TEXT:
‘Hezekiah took the letter from the envoy and read it. He went to The Temple of God and spread it out before God. And Hezekiah prayed—oh, how he prayed! God, God of Israel, seated in majesty on the cherubim-throne. You are the one and only God, sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, Maker of heaven, maker of earth’ (2 Kings 19:14-15 MSG)
THOUGHT:
The biblical account about King Hezekiah gives an interesting perspective on how his prayer life developed. It’s easy to neglect prayer when the going is easy, but when trouble comes we can be left wondering what to do. The Assyrian army, which had overrun Israel, was looking to add Jerusalem to their list of conquests. There are four things I want to highlight about Hezekiah’s reactions and prayer life.
In Part 1, we studied how Hezekiah tried to deal with the problem through his own efforts, but the enemy kept coming back for more. Unable to find a solution he turned to someone he believed was in touch with God, Isaiah, who after praying received an answer of deliverance. This gave Hezekiah confidence that God was with him and Part 2 shows how that confidence enabled him to start praying his own prayers.
- Let God’s answers to other people’s prayers on your behalf encourage you to pray your own
Hezekiah saw first-hand the result of Isaiah’s prayers and subsequent prophecy, which was miraculously fulfilled to the letter. So when there was another threat, he reacted differently.
The retreating army sent a letter warning they would soon return. They threatened to do in Jerusalem what they had done to other nations they had conquered because they believed their gods had empowered them to victory. They thought the Lord in whom Hezekiah trusted, would be just as powerless to stop them, as all the other nations’ gods had been. They did not realise that such arrogant statements would spur the God of Israel into action.
When the letter arrived, there was no running to Isaiah. Instead Hezekiah marched into the temple, spread out the letter before the Lord and started praying his own prayer for deliverance.1 He first reminded himself who God was and then reminded God of His promises. He concluded by calling on God for His help and deliverance.
God quickly responded to his prayer and sent Isaiah with another prophetic word of deliverance. Not only would the Assyrian army not return, it would be completely destroyed.2 Once again God’s people would be able to move freely outside the city walls without fear for their lives. They would enjoy the fruit of what they planted.
God said, ‘Because you have prayed to Me … I have heard!’ Oh that every Christian would pray to the Lord, for God wants to say to them too, “I have heard!”
It’s thrilling for any parent to hear their child starting to talk. They need help and encouragement at first, but once they start, it is difficult to stop them! The challenge is not to remain a spiritual baby, always crying out to be fed and for someone else’s help. It’s wonderful to see baby Christians growing in faith and moving from being dependent on others to becoming more dependent upon God.
Let’s learn to pray our own prayers of faith, not those written or prayed by someone else. I remember conducting a counselling session. As the person was leaving they asked, “Have you any word from God for me?’” I replied, “No, you need to learn how to get your own word from God.” They had been a Christian for many years and it was time they learnt how to hear God’s voice for themself!
- It is possible for you to change the will of God
Moses did that very thing several times and his prayers saved God’s people from being blotted out by God because of their continual backsliding and rebellion.
Isaiah was sent by God to tell Hezekiah to set his affairs in order because he was going to die from the illness he was suffering.3 He responded to Isaiah’s message by crying out to God for mercy and an extension of his life. Before Isaiah had even left the palace, God sent him back with a message of hope, “God will heal you and add fifteen years to your life!”
When Hezekiah first heard Isaiah’s pronouncement of death, he did not look for anyone’s help. Instead he turned his face to the wall. He could have just accepted God’s will, but something rose up inside him that said, God’s will can sometimes be changed! He poured out his heart in prayer and God heard him!
A word of caution, because the Bible says, ‘But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud’ (2 Chronicles 32:25 NLT). Also, ‘God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart’ (2 Chronicles 32:31 NLT). Hezekiah had got what he wanted physically but had let it badly slip spiritually.
It was also during that fifteen year extension that Hezekiah had a son called Manasseh, who reigned after his death. He became the most wicked king Israel and Judah had ever had, and plunged the nation into new depths of idolatry, depravity and violence.
The Bible says, ‘God gave them exactly what they asked for— but along with it they got an empty heart’ (Psalm 106:15 MSG). It’s one thing to live on because of blessing but another to die with a heart still true to God. Let’s be like the Apostle Paul, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’ (2 Timothy 4:7)
We may not be able to turn every difficult situation around, but some we will. However, we will not know we can do it, if we never try. The Bible promises that when we do not know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit will help us pray according to the will of God.4 Then we may see that what we feared would result in a worse scenario, actually turns around for the better.
The Bible says that Jesus taught a parable that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.5 We cannot do any better than to do just that – pray!
Endnotes:
1 2 Kings 19:14-19 2 2 Kings 19:20-37 3 2 Kings 20:1-11 4 Romans 8:26-27 5Luke 18:1-8
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