That All will Know

In II Kings 19, Hezekiah prays.

O Lord, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. … Now, O Lord our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God.

And this is part of God’s answer…

‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake..

Hezekiah prayed an earnest prayer, starting with exaltation of who God is. 

Remember in the New Testament, Jesus tells us to start with “Our Father who art in heaven…thy kingdom come…?”  Hezekiah began with acknowledging God’s authority over all the earth and every kingdom in it.

That’s the best way to begin a prayer, because it sets our heart into a receiving mode of God’s answer, knowing whatever He says and does is right and best.

After the exaltation, Hezekiah asks for deliverance, so that all kingdoms would know the same thing Hezekiah already knew and acknowledged – that God alone was God.

That’s the best way to end a prayer, asking for what we need, but not for ourselves – but for others to know God and his great power.

And guess what?

God answered Hezekiah’s prayer and God’s name was glorified.

Today…acknowledge God and all that He is, make your requests, and expect God’s name to be glorified by the answer he sends.