A Prayer For Deliverance

By David Woods

Open: Who was the most profane person you have ever known?

Read 2 Kings 18:28-35

     The "Introduction" for this lesson says:

At the center of today's lesson is King Hezekiah.  Hezekiah means "the Lord has strengthened."  He reigned over the kingdom of Judah from about 715 to 690 B.C. and is remembered as one of her greatest kings.  "From his weak and unprincipled father Ahaz . . . Hezekiah inherited not only a disorganized realm but a grievous burden of Assyrian dominance and tribute and the constant peril and suspense of greater encroachments from that arrogant and arbitrary power" (The International Standard Bible Ency.).
The events of this study took place around 701 B.C.  Judah's fortified cities had fallen.  Jerusalem was besieged.  From these circumstances Hezekiah sought peace of Sennacherib.  To buy peace, Hezekiah had to surrender all the wealth of the Temple and the royal treasuries.  Still Sennacherib demanded more.  Hezekiah requested help from Egypt.
Sennacherib sent Rabshekah, who mocked God by saying that even He could not deliver Jerusalem now.  "Other peoples had their gods," Rabshakeh said, "and they could not deliver them.  Your God will be unable to deliver you."

Read 2 Kings 19:14-19

     Hezekiah's first response to Sennacherib's letter was not: a curt reply, whining in despair, or summoning his militia.  Rather, he first went to God's house to seek God's help.

Discussion: How can we train ourselves to look to God for help first instead of last?

Discussion: Why did Hezekiah take time to worship God before presenting his urgent request?

Discussion: Is there a substantive difference between the two following prayers?  If so, what is it? A) "Dear God, please help me with this problem I am having." B) "Dear God, please consider this problem I am having.  I need your help with it."

Discussion: Why was it important for Hezekiah to note the military success Assyria had?

Discussion: What was Hezekiah's plan to defeat Sennacherib?

Discussion: Why did Hezekiah feel God should answer his prayer?

Discussion: What kind of person was Hezekiah?  What does our Scripture tell us about this king?
(The "Teaching Tips" notes: 1. He was jealous of God's honor. 2. He was conscious of his own weakness. 3. He was trusting in God's power to save. 4. He relied on the power of prayer.)

Read 2 Kings 19:30-31

     In these verses we read that God had his prophet tell Hezekiah of God's answer to prayer before it was delivered.

Discussion: Can we today know how God will answer our prayer before it is actually answered?

     In the "Doctrinal Discussion" for our lesson there are some comments on the "gift of faith":

In the case of Hezekiah, God gave him the assurance prior to the actual happening that the answer was coming.  In New Testament terms that is the "gift of faith."  The gift of faith is something totally separate from saving faith.  It is the assurance from the Holy Spirit that a thing will be done in the future in answer to our prayer.  Such an assurance settles the soul as much as if the event had already taken place.
In his excellent chapter on the subject in his book, Faith Papers, Dr. S.A. Keen makes some important observations.  He comments that this gift is "the indispensable antecedent of supernatural results in nature and mind through human agency."  When God is about to do something supernatural, we cannot believe it without the gift of faith.  Keen cites several biblical illustrations, including the announcement to Mary that she would bear a son.
Keen also suggests that the gift of faith is necessary before "the prayer of faith shall save the sick" (Jas. 5:15).  That would certainly explain why not all the people we anoint and pray for are healed.
Like all gifts of the Spirit, the gift of faith cannot be earned.  The Holy Spirit gives these gifts as He sees fit.  There is no requirement anywhere in the Bible that we must have it, although we are exhorted to "covet earnestly the best gifts" (I Cor. 12:31).  The gift of faith is no spiritual barometer.  And it may not stay with a person.  It comes as the time of need.  Quite clearly Hezekiah did not always have it, but in answer to fervent prayer, and to glorify His own name, God gave it.
(p. 28)

     To be perfectly honest, I have not heard much teaching on this "gift of faith", so I do not feel too qualified to comment much on this subject. However, I believe that we should have faith in God's power to answer our prayers.  Furthermore, if our faith is weak, I believe God would have us ask Him to give us faith to trust Him.

Discussion: What does God's response tell us about the reason why God answer Hezekiah's prayer this way?

Read 2 Kings 19:32-35

     We understand that God has a sovereign will that will not change no matter what.  We understand also that despite God's sovereignty man can make choices against God's will.

Discussion: What does verse 34 teach us about God's will?

     Probably all of us have prayed for certain things and God did not grant our request.  Sometimes, we may even feel like God is ignoring us.

     For such prayers, we often feel like we have the faith.  We believe God will answer our prayers.  Yet we are frustrated by His silence.

Discussion: How should we respond to God's apparent denial to our request or even His apparent ignoring of our request?

     The "Doctrinal Discussion" says how we respond to God's apparent lack of response depends primarily on our concept of God.

Discussion: What does our response to God's apparent unresponsiveness tell us about our concept of God?  Is it a proper concept?

     I am afraid I do not know how to answer all the questions about prayer than can be raised.  However, I do know this:

There is no problem to great for God.

(Note to Teacher: There are several illustrations of God answering prayer in this week's lesson which you might want to read during or at the end of this lesson.)

"The mission of the Church of God (Holiness) is to exalt Christ, equip the Church, and evangelize the world."

© 2008 COGH.net