The Lord has heard the prayer of Hezekiah and would deliver not once but twice from the mighty Assyrians. In the first incident, Rabshakeh listened to a rumour and the army returned home (v3,4,6,7) and in the second, an angel of Lord struck the army of Sennacherib and 185,000 fell (v35-37).
In this chapter, we could read about the prayers of Hezekiah imploring God to protect His people. Will it be easier said than done? It is entirely plausible when we have nothing to lose. When have we lost every means to help ourselves? When were all the odds stacked against us?
He appealed to the Person and attributes of God. God will not go against Himself. When Hezekiah prayed along these lines, he was reminding God that He must be true to Himself. In effect, He had “no choice” but to give heed to the prayers and act on behalf of His nation and people.
The Person of God
Praying the Person of God
1) The Overseer and God over the nation.
(v15). Declare that He is in control of the affairs (economic, social, legal, medical, racial and religious) of the nation.
(O Lord God of Israel, v15)
2) The Presence who dwells between the cherubim (v15)
Seek for the deep presence and glory of God individually and corporately.
(the One who dwells between the cherubim v15)
3) The God of all the kingdoms and powers (v15)
Intercede against the Covid19 pandemic raging against the nations. He will destroy its domain and control.
(You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth v15)
4) The Creator of the heaven and earth (v15)
God will renew, revitalised the land and energised and healed each person.
(You have made heaven and earth v15)
The Attributes of God
Praying the Attributes of God
1) The I Am that I Am
The enemies have insulted God (v16). Implore God to incline, hear, open eyes, see and hear the insults against Him. Leave it to God to protect His character.
“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?” “You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalm 2:1,9)
2) The Compassionate One
Assyrians were powerful and have destroyed the enemies (v17).
Pray for compassion and protection against wickedness and evilness of human hearts. Appeal to His compassion for His people.
3) The Saviour
The gods, made with hands and wood and stone, could not deliver (v18). God was not created. He is more powerful.
Pray for purification of the hearts the people amid the threat of destruction. May they understand that only Jehovah God can save.
4) The Deliverer
The appeal to save them, “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.” (v19) This was a good enough reason for God to deliver them.
Pray for God to deliver them from the pandemic.
2 Kings 19:15-19
15 Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord 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. 16 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 17 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, 18 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. 19 Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.”
