Facing Crisis: Hezekiah's Prayer and God's Sovereignty
Summary
In Isaiah 38, we encounter King Hezekiah, a godly man who faced an unexpected crisis when he fell gravely ill. This chapter offers profound insights into how we can respond to crises in our own lives. Hezekiah, a descendant of David, was a righteous king who trusted in the Lord and held fast to His commandments. Despite his faithfulness, he was struck with a severe illness at a time when his leadership was crucial for his people. This unexpected turn of events serves as a reminder that crises can come upon anyone, regardless of their spiritual standing.
Hezekiah's response to his illness is instructive. When faced with the news of his impending death, delivered by the prophet Isaiah, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. This act of seeking God in prayer, even in the face of dire circumstances, underscores the importance of turning to God as our first response in any crisis. Hezekiah's prayer was not just a plea for healing but a demonstration of his reliance on God, acknowledging that the secret things belong to the Lord and that our role is to seek Him earnestly.
Moreover, Hezekiah's life exemplifies the value of living with a clear conscience. He could confidently say that he had walked in faithfulness and done what was good in God's sight. This clear conscience provided him comfort even as he faced the possibility of death. It is a call for us to live in such a way that we are always ready to meet God, with our sins cast behind His back through the grace of Jesus Christ.
The story of Hezekiah also highlights the power of prayer in changing the course of history. Despite the initial prophecy of his death, Hezekiah's earnest prayer led to God granting him an additional 15 years of life. This demonstrates that while God is sovereign, He invites us to participate in His plans through prayer, which can lead to remarkable outcomes.
Finally, Hezekiah's story points us to Jesus, the greater King, who through His death and resurrection, offers us forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. In times of crisis, we are reminded to seek Jesus, who intercedes for us and will welcome us into His everlasting presence when our work on earth is done.
Key Takeaways:
- Seek God in Prayer: In times of crisis, our first response should be to seek God in prayer, just as Hezekiah did. Prayer is not merely a ritual but a powerful means of connecting with God, who holds the secret things of life. By turning to God, we acknowledge our dependence on Him and invite His intervention in our circumstances. [13:26]
- Live with a Clear Conscience: Hezekiah's ability to face his crisis with peace stemmed from his clear conscience. Living faithfully before God and others ensures that we are always ready to meet Him, regardless of life's uncertainties. This readiness is a source of comfort and strength in difficult times. [22:09]
- The Power of Prayer: Hezekiah's story illustrates that prayer can change the course of events. While God's sovereignty is absolute, He invites us to participate in His plans through prayer, which can lead to outcomes beyond our expectations. This truth encourages us to pray with faith and expectancy. [18:08]
- Jesus, Our Greater King: Hezekiah points us to Jesus, who through His life, death, and resurrection, offers us forgiveness and hope. Jesus is the King who triumphed over death and intercedes for us, ensuring that we can approach God with confidence and receive His grace. [34:21]
- Be Ready for God's Call: Hezekiah's awareness of his unfinished work reminds us to live with purpose and readiness for God's call. Whether in life or death, our focus should be on fulfilling God's purposes, trusting that He will guide us and complete His work in us. [31:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - Introduction to Isaiah 38
- [01:16] - Crisis: Facing the Unexpected
- [02:02] - Hezekiah's Illness
- [03:21] - Hezekiah's Prayer for Deliverance
- [04:46] - Hezekiah's Godly Character
- [06:20] - The Shock of Illness
- [08:33] - The Question of God's Allowance
- [10:02] - Isaiah's Prophetic Visit
- [11:10] - Spoiler Alert: A Good Ending
- [12:17] - Responding to Shock
- [13:26] - Seeking God in Prayer
- [15:31] - The Importance of Focused Prayer
- [17:28] - The Power of Prayer
- [21:30] - Living with a Clear Conscience
- [27:37] - Practical Faithfulness in Crisis
- [32:08] - Jesus: Our Hope and Forgiveness
- [34:21] - Jesus: The Greater King
- [35:09] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 38:1-3
- 2 Kings 19:19
- 2 Kings 20:1-6
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Observation Questions:
1. What was King Hezekiah's initial reaction upon hearing the news of his impending death from the prophet Isaiah? ([13:26])
2. How does the sermon describe Hezekiah's character and his relationship with God? ([06:20])
3. What specific prayer did Hezekiah offer when faced with the threat from the Assyrian king, and how did God respond? ([03:21])
