HEZEKIAH – SIMPLICITY IN PRAYER

And Hezekiah…spread it before the Lord – Isa.37:14

“Simplicity is not necessarily stupidity. A man may be childlike without being childish. Indeed, faith is always characterized by simplicity. Hezekiah, king, soldier and poet, was artless in his relation with God. Rabshakeh and his overwhelming hosts were surrounding the royal city. He was using every wile to shake the morale of the people. When confronted with a taunting and blasphemous letter from Rabshakeh, Hezekiah’s spontaneous reaction was to commit the matter to his God. “Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord.” Behold the simplicity of faith! As though God could not read the letter when rolled! But his was a simplicity which moved the heart and hand of God. Hear the sequel. “Then the angel of the Lord…smote…of the Assyrians a hundred and four score and five thousand.” Mighty armies are defenceless before the feeble breath of prayer. Hezekiah’s enemies were destroyed not by his military might or strategy but by his simple prayer.

To ask God to reconsider and revoke His decree presented no insuperable problem to this man of simple heart. When Isaiah communicated to him God’s edict that he would die, his faith was not staggered. As was his habit, he turned to God in prayer (38:2, 3). And in response to his prayer God changed His mind!

Think of the height to which his prayer soared. Not only did he have no promise of healing as a basis for his faith, but he had the decree of God that he should die. I spite of this he pressed his plea, and God responded magnificently. After this experience, we need never doubt the power of prayer to move the hand of God. The man who knows God may even reverently challenge His decrees.”