Foundations Week 24, Day 2

Scripture Read: 2 Kings 19 - 21
Title: The Faithfulness and Healing of Hezekiah
 
H.E.A.R. 
(H) Highlight verse:  "Turn back and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people , Thus says the LORD , the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears.  Behold I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, and I will add fifteen years to your life.  I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the King of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.:  2 Kings 20:5,6
 
(E) Explain: In the previous chapters we read about Hezekiah, the King of Judah, and his faithfulness.  In chapter 20 Hezekiah prays to the LORD and asks for protection against Assyria's attacks.  On the night that Isaiah prophesies about the desruction of Assyria an Angel of the LORD struk down 185,000 Assyrians.  Senacherib, the king of the Assyrians, was later killed by his own sons.
Soon after, Hezekiah finds out he is sick and will die.  He prays to the LORD and the LORD heals him and adds fifteen years to his life.  About three years later Hezekiah has a son named Manasseh and he becomes heir to the throne.  At the age of twelve he becomes king and reigns for fifty five years.  He was an evil king as he erected all the altars his father destroyed.  He burned his son as an offering to Baal and Asherah.  Thus the downward cycle of evil kings begins in the southern kingdom.

(A) Application: ​Prayer is a powerful tool for believers.  As we see in todays passages that Heezekaih was a man of prayer.  He prayed for deliverance from Assyria, and he prayed for healing from his terminal illness.  In both cases God heard and answered his prayers in a positive manner.  This should encourage us to make prayer a priority in our lives.  We are told in the New Testament to ask God for what we need.  However, God doesn't always give us the things we want, but he will give us what he thinks we need.  Commit today, if you haven't already, to make prayer a part of your everyday life.

(R) Respond: Prayer is a wonderful gift given to us by you.  Thank you for your gift and may I never neglect it, because the is power in prayer.