A Praying King of Judah

II KINGS 19:5-7, 32-37; 20:12-17

GOLDEN TEXT: “For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.”—Isaiah 30:15

OUR studies for the last few weeks have dealt principally with the decline of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, which under the leadership of the rebel, Jeroboam, broke away from the two tribes. The course of these ten tribes following this separation was one of almost constant drifting away from the Lord: Finally God withdrew his protection and they were taken captive into Assyria. Today’s study begins a series in which the experiences of the two-tribe kingdom of Judah are considered and the actions of some of their kings noted.

Our present lesson has to do largely with King Hezekiah. Not all of Judah’s kings were faithful to the Lord, but of Hezekiah it is recorded that “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.” Hezekiah was a reformer. Under his leadership idol worship was abolished. He destroyed the brazen serpent that Moses erected during the wilderness journey of the Israelites, for the people had formed the habit of burning incense to it, which was quite out of keeping with the use made of it by Moses.—II Kings 18:3,4

In King Hezekiah we find a good example of the assertion made by James that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) Hezekiah followed a righteous course in ruling Judah, hence God honored his prayers. One of his noteworthy prayers was on behalf of Jerusalem and the nation, and the other was on behalf of himself. The Lord heard and granted favorable answers to both of them.

In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came against Judah and captured the principal cities, with the exception of Jerusalem. Hezekiah, although desirous of pleasing the Lord, was doubtless somewhat fearful and adopted an appeasement policy in dealing with this heathen king. He asked Sennacherib to return to Assyria, promising to bear whatever burden of taxation might be imposed upon him. The levy was so heavy that it took all the silver and the gold in the Lord’s house and in the king’s own palace.

But this did not satisfy Sennacherib’s lust. Instead of turning back, he decided to pit the strength of his mighty army against Jerusalem and capture it. It was at this point that Hezekiah sought the help and guidance of the Lord. In making known his purpose to Hezekiah, this heathen king reminded him that none of the gods of the other nations had been able to stop his march of conquest, hence that it would be futile for him to expect that Israel’s God could do anything about it.

Thus the issue became one which involved the glory of Judah’s God, Jehovah, and it was upon this basis that Hezekiah went to him in prayer. In his prayer he acknowledged that the gods of the other nations had not been able to protect them against Sennacherib. But Hezekiah knew and mentioned the reason—“for they were no gods.” They were just so much wood and stone and metal made into images and called gods. But it was not so with Israel’s God. He was able to deliver, so Hezekiah prayed, “Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.”—II Kings 19:14-19

Isaiah was prophet in Judah during the reign of Hezekiah, and he was commissioned by the Lord to assure the king that his prayer had been heard and that Jerusalem would be saved. “For I will defend this city,” the Lord said, “to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” (II Kings 19:20-34) That very night “the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand; and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.”—II Kings 19:35

This manifestation of the Lord’s power must have been very strengthening to Hezekiah’s faith, which perhaps gave him courage later to pray earnestly concerning his own life. As was customary, the Lord gave important messages to his representatives through his prophets, and again Isaiah was sent to Hezekiah, this time to tell him that he would not recover from a serious illness. “Set thine house in order,” said the prophet, “for thou shalt die, and not live.”—II Kings 20:1

But Hezekiah did not accept this as final. He knew that he had power with God in prayer, so he prayed about this, and was favorably heard. Isaiah was sent to him to say that he would be given a fifteen-year extension of life.

QUESTIONS:

Why did God hear Hezekiah’s prayers?

What should be the chief motive in all prayer?

What caused Hezekiah to reveal the treasures of the kingdom?

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