Read 2 Kings 19:8-20
Sennacherib was cutting a
swath across the Middle East conquering one nation after another, including
northern Israel, which the king of Assyria had already carried away into exile
(2 Kings 18:11). But Hezekiah, king of
southern Judah, was not giving in. He was willing to pay a peace price, but was
not going to surrender (2 Kings 18:13-16). Rabshakeh, Sennacherib’s
general, got nasty with military intimidation and a public campaign to spiritually demoralize. (2Kings 18:29,30) Big mistake, he
made it about God. That is exactly where Hezekiah took this great need.
He brought the threats, accusations and very real danger and literally laid it
out before the Lord. He knew prayer is where need partners with faith.
The truth about prayer
requests is that they are requests. They are not informing an all-knowing
God about what is going on. It is not a wish list, nor is it placing an order
at God-mart. It is a declaration of dependency. Philippians 4:6 tells us
not to stress out, but in everything – all situations, big, little,
simple or complicated - come to the Lord in “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”
Prayer (proseuche) is simply communication with God. We are to get
together with Him and talk it all out. The word translated “supplication”
is deesis, which is often translated “prayer” as well (i.e. James 5:16 and 1 Peter 3:12.) However, this word
specifically refers to the state of acknowledged dependency: we come to
God with this need because He alone has what we need. An attitude of gratitude
needs to accompany this acknowledgment, as it recognizes that His responding to
this request is pure grace.
Whether asking someone to
hand you something or asking God to heal your child, with any request there is
a need, a desire, a hope and a dependency. We wouldn’t ask if we could do
it ourselves. It is beyond our control, resources or ability, thus a
need. We know how we would like it done and when, that encompasses our
desire. Our hope or level of expectation is based on the character of the one
being asked, as well as our relationship with that person. The level of
intimacy in that relationship determines the extent of expectation.
Hopefully, we all have at least one friend we can ask anything of.
In addition to need,
desire, hope and dependency, with a request there is also always options: (1)
The option of if – saying “yes” or “no,” doing it or not doing it; (2) the
option of when; and (3) the option of how. It is the lack of options that
make our “request” really a politely stated demand or command.
Disappointment with God often stems from unanswered prayers that are really
demands disguised as requests. We need to trust Him be God, knowing that the
option He will choose in answering our request will always have maximum glory
and grace at the core.
“Be God” was Hezekiah’s
prayer: “Let all the kingdoms of the earth know that You alone, O Lord, are
God.” As we entrust our need to His loving hands, our prayer too
needs to be two-fold: “Be God! And open our eyes and the eyes of everyone
around us to Your glorious and gracious workings. Let us see Your fingerprints
on and in everything.” God’s answer: “Because you prayed to Me about
Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.” When God hears, we know He
will be amazing. (1 John 5:14,15)
Making It Personal
Prayer is where need
partners with faith. How does your belief in who God is, as well as what
He does, can or will do impact how you pray?
Job stated, “Oh that my
request might come to pass, and that God would grant my longing!” (Job
6:8) Is it ok to really want what you want?
Job wanted to die. God
wanted something better for him. What would be required of you to want
what God wants (what, when or how) even more than what you really,
really want?
How does remembering that
prayer requests are requests impact your attitude regarding prayer?
Have an honest conversation
with God.
• What is the need you or
someone you care about is facing?
In Philippians 4:6, we are told to “let your
requests be made known to God.” The word translated “made known” is gnorizo,
which actually means “to lay out before.” Like playing cards, one by one, we
are to lay out our requests before God – our fears, concerns, needs and
longings, the “facts” as we understand them, our hopes and desires. That is
what Hezekiah did. Then, rather than gathering up our “cards” until next prayer
time, we have to let HIM “play the hand.” We have to trust Him to be God in
regards to this request.
