<p>3:10- see on 2 Cor. 8:7; 1 Thess. 2:17.</p><p><em>Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect whatever is lacking in your faith?</em>-&nbsp; We note the need Paul felt to be personally present with them in order to give them spiritual strengthening; he writes likewise to the Romans (Rom. 1:11). The need of his physical presence may have been because the laying on of hands transmitted some spiritual gift. But I prefer to think that this was not really what he had in view; rather, as noted on 2:9,10 and elsewhere, Paul presented himself to illiterate people as the incarnation of the Lord Jesus, and asked them to follow him insofar as he followed the Lord. This is why in his brief contact with the Thessalonians, he had explained to them his own past and shown them by example what a life in Christ looks like. And this meant that his personal presence with them was significant, and would assist in maturing, developing and completing their faith. As noted on :6, Paul rejoiced in their faith, even though there were things lacking in it.</p><p>Paul's description of praying &quot;night and day&quot; (1 Thess. 3:9,10) alludes to the sacrifices, prepared and offered &quot;night and day&quot; (Ex. 30:7,8; Ps. 55:16,17). There was clearly an element of preparation before offering the prayer, as there was before offering a sacrifice. Note how Prov. 15:8 likewise parallels sacrifice with prayer. Prayer ought to be a humbling experience, perhaps alluded to by the incense, representing prayer, needing to be &quot;beaten small&quot;. Preparation of prayer involves humility. David takes words of supplication to himself, which as King he must often have heard from desperate citizens, and uses it in his own prayers to God: &quot;Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call... A Psalm of David&quot; (Ps. 20:9). In this one sees a conscious humility in how David formulated his prayers.</p>