cry out to Yahweh

2 Kings 18:13-19:37; 2 Chronicles 32:1-23

The king of Assyria (Sennacherib) came waltzing up to Jerusalem talking smack because he had annihilated much of the surrounding countries.  The worst part of it was that he started talking smack against Yahweh saying that Yahweh was just like any of the other "gods" of the surrounding pagan countries.  Uh-oh!  Now, if Hezekiah had tried to defeat the Sennacherib on his own strength, Sennacherib would have beat the snot out of him.  But instead, Hezekiah CRIED OUT TO YAHWEH!

19:14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. 17 "It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. 19 Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God."

First, he acknowledged the true, Creator, Sovereign identity of God - independent of the way he was feeling.  Second, he shared the conflict that was on his heart.  Third, he asked God to deliver him so that all kingdoms on earth may know that Yahweh alone is God.  The result:

19:35 That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are the God of Israel, sovereign over all the kingdoms of the earth that you created.  O Lord, I ask you to pour your Spirit upon me and work through me so that people from all nations may know that you alone, Yahweh, are God, that you have delivered us from sin and death through the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we find purpose and satisfaction in a relationship with you.  I pray that you will be glorified in my life today.  I pray that I will worship you with my life.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.