In
those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz
came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order: for
thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and
prayed unto Jehovah, saying, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how
I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that
which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 2 Kings 20:1-3
How many times do we neglect the
power of prayer? It is quite evident that the Calvinist has no need to pray for
a couple of reasons. First, the Lord will not hear his prayer (cf. Is. 59:1-9,
Ps. 66:18; Jam 4:2-4, Prov. 28:9, 15:29). Second, prayer would have no purpose
for someone that believes everything that will come to pass has been willed by
God beforehand (everything happens for a reason). However, in God’s Word,
we see that the prayer of the faithful
can be a prayer that seeks to change God’s mind. One such occasion is seen in
the story of Hezekiah, king of Judah. He was a king who did right in the eyes
of the Lord, according to all that David had done. (cf. 2 Kings 18:3). God sent
His prophet Isaiah to inform him that he was going to die, and, at the news,
Hezekiah of Judah prayed to the Lord. He prayed fervently and with great
mourning. God had already said what was
going to happen and had even sent a prophet. So it’s set, right, nothing can
change, right? Think again.
And it came
to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the
word of Jehovah came to him, saying, Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the
prince of my people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have
heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee; on the third
day thou shalt go up unto the house of Jehovah. And I will add unto thy
days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of
the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my
servant David's sake. 2Kings 20:4-6
The
prophet of the Lord could not even get far from the king before the Lord sent
him back. What is more important is the message he sent him back with. I
have heard thy prayer and seen thy tears, I will heal thee. What a message
from Jehovah! What a hope that is found in the Jehovah? Why do we wait so
frequently to go to our Jehovah in prayer. We have listened to anyone and
everyone who claims to be an expert, but we consult not our Father who has told
us in his Word, Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time; casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you (1
Pet 5:6-7). Why not consider and trust
that our prayer has impact because our Father is willing to listen and to hear
us. Yet we must first come in humility to him, and make our cause known.
The Lord may not always give us what we want, but in the end he provides us with what we need. This may mean that we lose our physical lives but gain eternity with our Lord. This may mean we are healed but still in a world where life will be challenging and dangerous. For it is written, Eph 5:15-16 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Hezekiah got what he asked for. Hezekiah was granted 15 more years but he nearly lost all that he had accomplished in doing right (cf. 2 Chron 32:25). So what will you do while you have breath in your mortal bodies. If you are interested in remaining in the land of the dying what will you do if you wish to enter the land of the living? Will you serve God or serve yourself? Only you can decide.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
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