And Hezekiah prayed earlier than the LORD, and stated: “O LORD the God of Israel, who’re enthroned above the cherubim, you’re God, you alone, of all of the kingdoms of the earth; you could have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen to; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; hear the phrases of Sennacherib, which he has despatched to mock the residing God. Actually, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have hurled their gods into the fireplace, although they have been no gods however the work of human palms—wooden and stone—and they also have been destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, I pray you, from his hand, so that every one the kingdoms of the earth could know that you just, O LORD, are God alone.”
One of many methods we will enrich our prayers is by trying on the totally different types, or constructions, of prayers within the Bible. We are able to mimic them and adapt them to our circumstances. On this means, we would discover new methods to hope that we might not have thought-about.
Background
As soon as once more, loads of story has handed earlier than we discover one other prayer. First, the creator of Second Kings tells us of Elisha’s demise, then follows it with a number of tales concerning the kings of each the south and north of Israel. There’s little hope or encouragement. After seven kings within the north have dominated, Sennacherib of Assyria assaults and destroys it. Leaders are executed, the persons are scattered, and foreigners are moved in. Regardless of God’s warnings, the individuals by no means returned, and so they reap the outcomes of their rejection of God (17.7-18).
5 kings reigned within the south (Judah) throughout this time. Hezekiah was the one in energy when the north was destroyed. Hezekiah, up so far, had labored to steer his individuals again to God. He did “what was proper in God’s eyes.”
However Sennacherib is coming south, and he sends messengers who inform Hezekiah to give up, for they haven’t any hope towards the Assyrian military who has defeated so many already—in overwhelming style. The message even means that Israel’s God is utilizing Sennacherib to punish Judah, identical to he did northern Israel!
Subscribe to proceed studying
Turn into a paid subscriber to get entry to the remainder of this publish and different unique content material.
