And Hezekiah Prayed

Daily Bread

Daily Bread Devotions by Chuck Myer Daily Bread Archive | Sign up for our resources

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Thy statutes, and I shall observe it to the end.” (Psalm 119:23 – NASB)

Ah yes . . . let us set our face to have the “LORD (Yaweh) . . . teach” us “the way of (His) statutes,” in the new day, that His Word may be our tutor as we seek to be more and more like Christ. Certainly a good plan for the day.

The Scripture I have chosen for this day comes from the book of Isaiah,

“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD.” (Isaiah 37:14-15 – KJV)

The mighty army of Sennacherib was gathered outside the gates of Jerusalem, 185,000 strong. The great king had come to conquer the Jews, and he sent a letter to king Hezekiah demanding immediate surrender. Surely circumstances looked bleak for the Judean king. The great king of Assyria had steam-rolled his way into Judea by overthrowing every nation before him. No nation was able to withstand his great army. Sennacherib even said,

“Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?” (Isaiah 36:18 – KJV)

Humanly speaking, the situation looked totally hopeless for the Jews. There looked to be no alternative to either total surrender or a crushing defeat at the hands of the massive Assyrian army.

Sometimes, we as Christians come upon moments in our lives when we aren’t sure what to do. Circumstances can be so great that we are without answer as to how we should proceed. King Hezekiah was at such a moment. Note what he did,

“And Hezekiah prayed”

And what a prayer it was! And prayer worked! That night the angel of the Lord crushed Sennacherib’s army! The Assyrian king was humiliated before the God who is God! He returned to Assyria in defeat and was eventually murdered by members of his own family (Isaiah 37:36-38).

Hezekiah’s prayer is recorded in Isaiah 37:15-20, and within this great prayer someone has noted three important “elements of prayer:”

Hezekiah knew that his God was the one and only true God (V – 16)
Hezekiah knew his God would fight for him, using His name “LORD of hosts” (V – 16)
Hezekiah knew that his God was the omnipotent God who “made heaven and earth” (V – 16)

Most certainly, nothing is “impossible” for the God who has created all things, no situation is too hard for Him to handle.

Hezekiah prayed for deliverance (V – 20) and God answered His prayer. May we learn to pray as king Hezekiah prayed.

Have a good day brethren . . . and as you walk, when confronted by problems, even circumstances that seem insurmountable, recall to mind who it is that is your God . . . and go to Him in prayer first!

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