4. According to the sermon, what was the outcome of Hezekiah's prayer regarding his illness? ([11:10])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Hezekiah's act of turning his face to the wall be significant in the context of seeking God in prayer during a crisis? ([13:26])
2. How does the sermon illustrate the relationship between God's sovereignty and the power of prayer in Hezekiah's story? ([19:47])
3. What does Hezekiah's ability to face his crisis with a clear conscience suggest about the importance of living faithfully before God? ([22:09])
4. In what ways does Hezekiah's story point to Jesus as the greater King, according to the sermon? ([34:21])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent crisis in your life. How did you respond, and what role did prayer play in your response? How might Hezekiah's example encourage you to seek God first in future crises? ([13:26])
2. Consider your current spiritual walk. Do you feel you are living with a clear conscience before God? What steps can you take to align your life more closely with God's will? ([22:09])
3. The sermon emphasizes the power of prayer to change the course of events. Can you recall a time when prayer led to an unexpected outcome in your life? How does this shape your view of prayer today? ([18:08])
4. Hezekiah's story reminds us of the importance of being ready for God's call. What unfinished work or purpose do you feel God has for you, and how can you actively pursue it? ([31:22])
5. In what ways can you draw closer to Jesus, the greater King, during times of crisis? How can His example of intercession and triumph over death inspire your faith journey? ([34:21])
6. How can you cultivate a habit of seeking God in prayer amidst daily distractions? What practical steps can you take to create a focused prayer environment in your home? ([15:31])
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about living with purpose and readiness. How can you ensure that your daily actions align with God's purposes for your life? ([31:22])
Devotional
Day 1: Seeking God in Crisis
In times of crisis, our first response should be to seek God in prayer, just as Hezekiah did. When Hezekiah was faced with the news of his impending death, he turned to God in earnest prayer. This act of seeking God highlights the importance of prayer as a powerful means of connecting with the divine. It is not merely a ritual but a demonstration of our reliance on God, acknowledging that He holds the secret things of life. By turning to God, we invite His intervention in our circumstances and express our dependence on Him. [13:26]
Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV): "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Reflection: Think of a current crisis or challenge you are facing. How can you intentionally seek God in prayer about this situation today?
Day 2: Living with a Clear Conscience
Hezekiah's ability to face his crisis with peace stemmed from his clear conscience. He could confidently say that he had walked in faithfulness and done what was good in God's sight. This clear conscience provided him comfort even as he faced the possibility of death. Living faithfully before God and others ensures that we are always ready to meet Him, regardless of life's uncertainties. This readiness is a source of comfort and strength in difficult times. [22:09]
1 John 3:21-22 (ESV): "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily actions and thoughts. Is there an area where you need to seek forgiveness or make amends to live with a clear conscience?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Prayer
Hezekiah's story illustrates that prayer can change the course of events. Despite the initial prophecy of his death, Hezekiah's earnest prayer led to God granting him an additional 15 years of life. This demonstrates that while God's sovereignty is absolute, He invites us to participate in His plans through prayer, which can lead to outcomes beyond our expectations. This truth encourages us to pray with faith and expectancy, knowing that our prayers can have a profound impact. [18:08]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: Identify a situation in your life where you desire change. How can you commit to praying about this situation with faith and expectancy?
Day 4: Jesus, Our Greater King
Hezekiah's story points us to Jesus, who through His life, death, and resurrection, offers us forgiveness and hope. Jesus is the King who triumphed over death and intercedes for us, ensuring that we can approach God with confidence and receive His grace. In times of crisis, we are reminded to seek Jesus, who intercedes for us and will welcome us into His everlasting presence when our work on earth is done. [34:21]
Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
Reflection: Consider how Jesus' role as our intercessor impacts your relationship with God. How can you deepen your reliance on Jesus in your daily life?
