So all the earth may know…
“Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers’ hands, read it, then went up to the LORD’s temple, and spread it out before the LORD:
… you are God – you alone – of all the kingdoms of the earth. Listen closely, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see…. Now, LORD our God, please save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are God – you alone.” – 2 Kings 19:14-16,19, CSB
Clear and present danger
The threat Hezekiah was facing was very real. The threatening enemy force loomed large and powerful, and many other foes had already fallen before their military might. As king, Hezekiah knew that how he would choose to respond was going to affect the lives and well-being of his people. Should he fight? Negotiate? Surrender? What should he do? And, like Hezekiah, when we face overwhelming life moments, what should we do?
God is sovereign over your problem
This king, whose decisions would shape the lives of families and cities, did the wisest thing anyone can do when the odds are staggering: he spread it out before the Lord, bringing the dilemma to God. Note that Hezekiah didn’t just pray the problem! Rather, he was open, honest, and transparent before God, while also declaring God’s exclusive sovereignty over all the nations.
“You are God – you alone – of all the kingdoms of the earth.” It was to this sovereign God that he prayed, and it was before those nations that he wanted to see God receiving great glory. “Save us, God!” he prayed. “Let all kingdoms recognize You like I do.” His focus in the middle of daunting dilemma was God, God’s glory, and God’s power to save.
Think:
Are you facing any dilemmas or decisions – not only dangerous or threatening ones – where others are depending on the choice you make? How and when will you spread that decision out before the Lord, telling Him the facts and then declaring His sovereignty over the situation?
The pressure to not let down the people who are counting on you can be very overwhelming! Shifting your own focus from your performance, or even the dependence of others on you, to focus instead on God’s power and glory is both encouraging and faith-restoring. Hezekiah spoke this part out loud, and you will likely need to do that as well.
Hezekiah, a king, prayed for other kingdoms to see the glory of God. Who else could begin to comprehend the saving power of God through your situation? Include them in your prayer today.
Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, may I have wisdom like Hezekiah to bring my challenges to You. In the face of the most daunting of decisions and the most troubling of dilemmas, may I remember this healthy perspective of Your power to rescue, even in the direst circumstance. Over the nations and over my situation, You alone are God. Over my life and my problems, You alone are God. When others are depending on the decisions I make, it’s so good to remember that You – not me – are sovereign.”