Signals Intelligence

jIH SaQ Daq joH'a' tlhej wIj ghogh, je ghaH answers jIH pa' vo' Daj le' HuD.

I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Psalm 3:4

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On the planet where I live, a recent news item concerns a scientific study of prayer - perhaps this news has reached your world as well. It's of interest to me because I would always a encourage study (AND USE) of prayer - I've even writen some programs to assist dedicated prayer warriors (prayer.mrklingon.org, justpray.mrklingon.org).

Now some find the current report distressing as it suggests that prayer - at least in the precise definitions of the study - did not assist healing (or even seemed to slow it!). Yet, this shouldn't be too surprising - it was a very narrowly focussed study, and only proved something most believer should know: Prayer isn't magic - As Easton's Bible Dictionary describes it:

Prayer is [conversation] with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant... or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1Sa 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2Ch 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph 3:14).

Those who pray are part of a personal conversation that assumes an ongoing relationship - and it ought not be surprising this is hard to measure.

In this verse we hear prayer expressed in the word "cry." This is SaQ in Klingon - an uncommon word, which we don't see often. (It may mean "to weep" - the dictionary isn't clear.) The Hebrew word qara' (kaw-raw') is very common - nearly 700 times in the bible. It is a primitive root meaning simply "to call out." This may be closer to the Klingon word jach which means "scream, cry out, shout, yell"

The idea is clear - a call, communication, is made for help. And equally clear, "he answers me out of his holy hill" - God will respond. In this case it is clear that the response is help - but despite the strong Biblical promise of answered prayer - we should know that this is no magic wand. As Paul reminds when he speaks of seeking - and not receiving healing:

[God] has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. (2Cor 12:9)

But why can't a scientist measure the effectiveness of prayer? A Klingon might put this in military terms (of course - what WOULDN'T they put in military terms?). It's a matter of "SIGINT" signals intelligence - intelligence information gathered from communications intelligence or electronics intelligence or telemetry intelligence.

Traditionally SIGINT is gathered, and if possible deciphered to gain information about one's enemies plans. BUT, when one is not able to understand the messages "Traffic Analysis" is used: In a military context, traffic analysis is usually performed by a signals intelligence agency, and can be a source of information about the intentions and actions of the enemy (Wikipedia) by observing the patterns of communication, even without being able to discern the meaning.

We can't see the prayers and the responses over the years of the faithful - but no one can deny that believers in every age have relied on prayer to, as Paul put it:

by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

And the reason to do this is NOT to get exactly what we ask for, but reading the full verse we see that prayer establishes a relationship of trust:

IN NOTHING BE ANXIOUS, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)


In terms of traffic analysis we can see, over the eons that believers have indeed found prayer a means of pouring out their hearts to God - and that over the centuries prayer has been foundational to a life of faith.

jIH SaQ Daq joH'a' tlhej wIj ghogh, je ghaH answers jIH pa' vo' Daj le' HuD.

I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Psalm 3:4

Cry out to Him today. He will answer.