Hezekiah’s second prayer

Xanthe Galanis

The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Isaiah 38:1-3

Things aren’t going well for the King of Judah. First it was an attack on the city, and now he told he is going to die. Yesterday, we saw how he responded to a military crisis. Today we see that he responds the same way to a personal one. Hezekiah desperately needed to pray; and so turned his face to the wall and wept. We can learn a lot from the way the king brought his latest request to God.  It wasn’t a particularly calm or dignified prayer.  He argues with God, tears streaming down his face, desperate for his life.

Prayer is communicating. Prayer can be complaining, arguing, sad and sorry. God will listen to whatever we need to say, regardless of how we say it. Throughout the Bible, people argue with God and cry out in pain. When we are done venting, crying, complaining, and pouring out our broken hearts, then God can begin to soothe and comfort us. In the silences and exhaustion, when there’s nothing more to say, we can be still and wait for God to respond. He may not respond the way you want or expect, but he will respond. We can trust that promise.

Hezekiah had a heart of prayer, a heart where he would pour himself out before the Lord. Do you have that heart of prayer today?

The LORD heard Hezekiah's prayer, saw his tears, and was not unmoved. He granted Hezekiah fifteen more years of life. Isaiah instructed that a fig poultice be applied to the boil that was making Hezekiah mortally ill, and Hezekiah did not die after all, but recovered (Isa 38).

Prayer: God, help me trust you enough to pray from my heart sincerely, in Jesus’ name.  Amen