II Kings 19:32 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it”.
How detailed is God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer? Remember back in verse 20 ….Thus says the Lord. The God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard……
And for the next fourteen verses, we see God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer. Here in verse thirty-two, I love the detail that God gives Hezekiah. The enemy will have no toe-hold, will have no presence, no threat, no position, and no opportunity. This enemy was the world’s greatest power at the time, which had a track record going back years of surrounding and destroying city after city.
How encouraging is it to pray to God when we are in trouble when we are boxed in – even when the circumstances are to some degree a result of some of our actions, or our parent’s actions even? How encouraging is it to listen to the details in God’s answer, and then as we will see reading on, how God does what God says he will?
Let’s not make prayer a last resort, but rather a first line of action. And, after we pray, let’s expect an answer from heaven, that has details, and weight, and courage in it for us.
Let’s pray right now. Father, this is my situation right now………….
Principle of Change 73 – Prayer is our first action each day.
Strength – Communication – we are a gifted guide to expressing emotions, we pursue parables, are ethical and effective, and are a summarise of success.