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2 Kings 19:14 - A Life Of Prayer.

2 Kings 19:14 - A Life Of Prayer.

2 Kings 19:14 (NIV) Hezekiah received the letter from the 
messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and 
spread it out before the Lord.  

2 Kings 19:14 (NLT) After Hezekiah received the letter from the 
messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord's Temple and spread it out 
before the Lord.  

CONTEXT: Hezekiah's Prayer: 2 Kings 19:14-19.

Overview
Hezekiah's godly character is praised (18:1-8). He rebelled 
against Assyria, leading to an invasion by Shalmaneser and destruction 
of many fortified cities (vv. 9-16). But when Hezekiah appealed to 
the LORD, Assyria was turned away from Jerusalem (v. 17-19:37), and 
the Southern Kingdom was preserved. The account of Hezekiah 
concludes with the story of an earlier healing and an unwise welcome of 
envoys from Babylon (20:1-21). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

Background
  The material on Hezekiah is organized by theme rather than 
chronology. His healing (2 Kings 20) took place before the Assyrian invasion 
(2 Kings 18-19). 
  Hezekiah's first years of independent rule, from about 715 to 
705 B.C, were spent in religious reforms. He then boldly rebelled 
against Assyria, which was weakened by internal strife. He attacked and 
defeated Assyria's vassal, Philistia, and set about strengthening Judah's 
defenses. In 701 B.C. a new ruler, Sennacherib, turned to the west to deal 
with the rebel coalition headed by Judah and supported by Egypt. The 
Assyrians swept along the seacoast and attacked Judah from the west, 
destroying the key fortified city of Lachish. Sennacherib then prepared to 
attack Jerusalem. The dramatic story of how he was turned back is told 
in 2 Kings 19-20, and again in 2 Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 36-39. 
Sennacherib never returned to Judah. Twenty years later he was assassinated 
by two of his sons. 
  Pictorial reliefs of the siege of Lachish decorate 
Sennacherib's palace in Assyria. Assyrian records detail the spoil taken from 
Judah (cf. 2 Kings 18:14) and claim to have "shut Hezekiah up like a 
caged bird in Jerusalem." But the great king failed to take Judah's 
capital before rushing home. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

APPLICATION COMMENTARY With Emphasis on verse 14:

Hezekiah depended on the Word of God and prayer; he spread the 
matter before the Lord. His only desire was to glorify the Lord before 
that heathen army (19:19). God gave him a message of peace and 
victory (19:6-7), and the enemy was defeated. God knows the battles you 
fight, and He will give you the help you need. Spread the matter before 
Him in faith, and seek to glorify His name. [Chapter by Chapter 
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] 

  What is your first reaction when a seemingly impossible 
situation rears its ugly head? When you are befuddled, caught off guard, 
gut punched, or waylaid, how do you respond?  
  Christians are not above being stymied by life's difficulties. 
As we grow in our faith, however, we should find that our knee-jerk 
reactions change. Hezekiah's did. When the conquering, evil king sent a 
horrifying message, Hezekiah didn't panic. He went straight to God instead. 
Instead of simply reacting, Hezekiah created a space where God could 
breathe his power into the situation.  
  That's a good example to follow. Becoming a believer does not 
remove life's problems. When the problem arrives -- by mail, from the 
doctor's office, in a phone call -- "spread it out before the Lord." 
Invite God into the problem. Instead of bustling around in your own 
strength or giving up because you know you're not strong enough, lay it 
before God and see what he says. [The One Year Bible for New Believers 
re 2 Kings 19:14] 

If this verse is true, and it most certainly is, why do we so 
often disregard God?  Do we treat Him with a token quiet time some 
days?  Do we run to Him in a crisis and ignore Him when things are 
running smoothly?  What we need to understand is that God created the 
earth with His Word; He determines the times and places of each 
person's life;  He knows the number of hairs on our head;  He ordained 
the number of days of each life and wrote them in His book.  What 
would/could the Christian life be like if we were able to live in a 
continuous attitude of prayer with God; if we continuously acknowledged His 
presence; if we remained in an on-going posture of listening for His 
voice.  Be thankful that each day brings new beginning.  Today we have 
the opportunity to start over and make Jesus top priority!  Let's do 
it! [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom] 

Luke 18:1 (RSV) And he told them a parable, to the effect that 
they ought always to pray and not lose heart.  

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) pray without ceasing, 

SPECIAL LINKS ON PRAYER:

Teach Us To Pray by Pastor Doug Batchelor:

http://www.amazingfacts.org/Resources/Download/PBLib/BK-TUTP.PDF

The God Jesus Knew by Pastor Randy Roberts:

http://lluc.org/site/1/podcast/901-10csermon.mp3

The Privilege of Prayer chapter in booklet Steps to Christ by E 
G White: 

http://www.whiteestate.org/books/sc/sc11.html