Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, November 23, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
I love the deep meaning in this little turn of phrase. Hezekiah’s city is blockaded by the Assyrian army and might just be overrun. His people would be severely impacted if not killed. His entire reign might be chalked up as a complete disaster. But he doesn’t say, “Hey, God, I think you should step in and save me because I’m such a good king. I listened to you and tore down the pagan altars and restored worship to the temple. I’m such a good king. You should boot the Assyrians for me.” Nope. Hezekiah says, “Hey, God. I’ve told everyone you’re the best there is. If you help us—the underdog—boot the Assyrians from Jerusalem, word will get out that you are, in fact, the one and only God.” Now, maybe that’s trying to appeal to God’s vanity. Maybe Hezekiah is being sneaky and sucking up to God rather than copping to his fear for his own skin and reputation. But I don’t think so. I think Hezekiah is genuinely concerned that all the world know that God is God. After all, it’s what he’s based his entire kingship on. He has, I think, a sense of real wonder and gratitude for all that God has done for God’s people from the very beginning, and wouldn’t it be nice if everyone saw it?
It reminds me of what in the Recovery community is known as the “Third Step Prayer” which contains the line: “Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help…” It’s not about having my difficulties removed because I deserve it (even though I might). It’s about having my difficulties removed so that I can point to God and say, “God did this for me; God got me through this tough time in my life; God gave me hope and brought me out the other side” so that others who are suffering might benefit from that same faith. It switches the focus from me and what I want to how my own challenges can be a light in the lives of others. That, I think, is what Hezekiah was all about.
When I think about my prayer life, are my prayers for things I want or for the benefit of others? What is the right balance between these two?
