The Worst Prayer In The Bible
As recorded by the prophet Isaiah, as an indictment against the people of God.

Introduction
Matthew 6:9 Jesus said: “Pray then, in this way:...”
There are no doubt some great prayers in the Bible.
Many serve as models and examples of what prayer should be for us today.
We see some great attitudes and reverence towards God in many prayers that are recorded.
1 Timothy 2:1-3 “first of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quite life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior”.
We would be wise to pay attention to these prayers and learn from them.
This should help to improve our prayer life.
It should also give us a sense of urgency and the effort we put into our prayers.

In Isaiah 63 and 64 we have recorded a prayer that I believe to be the worst kind of prayer.
I do not believe that these words were uttered by anyone in particular.
The prophet was writing them as an indictment of the people.
It demonstrates the true attitude of the people in the day of Isaiah, and I believe it is true here in the world today.
While there are many faithful Christians, there are so many more who are not faithful at all.
We know that many do not pray at all for they do not believe in God.
We could explain that many do not know how to pray or what to pray for.
But the worst attitude and prayers come from the people who claim to be of God.
Isaiah 63:7 “I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has granted us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has granted them according to His compassion, And according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses”. (this continues through verse 9).
The prophet tries to get the people to remember God and all His blessings that would come from obedience.
Many of the prophets used this same method to try to get the people to return to serving God the way God wanted them to serve Him.
Always with the promise that if they would return, they would see blessings from God once again.
But God found it necessary to withhold blessings for this people.

Isaiah 63:10 “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore, He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them”.
These people were so arrogant to consider that ‘their’ God would never turn on them because of the promise given to Abraham.
They considered they could do what they wanted, but God was obligated to keep His promises, and they expected it.

Isaiah 63:15 “Look down from heaven and see from Thy holy and glorious habitation; Where are Thy zeal and Thy mighty deeds? The stirrings of Thy heart and Thy compassion are restrained toward me (us)”. (continues through verse 19).
These people have turned and rebelled against God, yet have the audacity to challenge God to keep His promises.
They ask why God is against them for they cannot understand why.
If they read the Law, they would know that God only blesses the faithful.
These people were also asking God to show them some great sign like the stories they heard from their ancestors.
They were really questioning the existence of God.
A few times, the prophet had to tell the people that God has already spoken, and nothing more needs to be said.
The rich man in Luke 16 pleaded for Abraham to send Lazarus back to his brethren and warn them, but Abraham said they had the Law which God had already given them.
People today are looking for some great thing from God so that they can have confidence to believe in Him.
The fact that God has not done any mighty deeds has caused many to question His existence.
2 Peter 3: 3-4 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mockings, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For every since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation’.”

Isaiah 63:17 “Why O Lord, dost Thou cause us to stray from Thy ways, and harden our heart from fearing Thee? Return for the sake of The servants, the tribes of Thy heritage”.
These people are blaming God for their transgressions.
Is it any different today?
James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”
We have, and everyone in the world, has the instructions from God in the Bible.
2 Peter 1:3 “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
The problem is that those in the world do not like the instructions from God.

Isaiah 64:4 “For from of old they have not heard nor perceived by ear. Neither has the eye seen a God besides Thee, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him”.
My question is if they knew this, why didn’t they return to serving Him?
Isaiah 64:5 “Thou dost meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers Thee in Thy ways. Behold, Thou was angry for we sinned, We continued in them a long time; And shall we be saved?”
Finally, they acknowledge the reason God has turned against them, but are they willing to repent and return to God?
Can we not say the same thing about most people today?

Isaiah 64:9 “Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, Neither remember iniquity forever; Behold, look now, all of us are thy people”.
The people ask God to not punish them beyond measure.
What they were really saying is that they were going to continue in their sins, but they were not really as bad as the worst, so they did not deserve the worst punishment.
They tried to appeal that they were His children and He should not punish them as He punished other nations.
The truth is that everyone who misses out on heaven will share the same punishment.
Even good people will suffer alongside the worst people if they do not cease their sins.
Every soul in hell will know exactly what they are being punished for.
If people do not obey the gospel plan of salvation that is recorded in the bible, there is nothing that can save them.

Conclusion
People must acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and confess His name before others, and continue to confess Him the rest of their lives.
People must be baptized for the remission of sins.
Until they are baptized they still have their sins, and God does not fellowship sin.
All of this should be done in faith.
Faith to recognize that they are sinners and unworthy of God, but God will accept them because of their faith and their obedience.

By Carey Scott

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