Background

Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was the 13th king of Judah and reigned during a tumultuous period marked by the threat of Assyrian domination. His reign is noted for significant religious reforms, including the restoration of temple worship and the destruction of idolatrous practices (2 Kings 18:3-6). Hezekiah's faith and leadership were tested when the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem.

Hezekiah's Prayer

The account of Hezekiah's prayer is found in 2 Kings 19:14-19 and Isaiah 37:14-20. Faced with the overwhelming might of the Assyrian army and the blasphemous taunts of Sennacherib's envoys, Hezekiah turned to the LORD in earnest prayer. Hezekiah received a threatening letter from the Assyrians, which he took to the temple and spread out before the LORD. His prayer is a model of humility and faith, acknowledging God's sovereignty and pleading for deliverance not only for the sake of Judah but for the glory of God's name.

Hezekiah's prayer begins with an acknowledgment of God's unique position: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth" (2 Kings 19:15). Hezekiah appeals to God's power and past acts of deliverance, asking Him to hear and see the reproach of the Assyrians. He concludes by asking God to save Judah so that "all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God" (2 Kings 19:19).

God's Response

God's response to Hezekiah's prayer is immediate and decisive. Through the prophet Isaiah, God assures Hezekiah that He has heard his prayer concerning Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:20). The LORD declares that the Assyrian king will not enter Jerusalem or shoot an arrow there. Instead, he will return by the way he came, and the city will be defended for God's sake and for the sake of David, His servant (2 Kings 19:32-34).

The fulfillment of God's promise is recorded in 2 Kings 19:35-37. That very night, the angel of the LORD struck down 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp, leading to Sennacherib's retreat to Nineveh, where he was later assassinated by his own sons. This miraculous deliverance underscored God's power and faithfulness, affirming His protection over Jerusalem and His ability to save His people against overwhelming odds.

Significance

Hezekiah's prayer and God's response highlight the power of sincere, faith-filled prayer and the importance of relying on God in times of crisis. The narrative demonstrates God's sovereignty over nations and His commitment to His covenant people. It serves as a testament to the truth that God hears the prayers of the righteous and acts for the sake of His name and glory.