contain what we would think of as a “prayer.” However, the people of God were given specific things that they were to say to the priest and to “say before the LORD your God” (vss. 5, 13, NASB). While this is more of a confession/ declaration before the priests and before the LORD, it also is something that the speaker was saying with God as their audience. Therefore, it is at least very similar to a public prayer. Either way, there are some things that we can learn from this chapter about things to say before God, and we can apply that to our prayers today.
When the Israelites entered the promised land, they were commanded to take some of the first produce of the land and bring it to a place that God would choose. Then they were to give those first fruits to the priest as an offering before God, and declare that they have entered the land that God had promised to their forefathers. Then, they would speak “before the LORD” (vs. 5) and recount their history. Recount the years that their forefathers wandered and were multiplied by God. Remember the years that they were treated harshly by the Egyptians. They were to tell about the time that they cried out to the LORD and He heard their voice and saw their affliction and oppression. They were to recount the story of how God mightily brought about their redemption and salvation from Egypt and brought them to a place of blessings. Then they were to tell God, “Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD have given me” (vs. 10). And then they were to give the offering and worship the LORD, and they were to invite the Levite and the foreigners to join them as they “rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household” (vs. 11).
Today, when God blesses us abundantly, we should bring Him our very best and offer to Him our resources, abilities, time, effort, etc. We should use the blessings that He has given us for His glory. We can also go before God (and others) in prayer and declare “what great things the Lord has done for” us (Mark 5:19, NASB). In prayer, we can recount the times in the past when we have wandered like lost sheep, but God has blessed us abundantly. We can remember the times that we have suffered affliction at the hands of our oppressors. We can talk to God (and before others) about the times that we have cried out to God and how He heard our cry and saw our affliction. Then we can recount the stories of the times God has delivered us from our trials and redeemed us from the captivity of our sins. Then we can once again remember the way that God is currently blessing us, and commit ourselves and our “first fruits” to Him. And what a wonderful thought to invite others to join with us in worshipping our God and rejoicing in all the good which the LORD has given us.
Deuteronomy 26 also tells about the tithe that they were supposed to have in the third year, and how they were supposed to give some of that to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. Then they would say before God that they had done all that God had commanded them to do, without neglecting anything that He would have them do. Then they would ask God to continue blessing them in the future, as He had promised to do.
Today, we are also expected to give to the poor and to care for the widow, orphan, and immigrant (e.g. James 1:27; etc.). Are you also able to pray before God and tell Him how you have given to the poor, obeyed all of His commands, and not forgotten to do anything that He would have you do? Hopefully, we can pray that, but we must first live it. And then we can also pray for God to continue to bless us, and we can pray that on the basis of God’s promise to cause “all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NASB).