Bring it Before the Lord

When King Hezekiah (2 Kgs.19) was troubled about the plans of the Assyrian King, Sennacherib, he went into the house of the Lord in deep humility.  The prophet Isaiah was contacted about the situation, and he sent a word from the Lord to Hezekiah.  This word was to the effect that Sennacherib was trying to get you not to trust in the God of Israel on the grounds that He will let Hezekiah down. 'He cannot be trusted, especially when the might of Assyria is now arrayed against Hezekiah.  You are trusting in this God, but He will deceive you into imagining that He can deliver you from my hand.  You will be destroyed completely.' 

When the King received what he perceived as a threatening letter from Sennacherib, King of the Assyrians, he took it and "spread it before the Lord" (v.14).  That was the wisest and best thing he could have done.  He had no help but that which the Lord could provide.  He took it "to the Lord in prayer."  The letter was spread out before the Lord, and Hezekiah prayed, after worshipping the Lord, "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib , which he has sent to reproach the living God. ... Now then, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone," (vv.16-19). 

You see what this great King of Israel did, conscious of his weakness and vulnerability - He took it to the LORD.  He was not underestimating the greatness of Sennacherib's power; nor was he involved in positive self-talk.  No.  Hezekiah went back to the testimony of history and saw Who his God really was and what He had done and still does in the world.  Why did he do this?  And why did he do this at such a critical time in his nation's life?  For this reason:  he wanted to assure himself and his people that his God was the God of all history, and that He was able to deal with any threat that might come to His redeemed people.  He encouraged himself in the LORD.  He put courage into his heart (that what 'to encourage' means) by coming to, and focusing upon, the LORD, sovereign and almighty.

Here is one of the great indicatives of Scripture; and the imperative follows as night the day - "Go, and do likewise."  In all our great difficulties and life challenges, there is no better thing to do than to come into the holy presence of the LORD, and 'spread it before the LORD.'  Tell Him the whole thing; confess your fears and anxieties to Him.  Be honest about the situation and how it is affecting you.  Don't try to make it out to be other than it is.  Come clean with God, and then leave it confidently with Him.  This is what Hezekiah did on that occasion.  You can do it too.

But look at the result of this faithful prayer to the LORD.  V.35 tells us that "the angel of the LORD went out, and ..." acted in judgement against those who were seeking to destroy the LORD's people and cause. Does God hear and answer prayer?  Yes, He does. He heard Hezekiah's prayer that was called forth from a situation of desperation, and with spectacular results.

Our Lord Jesus Christ did the same when He was in agony in Gethsemane, just prior to His crucifixion.  He poured out His heart to the Lord His God and Father.  And He entrusted Himself to the Word of His Father.

Don't allow the devil to tell you that prayer is a useless exercise; it isn't. It is God's ordained way whereby His people, His children, can communicate with Him.  It is the channel of access to the Almighty that He Himself has opened.  Use it.  Use it frequently.  See the results.

But remember, the results are not always seen immediately, or when expected.  The LORD's angel came and acted in judgement when Sennacherib was least expecting Him - 'at night,' (v.35).   Give God space; give Him all the space He requires.  Remember, He is always gracious and patient with those He will eventually judge; but the judgement will most assuredly come - and the judged will know it, and so will their fellow-travellers.  When God speaks, people listen.  When He acts, they sit up.  And when He acts in judgement, 'every mouth will be stopped and all the world will become guilty before Him,' (Rom.3:19). 

So cast yourself unreservedly upon God's grace and mercy.  You can trust Him with your all.  He will never leave you nor forsake you,' ( Jos.1:5; Heb.13:5).