Does God listen to all prayers...?

Question

According to Isaiah 1 v 15 it says....

When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even if you offer many prayers,

I will not listen.

Your hands are full of blood;

So, if you are in a religion that condones war or bloodshed (of any kind) ... doesn't this mean that God doesn't listen to your prayers?

Your respectful thoughts please?

Answer 1

Mere details, dont let the facts get in the way of my hair brained religion.

Answer 2

15 And when ye (the evil children of Israel) spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Verse 3 is particularly poetic, for Isaiah uses four body parts to portray the evil acts and words of the people. Their hands are defiled with blood. (Compare Isa. 1:15.) Providing further detail in a parallel  expression, Isaiah states their fingers work iniquity. Not content with describing the instruments of their evil deeds, Isaiah rebukes their wicked speech in parallel stanzas about their lips and tongue.    

In this matter, as in many others, Isaiah, pronounced the message most clearly. In a great arraignment of Israel, preserved as the first chapter of the book of Isaiah, he charged the Israelites with rebellion against God; they were "laden with iniquity"; their children were "corrupters"; they had "gone away backward," learning and doing the abominations of the wicked instead of converting the wicked to the Lord's good way of life (see Isaiah 1:2-4). Their leaders were as the "rulers of Sodom," and the people following them were as the "people of Gomorrah"; therefore their sacrifices were "vain oblations"; their sabbaths, assemblies, feasts, and even their prayers were seen as hypocritical and unacceptable to God (see Isaiah 1:13-15). Yet even then, if they would wash (the familiar ritual of an outer washing symbolic of an inner cleansing), "cease to do evil," and "learn to do well," by doing good to and for others, then the Lord would be willing to "reason together" with them. Through repentance the miracle of forgiveness was still available, even though their "sins be as scarlet" and "red like crimson." They could still be blessed to "eat the good of the land." But if they refused to repent and rebelled further, they would "be devoured with the sword." And this message was not merely Isaiah's opinion, for, as he concluded, "the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (see Isaiah 1:16-20.)    

Answer 3

Sooner or later, God will listen to your insistent prayers

Be confident of this experienced fact!

Answer 4

I thought he did, but now I'm not so sure.

He took my mum away from me, she was not old enough to die, and was still a hard worker, with everything to live for.

Answer 5

God/Goddess are figment of imagination and they never listen to your prayers.

Answer 6

God hears everything so yes I do believe that He listens to all prayers, But God will not answer prayers that are not according to His plan and purpose.

People need to stop misquoting the scriptures they need to ask God for wisdom and knowledge and understanding of His words.  People are quick to point out 1 scripture without understanding the entire text.

Answer 7

Yes, he listens to all prayers but chooses to answer just a few.

Answer 8

Well I think the words are more about "practice what you preach", not literally about God deciding who to answer.

I see the phrase as describing spiritual hypocrisy.

Such as a minister touting war from a pulpit.  

Answer 9

God does not hear the prayers of the wicked.

He only hears the prayer of the righteous.

He only hears the prayer that He has inspired. Of ourselves we do not know how to pray.  

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

We can also learn to pray in the Spirit.

Nothing ouside of His righteousness or will is accepted.

The chapter you quote is also a description of the state and condition  all mankind, though the disobedience of the Jews as His called people was, as it were, in the frame.

How can a man be rightous before God?

What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

This is why the Jews were exiled and why they became disobedient to God, because they thought they could be righteous in their own works and strength which sorely failed them.

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone.

Still today they imagine that foolishness.

As if any could please the thrice holy and perfect God by their own righteousness!

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

They ignored and forgot that their father Abraham, the father of faith, was justified not because of his own righteousness - he came from a pagan, idol worshipping family that had departed from the truth - but because He believed the promises of God.

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

He believed in the Saviour that God promised.

So it is today.

Righteousness is obtained by believing God's promises that He will save and has done all to clothe us with His righteousness, which is God's own perfect righteousness.

Receiving God's own provision for us is what makes us righteous in His sight and calls forth the acceptable prayer.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

All these describe man's spiritual lack and bankruptcy before God and His remedy sought, given and received.

Only then can true prayer be made or offered.

Answer 10

He will only answer prayers that are in line with his plan.

Answer 11

of course God always hear our prayers..

But sometimes...he doesn't permit that all we pray will be granted

because sometimes it is not the will of God..

