Prayer for Deliverance: Hezekiah

“Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see” (2 Kings 19:15-16)

Praying in the Midst of Trouble (2 Kings 18:9-19:14)

• Israel overthrown by the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:9-12)
• Jerusalem threatened by the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:13-16)
• When no human solution works (2 Kings 18:17-37)
• Hezekiah’s two-part response (2 Kings 19:1-14)

Praying for Deliverance for Others (2 Kings 19:15-20)

• Recognizing the greatness of God (2 Kings 19:15)
• Sharing our problems with God (2 Kings 19:16-18)
• Asking God for help (2 Kings 19:19)
• God’s deliverance (2 Kings 19:20, 35-37)

Praying for Deliverance for Ourselves (2 Kings 20:1-7)

• Hezekiah’s need (2 Kings 20:1)
• Hezekiah’s simple prayer (2 Kings 20:2-3)
• God’s deliverance (2 Kings 20:4-7)

1. Have you ever felt like you had nowhere else to turn but to God? What was going on and how did you express your prayers to God?
2. This week we continue our series “Great Prayers of the Bible” by looking at the life of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah becomes king and institutes a series of reforms within the land to turn the people back to God. You can read the entire story of Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18:1-20:21, but we are going to focus on Hezekiah’s prayers in 2 Kings 19:14-20 and 20:1-7.
3. Hezekiah reigned during the time of division in God’s people between the northern kingdom (known as “Israel”) and the southern kingdom (known as “Judah”). Hezekiah was king in the southern kingdom 715-687 BC, after the time that the northern kingdom was overrun by the Assyrians (722 BC). Isaiah the prophet was active during Hezekiah’s reign.
4. Read 2 Kings 18:5-8 and describe King Hezekiah in your own terms. What sort of person was he and what did God do for him?
5. After the Assyrians decimated Israel, they turned their attention to Judah in the south. During the reign of Sennacherib (704-681 BC), the Assyrians invaded and took over several cities and eventually laid siege to Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:1-17). It was during this time that we encounter Hezekiah’s first prayer. Read 2 Kings 19:1-20, and answer the following questions:
   1. What was the specific situation that led Hezekiah into prayer (vss 1-13)? • How did Hezekiah respond to that situation (vs 14)?
   2. What was the content of Hezekiah’s prayer (vss 15-19)?
   3. How did God encourage Hezekiah (vs 20)?
6. The prophet Isaiah reassures Hezekiah with a long message from the Lord (2 Kings 19:20-34), pointing toward God’s pending deliverance. What happens in response to Hezekiah’s prayer (19:35-37)?
7. Have you ever called out to God on behalf of others for them to experience deliverance? 8. In 2 Kings 20 we see a picture of Hezekiah at prayer for a much more personal situation.
8. What is the situation according to verse 1?
9. What does Hezekiah do in response to his situation (vss 2-3)?
10. How does God respond to Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah (20:4-7)?
11. Do you think that Hezekiah is selfish in this story? Why or why not?
12. What is one specific thing that God is speaking to you about prayer through this study?
13. If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then take extended time to pray about what you share. If you are studying on your own, write it down, pray about it, and share this with someone during the next few days.