2 Kings 19:1 And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
Threats come in various forms. For Hezekiah, it was a letter from an Assyrian general stating his intent to invade his land, steal his property and kill his people. As king of Judah, Hezekiah had successfully dealt with other threats, but this was no ordinary threat. The Assyrians had taken control of all land and people from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. Let’s review the general’s threats and see if it sounds familiar to you.
“On whom are you depending” (v.20)? This was a threat designed to undermine Hezekiah’s confidence in God’s ability and willingness to meet his needs. “Make a bargain with me” (v.23). This was the threat of compromise. “Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord” (v.31). This was the threat of trying to silence the voice of faith in God.
Hezekiah knew he did not have the resources to defeat the Assyrians, but he knew who did. In chapter 19 he turned to the Lord in prayer. First, he took the letter (threat) and laid it on the altar in the temple and presented it to God. If you are wrestling with threats to your finance, health or relationships, go to the altar and lay it before the Lord. A portion of Hezekiah’s prayer is quite telling. In verse 15 it states, “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.” Hezekiah knew a pagan general in a chariot was no match for Almighty God who sits on the throne in heaven. This reminds me of Isaiah’s bold statement in 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.” (Isaiah 54:17).
Another important principle is found in 19:2, when Hezekiah invited others like the prophet Isaiah to join with him in intercessory prayer. My friend, you do not have to face your battle alone. You can call me, text me or email me and we can face this battle together. I assure you there are many other friends who are eager to join with you in your journey. I look forward to hearing from you.
In closing I would like to offer a prayer for you, adapting part of Hezekiah’s prayer in 2 Kings 19:14-19.
“O LORD God who dwells between the cherubim, you alone are God. You made the heavens and the earth. Incline your ear and hear our prayers; open your eyes & take note of the threat we face today. I come against the issues that threaten your Church and your people. Let all the people of our community know you are the source for our hope, our peace and our victory. Let all men take note that you alone are God. Amen!”
Let’s sing: “When your enemy presses in hard do not fear, the battle belongs to the Lord. Take courage my friend your redemption is near, the battle belongs to the Lord…”