Answer 12

Yes, you are correct.  Although this verse was speaking to the Israelites, it is still true today.  God does not listen to the unrighteous.  If you sincerely seek him to repent, then he will listen to your prayers. But, you have to act on your repentance.  

Answer 13

Those who disregard God’s Word and law, shedding blood and practicing other wickedness, do not receive a favorable hearing from God; their prayers are “detestable” to him. (Pr 15:29)

Answer 14

only if you agree with war and bloodshed he wont  

Answer 15

there is no god that will listen to your prayers. Prayers are only any good if the person who is making them or knows that someone else is making then on their behalf really believes that those prayers will do some good.

Answer 16

No not exactly/it may seem that way but the verse is taken out of context/God is telling them that they are a rebellious people who try to make sacrifices and offerings to him but He does not care much for it/ the blood really shows how guilty and evil they are because of the sin in there lives/not really about war/

Answer 17

No he has this sort of "in-box"which when he has a minute he flips thru, getting rid of boring prayers and those spammy prayers like "can I have a new bike please god".

Answer 18

No..If he did my daughter would still be alive today..

Answer 19

yes, God hears and listens to all prayers. the bible verse refers to how if you've turned away from God and shunned Him from your life, sin continually and do not listen when he calls out to you to come to Him for guidance and to believe, your faith in in vain when you pray. if you are not praying whole-heartedly, God has no reason to give you what you've asked for. also, one must realize that some answers to prayers are 'no'.  

Answer 20

God denies to answer the prayers for those who Live in sin, Forsake God, Reject the call of God, who Are blood-shedders, who Are the enemies of saints, who Are proud, who Are hypocrites, who Are wavering, Are idolaters, who ask in wrong motives, who doesn’t live according to his commandments and law.

But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke. Proverbs 1:24-25

For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies,

and your tongue mutters wicked things. Isaiah 59:3

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; James 1:6-7

For what hope has the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? Does God listen to his cry when distress comes upon him? Job 27:8-9

You who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people's flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?" Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done. Micah 3:2-4

You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them to the LORD, but he did not answer. Psalm 18:40-41

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' Luke 18:11-12

Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. You have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.'

"Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress. Jeremiah 11:11-14

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13

If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. Proverbs 28:9

Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague. Jeremiah 14:12

You place defiled food on my altar. "But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' "By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty. "Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"-says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 1:7-9

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. John 9:31

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Answer 21

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God will answer your prayers immediately.  Sometimes you can wait years for the answer to your prayers.  God listens too all prayers, and sometimes he doesn't answer them because you are praying for something that you should not be praying for.  Imagine if everybody prayed to win the lottery and everybody did, how much money would you get from the lottery if everyone won.  Obviously we should not pray to win the lottery because the bible warns us against gambling but It was just an example.

This is just some info from e-sword:

Isa 1:15  

Ye spread forth your hands - This is an expression denoting the act of supplication. When we ask for help, we naturally stretch out our hands, as if to receive it. The expression therefore is equivalent to ‘when ye pray, or implore mercy.’ Compare Exo_9:29; Exo_17:11-12; 1Ki_8:22.

I will hide mine eyes ... - That is, I will not attend to, or regard your supplications. The Chaldee Paraphrase is, ‘When your priests expand their hands to pray for you.’

Your hands ... - This is given as a reason why he would not hear. The expression full of blood, denotes crime and guilt of a high order - as, in murder, the hands would be dripping in blood, and as the stain on the hands would be proof of guilt. It is probably a figurative expression, not meaning literally that they were murderers, but that they were given to rapine and injustice; to the oppression of the poor, the widow, etc. The sentiment is, that because they indulged in sin, and came, even in their prayers, with a determination still to indulge it, God would not hear them. The same sentiment is elsewhere expressed; Psa_66:18 : ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;’ Pro_28:9 : ‘He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination;’ Jer_16:10-12; Zec_7:11-12; Pro_1:28-29. This is the reason why the prayers of sinners are not heard - But the truth is abundantly taught in the Scriptures, that if sinners will forsake their sins, the greatness of their iniquity is no obstacle to forgiveness; Isa_1:18; Mat_11:28; Luk_16:11-24.

