Selfish Intercession

2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38,39; Psalms 75; 1 Peter 2

“And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. ‘The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’”

Isaiah 39:7, 8

God’s judgment of Hezekiah’s naïve invitation to the enemies of God to see all of his treasures and secrets was significant. Hezekiah’s own descendants would become slaves of Babylon. Hezekiah’s response was puzzling. He accepted God’s judgment of his sin, but without repenting. Yet earlier, when he had become sick to the point of death, also as a judgment of sin, Hezekiah cried out to God for a change of heart and a different outcome. 

Why did he humble himself when God’s judgment of sin was personally costly, yet not humble himself when God’s judgment involved future generations?

Is our response to sin also that selfish and focused on our own well-being?

Will we stand in the gap for future generations as we intercede and respond to sin in our lives and in our culture?

“Lord Jesus, I humble myself before you and pray for your cleansing and forgiveness. I too, repent for thinking of my own comfort more than that of future generations. I desire to intercede with your Spirit’s guidance and selfless sacrifice, for you glory.”