Hezekiah's Prayer

Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 19:1-37

 First Hezekiah got alone with God. His prayer was immediate. (verse 14). When Hezekiah received the threatening letter, he immediately spread it before the Lord. There was no thought of calling a committee, his best friend or seeking the advice of friends on Facebook; Hezekiah knew what to do, as did Elisha (2 Kings 4:33) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:4) in similar situations.

 His prayer was praisefully reverent (verse 15). He addressed Jehovah as, “O LORD God of Israel which dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou alone.” The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9) indicates the same kind of reverence.

His prayer was intimately personal (verse 16). After he addressed God in a reverent fashion, Hezekiah said, “LORD, bow down Thine ear and hear.” He had recognized God as sovereign; now he addresses Him as friend.

 His prayer was respectfully informative (verses 17-18). Hezekiah was clear in what he was needing from the Lord. Hezekiah did not demand of God what should be done. He was reminding himself in prayer of what God had promised. When we inform God of our situation in prayer, it is not because He is unaware of how desperate we are; we do it so we are aware of how desperate we are.

 His prayer was purposefully direct (verse 19a). He was open and honest. Hezekiah was transparent before the Lord. The time had come to get down to business. He pointedly made his request known unto the Lord. “O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save Thou us out of his hand.” Hezekiah did not mince words; he was direct and forthright in his request to God. When you want something from God, don’t beat around the corner…let Him know exactly what you want.

 His motives were pure. (verse 19b). Hezekiah prayed for deliverance from the Assyrians, “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even Thou only.” Anything that happens to God’s people reflects on God’s purpose. Our prayers ought to be motivated so that the world sees the grace of God in our deliverance from desperate situations. “Oh Lord be glorified in this situation.”

 His prayer was powerfully effective and 2 Kings 19:35-36 shows the powerful effect of the righteous man’s prayer: “And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” Early the next morning Hezekiah and the Jews found their enemy routed and 185,000 dead soldiers.

God had performed what He promised.

God will perform what He has promised!

In His love,

Elizabeth