Day 5: Being Ready for God's Call
Hezekiah's awareness of his unfinished work reminds us to live with purpose and readiness for God's call. Whether in life or death, our focus should be on fulfilling God's purposes, trusting that He will guide us and complete His work in us. This readiness involves living with intention and being open to God's leading in every aspect of our lives. [31:22]
Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to be more intentional? How can you take a step towards fulfilling that purpose today?
Quotes
Hezekiah was a direct descendant of David he was in the line of David and he ruled in Jerusalem that was in the south and when the northern kingdom was overrun the king of Assyria turned his attention towards Hezekiah and the south and he demanded Hezekiah surrender Hezekiah took the letter demanding his surrender into the temple of the Lord he spread it out before the Lord and he prayed from the depth of his heart. [00:02:49]
Hezekiah was one of the best kings of God's people in all of the Old Testament he was the son of Ahaz who was one of the worst and that reminds us for our encouragement that God can take a person from the worst possible background and redeem that person's life turn it around and move it in an entirely new direction and that's what happened in Hezekiah life. [00:05:04]
Hezekiah was a godly man and godly people know that they are sinners we'll get to what Hezekiah created in detail later in this chapter but I think that in this very first response that he makes here he's saying well if I'm going to die I'm at peace with God I have a clear conscience and though this crisis has come upon me unexpectedly my conscience right now gives me great comfort I am at peace with God. [00:22:41]
Hezekiah knows that he can't find out what God has kept secret he only knows what God has revealed and so in the light of that he does what he knows God has revealed and that is that in any circumstance of life we can pray and so he turns to the wall and he gives his entire focus to seek the face of God. [00:16:40]
Hezekiah was the best of the Old Testament Kings but Jesus is the greater king to whom Hezekiah wonderfully points this King Jesus triumphed over death by the power of his resurrection this King Jesus lives to intercede for you and for me and this King Jesus when our work on earth is done will be the one who welcomes us into the joy of his everlasting presence. [00:34:21]
Hezekiah became sick now anyone who has been safe code as sick as we're worshiping in our homes today you know that becoming sick changes everything in your life across our congregation right now there are folks who are undergoing treatment for cancer folks who are receiving kidney dialysis some who are experiencing pain when they move because of an injury and now here we are all of us caught up in a health crisis that is sweeping through the entire world. [00:07:40]
Hezekiah was a godly man and godly people know that they are sinners we'll get to what Hezekiah created in detail later in this chapter but I think that in this very first response that he makes here he's saying well if I'm going to die I'm at peace with God I have a clear conscience and though this crisis has come upon me unexpectedly my conscience right now gives me great comfort I am at peace with God. [00:22:41]
Hezekiah knows that he can't find out what God has kept secret he only knows what God has revealed and so in the light of that he does what he knows God has revealed and that is that in any circumstance of life we can pray and so he turns to the wall and he gives his entire focus to seek the face of God. [00:16:40]
Hezekiah was the best of the Old Testament Kings but Jesus is the greater king to whom Hezekiah wonderfully points this King Jesus triumphed over death by the power of his resurrection this King Jesus lives to intercede for you and for me and this King Jesus when our work on earth is done will be the one who welcomes us into the joy of his everlasting presence. [00:34:21]
Hezekiah became sick now anyone who has been safe code as sick as we're worshiping in our homes today you know that becoming sick changes everything in your life across our congregation right now there are folks who are undergoing treatment for cancer folks who are receiving kidney dialysis some who are experiencing pain when they move because of an injury and now here we are all of us caught up in a health crisis that is sweeping through the entire world. [00:07:40]
Hezekiah was a godly man and godly people know that they are sinners we'll get to what Hezekiah created in detail later in this chapter but I think that in this very first response that he makes here he's saying well if I'm going to die I'm at peace with God I have a clear conscience and though this crisis has come upon me unexpectedly my conscience right now gives me great comfort I am at peace with God. [00:22:41]
Hezekiah knows that he can't find out what God has kept secret he only knows what God has revealed and so in the light of that he does what he knows God has revealed and that is that in any circumstance of life we can pray and so he turns to the wall and he gives his entire focus to seek the face of God. [00:16:40]
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