Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying: “O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are 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 hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations 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. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, you alone. Isaiah 37: 14-20, NKJV.
Merciful God, the God who hears from above and answers the prayer of Your children; here we are, in need of a word from You. Settle our hearts I pray, in the midst of the turmoil, and come very close and teach Your children how to pray – in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen and Amen.
Yesterday, our devotional was based on the action taken by Hezekiah when he was faced with a threat made by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. He took it to the LORD in prayer. What impresses me is the expression, “he spread it before the LORD.” In my mind’s eye, there was nothing hid from the eyes, or ears, of God. Hezekiah laid the problem in its entirety, before God. This will become even more obvious, when we listen to his prayer. I have divided it into three main parts, for our study.
The introduction. “O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” In the introduction Hezekiah addresses God by acknowledging Him for who He is, “LORD, this is who I know You to be: You are the God who leads out in battle (Revelation 12: 7-9). At Your command all the hosts of heaven stand at attention ready to do Your bidding – LORD of hosts! You are the God of Israel, a small company of ex-slaves, with whom You brought glory to Yourself! A people who never went out to battle until they left Egypt – after four generations! Yet they defeated Amalek by holding up the hands of Moses (Exodus 17: 8-13). You are the One who meet us at the Mercy Seat – who dwells between the cherubim (1 Samuel 4: 4). There is none other who can compare with You – You are God, You alone (Isaiah 45: 22)! You are Creator – made heaven and earth (Exodus 20: 11). As Hezekiah makes mention of the attributes of God, He is actually strengthening His own faith! He is rehearsing and remembering what God has done, and what God can do! This will be the springboard for the rest of his prayer – who God is!
The problem. “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire[.]” This is very interesting! After that mighty introduction, Hezekiah is so at home in God’s presence, that he can admit to God, that Sennacherib is not making an empty threat! “Listen carefully God; take a good look; pay close attention to what Sennacherib is saying, he is even hurling insults at You! Certainly, this man can do what he says he can do. He and the other kings before him destroyed all the other nations and their gods!” I like this truthfulness with God. I believe God is pleased when we trust Him enough to express our concerns and doubts about a problem, openly.
His expression of faith. “[F]or they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands-wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.” “After all is said and done, I will still trust You! ‘I know in whom I have believed!’ The only reason Sennacherib could do what he did to those other nations and their gods, is because their gods were just the product of their own hands; they were not real gods. Now God, for Your glory, bring us salvation, so that everyone will know who is the true God – the only true God!”
Sennacherib could build his prayer upon his personal knowledge of God. If our prayers are not sealed with our faith in God, it will profit us nothing!
We will continue our conversation!