The "Logic" of Prayer

In 2 Kings 19 Hezekiah was faced with a distressful situation. Assyrian leadership was threatening to take them out. They had been successful in taking out nation after nation and were now claiming they'd do the same with Israel unless they cooperated.

When Hezekiah heard this message, what would he do? Would he seek to make an alliance with another nation, say Egypt, to ward off this threat? Would he try to pay off the Assyrians as was common practice? Would he use his superior intellect and think of a way out of this predicament?

In this instance Hezekiah did the best thing. He tore his clothes (a sign of humbling himself before God), went into the house of the Lord, sent messengers to seek the prayers of the prophet Isaiah, and lifted his own voice in prayer. Confronted with a most dire situations, Hezekiah prayed. Does that make sense? Isn't prayer just an excuse for inaction?

Actually prayer is the most "logical" thing to do. When you consider who God is, when you consider what He has done, it makes the most sense to look to Him in times of distress (actually at all times.) That's why Hezekiah prayed.

In 2 Kings 19:15 he starts off his own prayer acknowledging who this God is. He said, "O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth." Not only does Hezekiah acknowledge who God is but he also declares the truth about the gods of the other nations. He says in 19:17-18, "Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, woood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed."

A similar thought is found is Psalm 135 (4th column readers). The psalmist said, "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of man's hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them becomed like them, so do all who trust in them."

In light of his present crisis Hezekiah looked to the most powerful reality to him,...and that was God. In like manner it makes most sense for us to do the same. We need to train our minds to look first to Christ, to offer our prayers to Him, before resorting to human ingenuity.

Hebrews 1 gives us at least 13 things to think about regarding our Lord - His character and His works. When we consider these things and consider that they are but the "tip of the iceberg" it should make great sense that our first "act" during any crisis is to humble ourselves and offer up our prayer.

Consider the following about the Lord from Hebrews 1 and may it convince you regarding the "logic" of prayer.

1. He is the communication of God to us.
2. He is the heir of all things
3. Through Christ the world was made
4. He is the radiance of the glory of God; the exact imprint of His nature
5. He upholds the universe
6. He made purificatino of sins
7. He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high
8. He is much superior than the angels; He is to be worshipped by them
9. He is the Son of God
10. His throne is forever and ever
11. He is our righteousness
12. He changes not and will outlast the creation
13. All things will be subjected to Him in God's time

May we all be like Hezekiah and look first to the Lord Jesus, for He is God of Gods and Lord and Lords.