Daily Bible Reading - August 6, 2017

Today's Reading:

2 Corinthians 8

2 Kings 20-21

Nahum 2

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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading   

In 2 Kings 20-21 we find the story of king Hezekiah and his illness. This story contains some interesting concepts - with even a hidden warning - about prayer. 

In our prior reading, we find king Hezekiah facing a threat. He takes the threatening letter, spreads it out before Yahweh and prays for deliverance from that threat. Yahweh does indeed deliver Israel. In his prayer, Hezekiah doesn't focus on the needs of Israel - rather he focuses upon the Name and Reputation of Yahweh, which will be harmed if the intended threat is carried out. Clearly from the concerns he expresses in this prayer, Hezekiah is a God-centered man who has a living prayer life! We may look at Hezekiah's prayer and find key ingredients, which we also may use to strengthen our own prayer lives.

In today's reading portion, we find Hezekiah praying again. And again his prayer is effective. But this time, instead of Hezekiah showing us what to do, he demonstrates what not to do! For on this occasion, we find that Hezekiah's answered prayer brings about his spiritual ruin! Let's start at the beginning.

Hezekiah became very sick. He had developed some kind of a boil and was laying in his bed, growing worse by the hour. Because Hezekiah was a godly king, his first response was to turn to Yahweh. This is good! This should always be our first response in any situation.

When the prophet came, he informed Hezekiah of Yahweh's Word: Hezekiah needed to set his house in order, because he was going to die from this illness. Now, this is where we have to pay special attention...  God told Hezekiah that he would die! Thus, the Word of God had already been given on the matter.

Hezekiah is disheartened at the news, to say the least. He turns towards the wall and cries, praying for Yahweh to heal him. Hezekiah reminds Yahweh that he has been the faithful servant of Heaven. And Yahweh hears his prayer and heals the stricken king.

At first, it looks like another example of effective prayer. But upon closer look - as we carefully note the outcome - one must question whether this prayer request should have been made.

After Hezekiah is healed - in answer to his prayer - he receives a Babylonian envoy. Only the king, who was formerly so God-centered, did not give the Babylonian emissaries a Yahweh-centered tour. As he showed them his kingdom and treasury, his focus is similar to Nebuchadnezzar's. He doesn't say the words outright, but his attitude is taking personal credit for all the wonders of Israel. It's as if he said to the visitors, "Is not this great Israel that I have built?"

What happened to this God-centered king?! How did he go from being so humble and dependent upon Yahweh to being such a self-important, cocky braggart? 

The point of change seems to be his miraculous healing...  Had Hezekiah died of his illness, just as Yahweh first said would happen, one thinks that maybe his integrity would have been preserved. But, by requesting healing, he lived long enough to outlive his relationship with Yahweh! Talk about Tragedy!

This outcome brings a sober moment of pause to me, as an aspiring prayer warrior. Does it not to you? Is it possible to pray for something - and receive it - when that "blessing" we seek will ultimately be just enough rope from which to hang ourselves? Sobering thought!

Like the concluding words in the hymn "Oh Sacred Head Now Wounded": "Oh let me never, never, outlive my love for Thee!"

Reading the story of Hezekiah has had a notable effect on my prayer life. Whereas I often used to spell out for Yahweh how I thought a situation should go, I now pause and ask Him more ardently that His Will would be done - in the earth of my life and situation - as it is in Heaven.

What are you praying for today? Is there a job for which you are applying? Instead of asking Yahweh to give you that job, why not try asking Him to open or close the doors, as He sees fit? In so doing, you may truly rest in peace about the situation. For the safest place for any of us to be is fully in the Will of God. And may we never depart from it - even in our prayer lives!