Isa 1:10-15  

Here, I. God calls to them (but calls in vain) to hear his word, Isa_1:10. 1. The title he gives them is very strange; You rulers of Sodom, and people of Gomorrah. This intimates what a righteous thing it would have been with God to make them like Sodom and Gomorrah in respect of ruin (Isa_1:9), because that had made themselves like Sodom and Gomorrah in respect of sin. The men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly (Gen_13:13), and so were the men of Judah. When the rulers were bad, no wonder the people were so. Vice overpowered virtue, for it had the rulers, the men of figure, on its side; and it out-polled it, for it had the people, the men of number, on its side. The streams being thus strong, no less a power than that of the Lord of hosts could secure a remnant, Isa_1:9. The rulers are boldly attacked here by the prophet as rulers of Sodom; for he knew not how to give flattering titles. The tradition of the Jews is that for this he was impeached long after, and put to death, as having cursed the gods and spoken evil of the ruler of his people. 2. His demand upon them is very reasonable: “Hear the word of the Lord, and give ear to the law of our God; attend to that which God has to say to you, and let his word be a law to you.” The following declaration of dislike to their sacrifices would be a kind of new law to them, though really it was but an explication of the old law; but special regard is to be had to it, as is required to the like, Psa_50:7, Psa_50:8. “Hear this, and tremble; hear it, and take warning.”

II. He justly refuses to hear their prayers and accept their services, their sacrifices and burnt-offerings, the fat and blood of them (Isa_1:11), their attendance in his courts (Isa_1:12), their oblations, their incense, and their solemn assemblies (Isa_1:13), their new moons and their appointed feasts (Isa_1:14), their devoutest addresses (Isa_1:15); they are all rejected, because their hands were full of blood. Now observe,

1. There are many who are strangers, nay, enemies, to the power of religion, and yet seem very zealous for the show and shadow and form of it. This sinful nation, this seed of evil-doers, these rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah, brought, not to the altars of false gods (they are not here charged with that), but to the altar of the God of Israel, sacrifices, a multitude of them, as many as the law required and rather more - not only peace-offerings, which they themselves had their share of, but burnt-offerings, which were wholly consumed to the honour of God; nor did they bring the torn, and lame, and sick, but fed beasts, and the fat of them, the best of the kind. They did not send others to offer their sacrifices for them, but came themselves to appear before God. They observed the instituted places (not in high places or groves, but in God's own courts), and the instituted time, the new moons, and sabbaths, and appointed feasts, none of which they omitted. Nay, it should seem, they called extraordinary assemblies, and held solemn meetings for religious worship, besides those that God had appointed. Yet this was not all: they applied to God, not only with their ceremonial observances, but with the exercises of devotion. They prayed, prayed often, made many prayers, thinking they should be heard for their much speaking; nay, they were fervent and importunate in prayer, they spread forth their hands as men in earnest. Now we should have thought these, and, no doubt, they thought themselves, a pious religious people; and yet they were far from being so, for (1.) Their hearts were empty of true devotion. They came to appear before God (Isa_1:12), to be seen before him (so the margin reads it); they rested in the outside of the duties; they looked no further than to be seen of men, and went no further than that which men see. (2.) Their hands were full of blood. They were guilty of murder, rapine, and oppression, under colour of law and justice. The people shed blood, and the rulers did not punish them for it; the rulers shed blood, and the people were aiding and abetting, as the elders of Jezreel were to Jezebel in shedding Naboth's blood. Malice is heart-murder in the account of God; he that hates his brother in his heart has, in effect, his hands full of blood.

2. When sinners are under the judgments of God they will more easily be brought to fly to their devotions than to forsake their sins and reform their lives. Their country was now desolate, and their cities were burnt (Isa_1:7), which awakened them to bring their sacrifices and offerings to God more constantly than they had done, as if they would bribe God Almighty to remove the punishment and give them leave to go on in the sin. When he slew them, then they sought him, Psa_78:34. Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, Isa_26:16. Many that will readily part with their sacrifices will not be persuaded to part with their sins.

