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2 Kings 19:15-20

And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. ‘It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.’ Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.

Think

King Hezekiah was in terrible danger. The mighty army of Sennacherib the Assyrian king was just outside Jerusalem ready to bring destruction and bloodshed. Hezekiah’s prayer was not soft and calm, it was urgent and bold: “Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see…”.

Hezekiah’s prayer was also specific: “Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand.” Did you notice the motivation for the prayer? "…so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God." 

Hezekiah was heard by God (v. 20). His prayer teaches us three things about effective prayer: it is specific, fervent and is motivated by a desire that God be known.

Ponder

  • What can you learn from Hezekiah about prayer in vv. 15-16?
  • When the peacefulness of your world comes under threat, what is your immediate response?

Pray

Spread out before the Lord the things that threaten your peace.

Prayer and Praise

Psalm 103:13-14

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

  • Father, thank You for your tender compassion toward us, your children, in our weakness we run to You, thank you for sustaining us.
  • Thank You for your promise to never to leave or forsake us, may our lives reflect Your presence.
  • Lord, we bring to you those we know of who are grieving, those who are lonely or hurting.