vii. 12. _But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I
tempt the Lord._
We are commanded to ask for all we need and desire (Matt. vii. 7;
Phil. iv. 6). But many say, "I will not ask." +I. Men are apt to act
thus when possessed of earthly resources.+ How hard it is for a man
of wealth to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread!" He has much
goods laid up for many years. How natural for a man in health and
prosperity thus to forget his dependence on God (H. E. I. 4000,
4001). Even in trouble a man is apt to look elsewhere for aid:
_e.g.,_ in sickness to the physician; even when convinced of sin, to
his own efforts, or to a human priest. +II. Men often act thus on the
pretence of not tempting God.+ On the ground that their affairs are
beneath His notice (H. E. I. 4015-4025, 2245-2248, 2325, 3226, 3403).
On the ground that God has already established the laws by which all
things are regulated (H. E. I. 3179-3182, 3751, 3752, 3757).
+III. But the real reasons why men act thus are because they trust in
themselves, and have no real faith in God.+ The real reason why Ahaz
did not ask was because he was bent on forming an alliance with
Assyria. Let it be ours gratefully to accept the privilege so
graciously offered, seeing that God has given us far more than was
given to Ahaz: we have all the great and precious promises contained
in the Scriptures, the knowledge of the unspeakable gift of God's
dear Son, the accumulated experience of all generations of His
faithfulness as the hearer of prayer. We may have our own experience
of it; if we will but ask, we shall receive. How much greater our sin
than that of Ahaz, if in these circumstances we say, "I will not
ask!"--_John Johnston._