Oh Thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Psalm 65:2

The threat was real! The enemy’s army had laid siege to the capital city. Their leading general was pounding on the city gates, mocking the citizens and blaspheming the Lord. The situation looked hopeless.

What would the king do?

The situation with the coronavirus pandemic certainly mirrors similar emotions. While not an army at the gates, at times it feels like an invading horde bent on the destruction of our citizens. What will we do? Fear and panic could easily reign. How should we respond? The actions of King Hezekiah are a model for us.

The king had received a threatening letter from Rabshakeh the enemy general.

And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and red it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

2 Kings 19:14

King Hezekiah’s actions and words give us an example to follow. He recognizes that the threat facing Israel is beyond him or any earthly resource that Judah may muster. What then does he do?

He prays!

We are not talking about some ambiguous rhetoric to an unknown deity, but to the God he knows, the God of Israel that Rabshakeh has blasphemed and defied.

And so must we pray. Notice the focus of the King. He knows he must pray because of:


The Pressures without—
Assyria has conquered those around them (verses 17 and 18).

The Panic among —
No doubt the people were in great fear. The king had given specific orders how to respond (18:26, 36).

The Perception within —
King Hezekiah was not naive or dismissive of the danger (19:1), and so he prays.

To whom does he pray?
To whom should you pray in these difficult times?

The God who rules!

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Psalm 103:19

The God who sees!

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my though afar off.

Psalm 139:2

The God who acts!

If ye shall ask any think in my name, I will do it.

john 14:14

For what then do we pray?

We pray for His Presence

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

I John 4:4

We praise for His Promise

…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

hebrews 13:5b

We pursue His Purpose

…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15b

All of this assumes that you have a real relationship with the Savior. Do you? Jesus cares for you.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

If you will ask Him, He will save you.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

romans 10:13

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