A Desperate King

2 Kings 19:1 “When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the Temple of the Lord to pray.”

God hears our prayers.
Life is full of day-to-day difficulties. It is important during these experiences to call out to the Lord in prayer. He wants us to pray continually and keep in touch with Him through the day. But there are other times when a critical situation rears its ugly head – you know, one of those disasters that sneaks up unawares and drops you to the ground in desperation.

This is what happened to King Hezekiah. The Assyrian army came to attack and destroy Jerusalem. King Hezekiah sent representatives who returned with a very disturbing message.  The Assyrians had been so successful in other campaigns that they boasted there was no other nation strong enough to come to their aid. In fact, Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, was so confident he boasted, “Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

King Hezekiah became desperate when he heard Sennacherib’s menacing threats. He tore his royal robes in distress, and went to the temple of the Lord. He sent messengers to the prophet, Isaiah, asking him to pray for the remnant of Judah. Isaiah replied with encouraging words, but the battle was not over yet.

Sennacherib sent another alarming letter to Hezekiah saying, “Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Surely you have heard what we have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?'”

Hezekiah was desperate! He took the letter to the temple and spread it out before the Lord. In a beautiful prayer he affirmed his belief that the Lord alone was God over all kingdoms – in fact, He was the Creator of the heavens and earth. Hezekiah asked God to open His ears to the threats and insults the Assyrian king was making against Him. He admitted that the Assyrians were very strong, but asked God to deliver His people, so that all the kingdoms of the earth would know that He alone was God.

God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and sent Isaiah with a message of hope and encouragement. God would surely come to his aid. The true God of heaven would defend the city of Jerusalem and save it.

That night the angel of the Lord visited the enemy camp and killed 185,000 men. In the morning the rest of the army was greeted with dead bodies. The prideful Assyrian king lost his bravado, packed up camp, and went home. Some time later, while worshiping in his god’s temple, he was murdered by his own sons. The Almighty One heard a God-fearing king’s desperate plea and came to his rescue.

God hears our prayers. When you are in a desperate situation and fear has a grip on your heart, take a lesson from King Hezekiah. Spread it all out before the Lord. Go to Him in prayer and ask for deliverance. He will surely come to your aid.

Love,

Mama