What is Supplication

Supplication is a big Bible word that we usually ignore. It's in a verse that talks about not worrying. A verse that tells us we should pray instead of being worried about something. 

But what is supplication?

According to www.vocabulary.com:  "Although it is a noun, supplication comes from the Latin verb supplicare, which means "to plead humbly." While a supplication is often thought of as a religious prayer (it is used 60 times in the Bible), it can logically be applied to any situation in which you must entreat someone in power for help or a favor. Still, it carries with it an aura of religiosity and deep entreaty, and should not be used to describe just any simple request."

Is supplication the same as prayer?  www.differencebetween.net says that it isn't the same:  "Supplication is a form of prayer in which someone makes a humble petition or an entreaty to God. Prayer, however, can be defined as sincere thanksgiving or requests made to God. ... There is always a request in supplication. In this type of prayer, one asks for or desires something from God."

So there can be many types of prayer including thanksgiving or general requests. Supplication, however, seems to be more serious. If you've ever been in a desperate situation, and you plea with God for help; that's supplication.

A familiar verse is James 5:16:  “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  James immediately gives us the example of Elijah:  “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:17-18)

The time that Elijah "prayed again" happened after Elijah told King Ahab that it was about to rain.  Elijah goes to Mt. Carmel to pray, “...Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,” (I Kings 18:42)

The Bible doesn't tell us what Elijah's prayer was specifically, but his posture in this prayer, kneeling down with his face between his knees, tells me this wasn't a "now I lay me down to sleep" prayer. Elijah was pleading with God. Elijah sends his servant to look towards the sea. The servant said he didn't see any clouds. So Elijah sends him back until finally on the seventh time,  the servant said there was a small cloud. That strengthened Elijah's faith to believe God was going to make it rain. God did just that, and answered Elijah's prayer. 

So, if you need answers to prayer, keep on in your "supplication", asking God earnestly. He will answer in His time and way. God's timing is perfect.