Hezekiah’s prayer
“Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”
Isaiah 37:20
Hezekiah was in trouble.
The king of Assyria was on his way, with a mighty army.
Instead of calling a cabinet meeting, or a meeting with the secretary of defense, Hezekiah immediately sought God in prayer.
“Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord saying, “O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated all the countries and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”
Isaiah 37:14-20
Notice what Hezekiah did:
- He laid the letter/ problem before God.
- He praises God first, worshipping the Almighty God.
- He was honest and realistic with God about this dangerous attacking army.
- He makes a very specific request.
God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that his prayer has been heard, and was being answered.
Then…
“Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all of these were dead.”
Isaiah 37:36
God answers prayer, in His time and in His way.
Let’s seek Him fervently, just like Hezekiah.
