After hearing the blasphemous threats that King Sennacherib of Assyria and his commander made against Judah, King Hezekiah humbled himself and sought the Lord. He knew he did not have the ability himself to fight against such a powerful army. He sent messengers to the prophet Isaiah to ask for prayer. Hezekiah was not very confident, but he had hope that the Lord might hear the words spoken by the Assyrians and rebuke them (4).

Isaiah gave Hezekiah the Lord’s promise that the king of Assyria would soon be cut down (7). Then the commander withdrew from Judah for a short time but sent another threatening message (9-13). At this time, Hezekiah decided to pray for himself. He spread the Assyrians’ letter out before the Lord, confessed the Lord as the only God of heaven and earth, and asked God to help for the sake of his own name—that all nations may know he is God. Hezekiah’s personal faith is growing.

When we see powerful people do destructive things and then boldly lie and blaspheme, we may wonder if God even hears. First of all, we should pray earnestly. Then we can be assured that the Lord hears, and we will see God work in our time.
Application: Father, thank you that you hear the words of the wicked and act on your own behalf. Please do so in our time.
One Word: O Lord, hear and act