Turning to God in Prayer

This article focuses on two incidents in the life of Hezekiah, King of Judah, and how he handled them by turning to God in prayer.

Hezekiah became the King of Judah when he was 25 years old and reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years. The Bible provides an excellent testimony about him prior to the two incidents described in this article. Among other things, King Hezekiah: did what was right in the eyes of the Lord; destroyed some of the gods; trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; held fast to the Lord; followed the Lord without ceasing; kept God’s commandments; and succeeded in whatever he did. The Lord was with him, and there was no king like him in Judah (2 Kings 18:1-7).

Despite Hezekiah’s righteousness and good relationship with God, his kingdom of Judah was brutally attacked by the Assyrians. Before then, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had been conquered by Assyria under King Shalmaneser and many of the inhabitants had been deported to Assyria because the people had disobeyed the Lord their God and violated the covenant they had with the Lord. Emboldened by its conquests of Israel and the surrounding nations, Assyria, under King Sennacherib, attacked and captured the fortified cities of Judah, except Jerusalem, and imposed heavy war demands on King Hezekiah. (2 Kings 18:8-16).

Then, King Sennacherib threatened Jerusalem, and taunted King Hezekiah and the people of Judah that God would not be able to protect them from him just as none of the other gods had been able to protect the people whom the Assyrians had conquered. He urged the people not to listen to Hezekiah or depend on the Lord for security (2 Kings 18:17-37).

Officials of King Hezekiah met with the Prophet Isaiah concerning the threats and Isaiah assured them that the Lord would protect them. Thereafter, King Sennacherib sent a letter to Hezekiah, again, threatening him that he would capture Jerusalem and that he should not expect God to save him from his hands (2 Kings 19:1-13).

After reading the letter, King Hezekiah went to the temple of the Lord, spread the letter before the Lord, and prayed to the Lord to deliver Judah from the Assyrians. God sent him an answer through Isaiah that He had heard his prayer, and that He would defend and save Jerusalem for the sake of His servant David. That night, an angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp and the King of Assyria broke camp and withdrew from Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:20-36). Thus, Judah won the battle without a fight. The battle is, indeed, the Lord’s!

In the second incident, King Hezekiah fell ill to the point of death. The Prophet Isaiah went to him and told him that God said he should put his house in order because he would not recover; he would die. Upon hearing the bad news, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. God answered his prayers before Isaiah had left the palace. The Lord told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that he had heard his prayer and seen his tears, and that he would heal him and add fifteen years to his life. God also told him that he would deliver him and Jerusalem from the King of Assyria for His sake and for the sake of David. Isaiah then told them to prepare a lump of figs and apply it to the boil; they did so and Hezekiah recovered (2 Kings 20: 1-7).

We can learn at least three lessons from how King Hezekiah handled the two bad news - the one concerning attack on and destruction of Jerusalem, and the other about his impending death due to illness. First, Hezekiah took charge of the situations himself. Second, both situations had death staring rudely at him, but he did not let the fear of death overcome him. Third, in both situations, he turned to the Lord in prayer.

The first thing Hezekiah did was that he took charge of the situations. Hezekiah had a good relationship with God so he knew what to do when he received the bad news. As the leader that he was, he knew it was his responsibility and he stepped up by faith and took charge of the situations accordingly. In both situations, Prophet Isaiah was there, but Hezekiah took charge of the situations himself as the initial approach. Taking charge of our own situations gives us a better handle of them than handing them over immediately to others. There may be appropriate times to involve or seek help from others, but we are ultimately responsible and must take charge of our own affairs before we consider bringing in others.

Second, Hezekiah did not let the fear of death overcome him. News about impending death is enough to scare many people, including Christians. Imagine any of us hearing from our doctor that we have a terminal illness and that we have a few days to live! That is when we should draw on our Christian resources to overcome the fear and effectively handle the bad news. That is when we say by faith that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil because God is with us (Psalm 23:4). God wants us to be courageous, put fear away, and look up to Him who alone controls life and death. After all, we serve “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17 NIV). Nothing is impossible for Him. God can overturn a pronouncement of death sentence.

Third, Hezekiah turned to God and prayed. In the case of the letter, he actually took it to the temple, spread it before the Lord, and prayed. God heard and answered his prayers, confirming that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (see James 5:16).

To whom or what do you turn when you are in trouble? On whom or what do you rely when trials, temptations, problems, and challenges come your way? Some rely on their own strength and other worldly resources, forgetting that the arm of flesh will fail them. Some consult fetish priests, gods, idols, and deities without regard to God’s commandment not to have any other gods before Him or make or bow down to idols or worship them (Exodus 20:1-6). Others do nothing and resign to their fate or hope the troubles would go away. And still others turn to God in prayer and their Christian resources and religious leaders.

Turning to God in prayer is the best approach. Hezekiah did not ask the Prophet Isaiah to pray for him; he did not consult any of the gods in Judah and Israel; he turned straight to the Almighty God and prayed. As King David said, “I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV).

On his part, Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you res’ (Matthew 11:28). And in the second stanza of the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” we sing: “Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in Prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.”

From the Hezekiah example, we learn that God hears and answers His children’s prayers. We also learn that God delivers, rescues, and heals His children. Troubles and problems will come our way, but the Christian has only one way to turn: to God through His son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As Peter correctly answered Jesus when Jesus asked whether the twelve disciples would also leave him: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69 NIV).

Prayer is the key. May God grant us the grace to seek Him daily through our prayers.

Dr. Daniel Gyebi, Attorney-at-Law, Texas, U.S.A., and Founder, PrayerHouse Ministry, Kumasi, Ghana.

PrayerHouse Ministry is dedicated to providing a quiet facility for Christians to pray individually by themselves without any intermediary priest, pastor or any other person. This is a free service. No money is demanded or accepted. One facility is located at Kyerekrom / Fumesua, near Building and Road Research Institute Offices, one mile off the Kumasi-Accra Road and next to a house called Grace Castle. If you are interested, please contact Agnes at 054-7498653. Another is located at Kantinkyiren, at the junction of Kantinkyiren and Konkori, off the Kumasi-Obuasi Road, branching left at Trede junction. Contact Kwadwo at 020-8768461 / 0246-989413.