S154P14: Sincerity in prayer: Hezekiah
2 Chr. 32:24-26
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the LORD, and he answered him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
There is a classic pattern to many of our prayers. We encounter an issue or a question, and we are unsure of the solution or the answer, so we go to the Lord and prayer. The hope is that we receive a response in the form of a change in circumstances or a solution or just information. If you are hungry and pray for food, you expect that God will bring you food or the means to obtain it. It is easy for us to see prayer and the answer to prayer as an exchange that happens just this way. From this passage, however, we see something different. It is the response of Hezekiah to the favor shown by God in answer to prayer that resulted in wrath.
Hezekiah’s prayer was sincere enough. He and his people had been delivered from the Assyrians by God, and Hezekiah himself was known among the nations. When Hezekiah became sick and prayed, Isaiah told him that the Lord would heal him, and Hezekiah asked for a sign as confirmation, which the Lord granted. [2 Kgs. 20] Not only did he receive his sign, but he was healed. The problem is that he did not accept this blessing with grace or humility. The Lord did not lengthen his days so that he would be ungrateful or proud. Humility and gratitude would have pointed to the Lord for his answer to that prayer. Instead, it seems as though Hezekiah took the moment to build himself up.
We do not receive from God because we deserve it. Our worth is wrapped up in him, and any worthiness we carry comes from Christ. It is much easier to be humble and contrite when we are on the asking side of prayer, desperate in our need and pleading for relief. It is too often the case that receiving our blessing makes us forget that humility. If God would give us everything we ever wanted and needed right now, we would be no less in need of him. The hope is that we remain humble and sincere on the other side of prayer as well. Father, help us to understand that we always are in desperate need of You even when we have all we need and to carry ourselves accordingly.