Topical Bible: Answers To Prayer: Hezekiah

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Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was the 13th king of Judah, reigning in the late 8th century BC. His reign is notably marked by his devout faith in Yahweh and his efforts to restore proper worship in the kingdom. Hezekiah's life and reign provide several profound examples of answered prayer, demonstrating the power and mercy of God in response to sincere supplication.

Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery

One of the most significant instances of answered prayer in Hezekiah's life is found in 2 Kings 20:1-11 and Isaiah 38:1-8. Hezekiah became gravely ill, and the prophet Isaiah delivered a message from the Lord, saying, "Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover" (2 Kings 20:1). In response, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed earnestly to the Lord, reminding God of his faithfulness and wholehearted devotion. He wept bitterly, seeking divine intervention.

God heard Hezekiah's prayer and saw his tears. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him again, instructing him to return to Hezekiah with a new message: "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the Lord" (2 Kings 20:5). God not only promised healing but also added fifteen years to Hezekiah's life and delivered Jerusalem from the Assyrian threat.

The Assyrian Threat

Another remarkable instance of answered prayer occurred during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, sent a threatening message to Hezekiah, mocking his trust in God and boasting of Assyria's conquests. In response, Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread the letter before Him, praying for deliverance. Hezekiah's prayer is recorded in 2 Kings 19:15-19, where he acknowledges God's sovereignty and pleads for salvation so that all kingdoms of the earth may know that the Lord alone is God.

God answered Hezekiah's prayer through the prophet Isaiah, who assured him that the Assyrian king would not enter the city or shoot an arrow there. The Lord declared, "I will defend this city and save it for My sake and for the sake of My servant David" (2 Kings 19:34). That very night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp, leading to Sennacherib's retreat and the deliverance of Jerusalem.

Hezekiah's Humility and God's Response

Hezekiah's life also illustrates the importance of humility in prayer. After his recovery from illness, Hezekiah showed the envoys from Babylon all his treasures, which led to a rebuke from Isaiah and a prophecy of future Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 20:12-19). Hezekiah's response was one of humility and acceptance of God's will, demonstrating a heart aligned with God's purposes.

Hezekiah's experiences underscore the biblical principle that God is attentive to the prayers of the righteous and responds to those who seek Him with a sincere heart. His life serves as a testament to the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God in delivering His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 19:20
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus said the LORD God of Israel, That which you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Hezekiah, the Praying King
... hears prayer, God heeds prayer, God answers prayer, and God ... Prayer breaks all bars,
dissolves all chains, opens all ... Life was sweet to Hezekiah and he desired ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/vi hezekiah the praying king.htm

The Christian Prayer
... ANSWERS TO PRAYER. ... Notable Instances of Prayer, and the response of God, are shown
in the ... Samuel (1 Samuel 12:18), Elijah (1 Kings 18:37-46), Hezekiah (2 Kings ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study vii the christian prayer.htm

Power of Prayer.
... And the God, who answers prayer,. Helps them when they seek his face. ... Bring relief
in deepest straits; Prayer can force a passage through. ... Hezekiah on his knees. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 61 power of prayer.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... Hezekiah prayed, and the angel of the Lord entered the camp of the invader ... With the
evidence here presented, who can doubt that God hears and answers prayer? ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

Prayer Answered, Love Nourished
... again; how often sickness has laid hold upon you, and like Hezekiah, you have ... There
is not a church in London, that has had such answers to prayer as we have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/prayer answered love nourished.htm

Bear up the Hands that Hang Down, by Faith and Prayer...
... and pray, and hear no voice, but stay till God answers. ... thou shalt die, and not live."
and Hezekiah prayed, and ... back to say, "I have heard thy prayer, I have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ix bear up the.htm

A Poor Man's Cry, and what came of It
... Hagarites, "and he was entreated of them, because they put their trust in him."
He heard Hezekiah and Isaiah ... You that have had answers to prayer say, "Ay ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/a poor mans cry and.htm

Where to Carry Troubles
... We have here an example of how God answers His servants' prayers. It was 'by terrible
things in righteousness' that Hezekiah's answer came. His prayer was at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/where to carry troubles.htm

That we Ought to Give Ourselves to God with Regard to Things Both ...
... God said to Isaiah, "Go, say to Hezekiah, I have ... and cried in vain for the answers
that could ... Their favoured dispensation of prayer was forgotten; they knew ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ii that we ought.htm

The Gethsemane Prayer
... David did for his doomed child; as Hezekiah did to ... and highest form of majestic and
all-commanding prayer. ... God allows this, hears this, and answers this, not ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/xii the gethsemane prayer.htm