God Speaks
Hezekiah’s Problems, Prayers and Preservation
Verse of the Day: [May we, God’s people, courageously pronounce against His enemies and ours:] Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! (Isaiah 37:23 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Isaiah 37-39 and Psalm 76:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Isaiah 37
1. God will deal with those who trouble, insult, and disgrace Him or His people when we ask Him in faith.
2. People should lay out their problems before the LORD as King Hezekiah did.
Isaiah 38
1. God hears our prayers; He may choose to heal us. He will always act according to His plans and purposes.
2. People must be humble before God, not try to bargain with Him.
Isaiah 39
1. God sees our pride and self-focus and will judge it.
2. People must be careful to bring everything to the LORD, even the seemingly good things like entertaining visitors after recovering from a near fatal illness.
Psalm 76
1. God alone is to be feared; no one can stand against Him when He is angry.
2. People are to fear the LORD, keep the vows they make to Him and bring Him gifts.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Isaiah 37-39?
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies and God of Israel, You are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O LORD, and listen! Open Your eyes, O LORD, and see! Listen, understand, and take action against this situation where someone or something is speaking or acting in defiance against You, the living God. What they are saying or doing may be true, but they are proceeding from false assumptions and/or impure motives. Your actions on our behalf will cause all the kingdoms of the earth (or all the mountains of culture) to know that You alone, O LORD, are God. You alone are the God who rescues (both individuals and nations). You alone, O LORD, have control over nature (including weather and climate). You alone, O LORD, truly know the future. You alone, O LORD, know the inner workings of our hearts and minds (including our motivations and our pride). You alone, O LORD, are the one who heals (even if You may use human means). You alone, O LORD are the source of all our wealth and possessions (even though You may require us to work to acquire them). You, O LORD, also have the right to remove them. LORD God, You alone are to be feared; no one can stand against You when You are angry. Holy Spirit, help people to fear the LORD, keep the vows they make to Him and bring Him gifts. When we give You the credit for everything, we bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Isaiah 37-39? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask God to take over dealing with the insults of my enemies especially those that are insulting Him.
- I will lay out my situation before the LORD but avoid telling Him what to do about it.
- I will wait upon the LORD to answer me through the scriptures, through the wise counsel of other people, through circumstances, or through an inner prompting of the Holy Spirit before I move ahead.
- I will use the prayers of King Hezekiah as patterns when I pray for rescue from enemies or healing for myself or someone else.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.