Pray for Me or Pray for You

There are many sections in the Bible I just don't like. I admit it. There is also a prayer that continues to bother me, no; it convicts me whenever I think about it. It is the prayer of Hezekiah. The Bible talks about it in three major areas; 2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32 and in Isaiah 38. That means on my reading schedule I will read it three times a year. There is just no way I can get around it or forget it.

Hezekiah becomes ill and is told by the prophet to get his house in order and prepare to die. He turns his face to the wall and weeps bitterly because he does not want to die. He prays and reminds God how faithful he has been and God gives him another fifteen years of life, just as God gave the people a king when they were not satisfied with Samuel. Why do we give in to our children regarding things we know are not good for them?  

I don't want to make more out of this than there is, but it seems there are times when God will grant our prayers even though they are not good prayers. It is another case of doing things 'my way.' What good came out of Israel having a king anyway? Kingship opened a whole new opportunity for evil which was allowed to matriculate and eventually permeate the entire loaf.

In the case of Hezekiah, three years after his prayer a son was born to him named Manasseh. When Hezekiah died, that son, now twelve, began to reign. He reigned fifty five years. He was bad news, one of the worst kings Israel ever had. The pain and suffering he brought on Israel extended to many generations.

"Primal societies under the impact of social change through the presence of an invader culture are particularly vulnerable at three points: values, hierarchy of leadership, and the local point of reference." This statement by Andrew Walls in The Missionary Movement in Christian History : Studies in the Transmission of Faith is clearly in evidence today. Everyone will probably define the invader culture differently, but who will deny it? The folks on both sides of the always angry debate call what is taking place in American society a culture war. I understand why it is called a war, but I don't understand why it is called a debate. Is anger a synonym for passion?

Is there any argument that social change has swallowed many cultures as well as ethnicities in the past and will continue to do so? Change is necessary. I agree we need an extreme makeover, but the thought of an extreme takeover makes me shudder. By the way, is there any disagreement with Walls' statement?

If our values, ideas of leadership and point of reference are quickly migrating away from Biblical standards of right and wrong, what is replacing them? We now have lengthy discussions of whether being caught lying or in adulterous affairs is any reason to remove someone from leadership. Seriously, whatever your politics, is this progress? Would there have been any discussion before? If this is progress, where will it lead and why are we afraid to wrestle with that question?

I find it strange that our consumerist individualism is punctuated with chants of doing what is best for the group, which group? It is naive to think that all groups will live in harmony. Eventually the strongest, loudest group will have their way, for a while.

After Hezekiah warmly received the envoys from Babylon and proudly showed off his wealth, Isaiah told him of the coming judgment because of his foolishness. Hezekiah was OK with it because it would take place after he was gone. Isn't this the way we live now? All these things will take place ... after I am gone.

Actually, the consequences of 'my way' are coming out of the wood work even now. When suddenly confronted with the results of what we've chosen and what we've done, we will say what we always say. "If there is a God why did he let this happen?"

For so long now my prayer has been, "God, what is your will for my life?" In church Sunday afternoon I was confronted with the fact that my prayer should be, "God, what is your will?" The self-centeredness I loathe in others is alive and well in me, and that makes me sick.  

Those who lived after Hezekiah faced the consequences of his prayer, just as our children and their children will live with the consequences of what we do and don't do.