3. The most pompous and costly devotions of wicked people, without a thorough reformation of the heart and life, are so far from being acceptable to God that really they are an abomination to him. It is here shown in a great variety of expressions that to obey is better than sacrifice; nay, that sacrifice, without obedience, is a jest, an affront and provocation to God. The comparative neglect which God here expresses of ceremonial observance was a tacit intimation of what they would come to at last, when they would all be done away by the death of Christ. What was now made little of would in due time be made nothing of. “Sacrifice and offering, and prayer made in the virtue of them, thou wouldest not; then said I, Lo, I come.” Their sacrifices are here represented,

(1.) As fruitless and insignificant; To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices? Isa_1:11. They are vain oblations, Isa_1:13. In vain do they worship me, Mat_15:9. Their attention to God's institutions was all lost labour, and served not to answer any good intention; for, [1.] It was not looked upon as any act of duty or obedience to God: Who has required these things at your hands? Isa_1:12. Not that God disowns his institutions, or refuses to stand by his own warrants; but in what they did they had not an eye to him that required it, nor indeed did he require it of those whose hands were full of blood and who continued impenitent. [2.] It did not recommend them to God's favour. He delighted not in the blood of their sacrifices, for he did not look upon himself as honoured by it. [3.] It would not obtain any relief for them. They pray, but God will not hear, because they regard iniquity (Psa_66:18); he will not deliver them, for, though they make many prayers, none of them come from an upright heart. All their religious service turned to no account to them. Nay,

(2.) As odious and offensive. God did not only not accept them, but he did detest and abhor them. “They are your sacrifices, they are none of mine; I am full of them, even surfeited with them.” He needed them not (Psa_50:10), did not desire them, had had enough of them, and more than enough. Their coming into his courts he calls treading them, or trampling upon them; their very attendance on his ordinances was construed into a contempt of them. Their incense, though ever so fragrant, was an abomination to him, for it was burnt in hypocrisy and with an ill design. Their solemn assemblies he could not away with, could not see them with any patience, nor bear the affront they gave him. The solemn meeting is iniquity; though the thing itself was not, yet, as they managed it, it became so. It is a vexation (so some read it), a provocation, to God, to have ordinances thus prostituted, not only by wicked people, but to wicked purposes: “My soul hates them; they are a troubl

Answer 22

The idea of a god is a bronze-age superstition that one would think reasonable people would have discarded by now.

Answer 23

Actually it helps when you include the whole thing. Not just pick out part of it to present.. He is talking to the Rulers of SODOM and Gomorrah.. Hmmmmm...  You know those folks who do things that are an abomination to him.. Not HIS kids.

Hear the word of Jehovah, rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, people of Gomorrah!

Isa 1:11  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith Jehovah. I am sated with burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and in the blood of bullocks, and of lambs, and of he-goats I take no pleasure.

Isa 1:12  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this from your hand--to tread my courts?

Isa 1:13  Bring no more vain oblations! Incense is an abomination unto me, --new moon and sabbath, the calling of convocations--wickedness and the solemn meeting I cannot bear.

Isa 1:14  Your new moons and your set feasts my soul hateth: they are a burden to me; I am wearied of bearing them .

Isa 1:15  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Answer 24

if he does he's been blanking me for years

Answer 25

i was told that he listened to everyone of them, but I think he's goes deaf when he hears mine

Answer 26

Interesting I have never heard that before...maybe it means it you lift your hands in revenge 'God' will not listen...

Answer 27

Interesting, its the earl part of an event hich occurred with the children of judah. it's a testimony an example of his chosen peoples sin for us to see God and there response, much of th Old testament is like this.

Judah were Gods chosen people, related to israel and mostly lived and fought together.

they did not always sin together.

it can be scary learning about God. he is most excellennt angry.

The bible says God is full of mercy towards those who fear him. It's best not to panic into hysteria. that is not good.

But i plead with Good and show fear and respect with really humble prayer, devote open thinking towards him and asking Jesus alot in prayer making sure i call his name a lot to make him my focus and give him my attention.

PROVERBS  is good to read.

  

Answer 28

Sorry Seven, I'm an agnostic so I'll just do my usual 'sitting on the fence thing.'

Nice to see you back, was worried where you had gone.

Answer 29

prayer has got nothing to do with religion.

we pray to the God the creator of life ,heaven and the earth..

he has given us the free will to choose between good and bad

also the freedom to believe or not to believe..

sometimes it takes time for a prayer to be answered by God..doesnt mean that he's neglecting you..but it just means that he's working on you..might take days,months or even years..

if God were to answer all our prayers at the very instant we ask of him, then what good is it to us..

some people only look upto him whenever they want him the most..otherwise they tend to forget him..and God wants us to understand his love for us..and sometimes u have to move through the hard way..means .suffering,pain,persecution etc..so on..but never will a genuine prayer from the heart is left unattended by God..

cos he's a loving God who understands..

Answer 30

NO, if u have evil in your heart he wont listen to you