Prayer, Session 7: The Prayer of Hezekiah

Prayer

Read the passage: 2 Kings 19:8-20 (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Read 2 Kings 19:8-20

  1. What do you make of Hezekiah? How would you describe him?
  2. Look at 19v10-11: what does this tell us about the nature of doubt?
    • Are you aware of how others influence your faith, either by undermining it or strengthening it? Why do they have that kind of influence?
    • Who does God provide to combat the discouragement of the Rabshakeh?
    • Have you been aware of the Lord providing encouragers alongside those who sap your faith?
    • How much do you consider your responsibility to build up the faith of others? Look at Eph 4:12; Heb 10:24-25 – what do these verses teach us?
  3. Read v12-13: What part of his challenge is right, and which is wrong?
    • What is a modern day version of this challenge?
    • What’s an appropriate response?
  4. How does Hezekiah respond? (v14-15)
  5. Read v15-19: What’s the structure of his prayer?
  6. What’s the significance of Hezekiah describing God as being enthroned above the cherubim?
    (V14-15)
    • Compare Heb 10:19-22. How is our experience similar?
  7. How does Hezekiah see the scope of God’s authority?
  8. What is interesting about how Hezekiah describes God in v16? What is it an example of?
    • Why is the incarnation of Christ the ultimate fulfilment of these desires?
  9. What’s driving his requests in v16? What does he want God to see/hear?
  10. Look at v17-18: What is Hezekiah’s assessment of the situation?
    • Why is a correct assessment a (necessary) precursor for genuine prayer?
  11. Look at v19: what’s his request?
    • How much does the glory of God’s name/reputation feature in your responses to difficult situations? How can this grow?
  12. What’s encouraging about v20?

Recap & Reflect

  • In what areas are you currently struggling with doubt? How might this prayer help/teach you to deal with that?
  • How can you concretely go about encouraging others and pointing them to the truth?
  • How does Hezekiah see and describe God?
  • What did you find encouraging in studying Hezekiah’s prayer?

Leader’s notes

The notes are here to help you lead a group and answer tough questions. The idea isn’t to read the “right” answer out after each question, but rather to give you support or the helpful nudge in guiding your discussion in the right direction. Feel free to use them as best suits your group.

  1. Look at 19v10-11: what does this tell us about the nature of doubt?
    It’s an undermining of trust; others can be a source of it; the confusing of issues can increase doubt – the fact that other lands have fallen does not mean God cannot be trusted, or – taking a contemporary example, the fact that religious leaders sin, for example, does not mean the gospel is false.
    • Who does God provide to combat the discouragement of the Rabshakeh?
      The prophet Isaiah, speaking truth and encouragement
    • How much do you consider your responsibility to build up the faith of others? Look at Eph 4:12; Heb 10:24-25 – what do these verses teach us?
      We are responsible for encouraging and building up others in the faith, both in church, and in friendships
  2. Read v12-13: What part of his challenge is right, and which is wrong?
    The gods of the other nations have indeed failed to protect ‘their’ people; but that does not mean the God of Israel is like those gods or will fail to protect His people.
    • What is a modern day version of this challenge?
      The Rabshakeh is saying that Israel’s God is just one more god who will also fall to the king of Assyria. Modern day atheists, like Richard Dawkins, argue that the Christian God is just one more God – the last remaining one from the pantheon of gods people have worshipped over the years, and he too must fall to the god of science/reason.
  1. Read v15-19: What’s the structure of his prayer?
    v15 Worship – declaring who God is; V16 Petition for God to pay attention – to listen and to see; V17-18 Facing reality – the menace is real; V19 – petition for salvation to prove who is the true God
  2. What’s the significance of Hezekiah describing God as being enthroned above the cherubim?
    (V14-15)
    Hezekiah is in the temple; in the Most Holy Place was the ark of the covenant, with the Cherubim standing over it; it is God’s throne room; and this God is the real & ultimate king, not the king of Assyria; and his footstool – the ark – is the mercy seat – the place where God’s people can find mercy.
  3. How does Hezekiah see the scope of God’s authority?
    Though he calls him the God of Israel, he knows he alone is God over all and creator of all. He is not simply a territorial god.
  4. What is interesting about how Hezekiah describes God v16? What is it an example of?
    It is an example of anthropomorphism. He talks as if God had body parts. But God is spirit and has no body in this sense. It’s a way of us conceptualising God’s ability and willingness to see our need and hear our prayer – and to know he does so.
    • Why is the incarnation of Christ the ultimate fulfilment of these desires?
      God really does take on a human body and thus has totally identified himself with us.
  5. What’s driving his requests in v16? What does he want God to see/hear?
    The enemy’s mocking of God. It is clear that his major concern is God’s honour.
  1. Look at v19: what’s his request?
    Salvation and the honouring of God

Download the complete study: Bible study on Prayer (PDF)

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