The Mystery of Prayer

2 Kings 20

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, “Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’” (20:1-6)

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Prayer is one of those touchy subjects with so many people. Some folks believe wholeheartedly that if they pray fervently, what they pray for will happen. Others believe that prayer is merely wishful thinking. They pray but they don't hope for much. I tend to believe that the answer to prayer lies fully and completely out of our hands. Indeed, like the Holy Trinity Himself, prayer is mystery. Only, this time, it is a mystery that involves us, much like Holy Communion or baptism.

Hezekiah was informed that his illness would result in his death. The Lord told the great king of Judah to put his house in order. Hezekiah wasn't going to die because of some great sin. And an assassin's dagger would not be the cause. No, death happens to one and all. It's a result of the fall. And Hezekiah was mortally ill.

Yet the Lord, in His sovereignty, somehow holds the right to change the progression (or regression) of His creation, including His curses, and Hezekiah's illness did not kill him. The king immediately turned to the Lord in prayer and petitioned for a few more years. It was more than prayer, though. Hezekiah cried tears of pleading, much like a parent would plead with the Lord over the life of a loved one. Before Isaiah had left the palace, God relented and Isaiah relayed to the king, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you."

Why do some people get healed while others die? Why does God choose one person over another? Don't know. It's a mystery to me. Hezekiah prayed for mercy and received 15 more years. But my friend Scott could pray for healing for a year or more and still die of his disease.

This much I do know: God is sovereign, which means He holds all rights to act independently of anything that exists. He is a king with absolute power. Every decision He makes is just and true, for He is the lawgiver as well as the judge. And because He stands outside of time and space, He alone is able to see the big picture. He is also all-loving. This means that He knows what is best for we who are finite and limited in our vision. He loves us and knows our pain. He asks us to trust Him, even when we don't understand why one thing happens and another doesn't.

Above all, know this: God listens to us. And He is more than willing to act in accordance with His will. All we need to do is trust Him and press, even when we don't have all the answers.

Be God's.