Prayer Moved Jehovah to Intervene
I want to start out by giving you a brief quiz.
Is the following statement True or False?
"The prayers of righteous people are completely ineffectual."
The Bible Answer Is found at James 5:16 where it assures us that "A righteous man’s supplication has a powerful effect."
Hence, supplications or intense prayers can have a powerful effect when they're uttered by righteous people. King Hezekiah of Judah was one such righteous person. Did his prayers have a powerful effect?
2 Kings 20:1-We can just imagine the scene. The Assyrians brought major force against Jerusalem while Hezekiah was sick to the point of death, and Isaiah told the king that he would not recover from his illness: he would certainly die. To make matters worse, Hezekiah had no heir to succeed him. Therefore, he wondered who would fight for Jerusalem after his demise? What would Hezekiah do in this situation?
2 Kings 20:2-3-what kind of prayer did Hezekiah offer? He offered supplications because the account says he begged Jehovah to remember his faithful course and how he had walked with a complete heart before God. Hezekiah's prayer was intense, even accompanied by profuse tears.
What was the result of this earnest entreaty to Jehovah?
2 Kings 20:4-6 answers.
Would you say that Hezekiah's prayer had a powerful effect? Yes, it caused Jehovah to intervene and extend the life of Hezekiah by fifteen years. Is there a lesson for us today?
We learn that our supplications to Jehovah are never in vain. It is possible that Jehovah might be moved by our supplications to act and do something he otherwise might not have done; our supplications might cause Jehovah to intervene as he did in Hezekiah's case. However, we don't necessarily expect miraculous healings today or longer lives because we offer supplications. Nevertheless, we can be confident that Jehovah will give us what we need to endure hardship and distress if we earnestly implore him (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jehovah invites us to pour out our hearts to him (Psalm 62:8). So, regardless of the outcome, it is good to know that the prayers of righteous persons are effectual and powerful.
2Corinthians ch.12:8,9 NIV "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
ReplyDeleteJEHOVAH always answers the prayers of his loyalists, sometimes his answer is no. His "yes" is good food and drink. His "no" is good medicine.
Thanks servant. I heard similar thoughts in a talk today, which used Matthew 26:39
ReplyDelete2Samuel ch.2:30" ...for them that honor me I will honor, ..."
ReplyDeleteWe know that JEHOVAH our Lord has no problem sharing honor with his loyalists , but of course we reserve the best part of our offerings(the fat if you will) in that regard for our master.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ReplyDelete