Shut In but Not Shut Off From God!

TEXT:

‘Because you have prayed to Me’ (Isaiah 37:21)

THOUGHT:

We are now into the fourth week of lockdown, with another two to go at the least. Early Thursday morning I was reading in the Book of Isaiah how King Hezekiah reacted to his lockdown. There are four key things to consider that will help us too.

• They were shut in

Jerusalem was in lockdown due to the invading Assyrian army. It was too dangerous to venture outside the city gates, so the Jews were under siege. Some were better equipped to cope than others, due to wealth, influence or resources. Others were desperate for food. This is true today. Many will come through the Coronavirus crisis virtually unscathed with finances intact. Other than the frustration of a changed lifestyle and of course the thought that they might have been the virus’ next victim, life will quickly return to some sense of normality.  For countless others, it is a totally different situation. Their lives are now full of uncertainty, fear and hardship. With a future unknown, life will be anything but normal.

Although the enemy had caused the Jews to be shut in, they were not shut off from God. Over them was an open heaven. It was this truth that made all the difference.

• Spread out the report before God

The Assyrian King had to make an unexpected retreat to deal with a threat nearer to home,¹ but he sent a letter to King Hezekiah not to get over-confident that the crisis was now over. He boasted of past conquests and threatened that Jerusalem would be the next city to fall, whatever confidence they had in their God. Hezekiah immediately took the letter into the temple and spread it out before God. He pleaded with God to intervene.

I want to encourage you to write down how this virus is affecting you and those you love. Is it the fear of death, loneliness, loss of fellowship and family contact, uncertainty concerning job and finances that troubles you the most? Then find a quiet place in your home, kneel down if you are able and spread out your concerns before God. Humble yourself and ask for His help. The government may be making decisions that will slowly turn things around, but the devastation will last much longer and you need help right now!

• Speak to the Lord

Hezekiah added his prayer request to the report. He asked God to save them from this invading army. He thanked God that He was God over all the earth, not just Jerusalem. He believed that God had the power to intervene and destroy the enemy.

Saying The Lord’s Prayer parrot-fashioned is not enough because Jesus taught against praying vain repetitions.² God will not necessarily respond even if there are one million Lord’s Prayers being prayed simultaneously. God responds to faith in who He is. Vocalise how you would like God to act on your behalf. Do not be timid but come boldly to God’s throne of grace and find mercy and grace to help in your time of need.³

• Let God speak to you

While Hezekiah was still praying for the answer, God was giving His answer to the prophet Isaiah. “Go and tell Hezekiah, because you have prayed to me, I am going to deal with this situation on your behalf!” God was true to His word and the Assyrian army was destroyed, never to trouble them again.⁴

Once you have prayed and poured out your heart to God, keep your ears and eyes open, because God will answer you, whether directly or through another person. Hezekiah spoke about God on a later occasion, ‘He has both spoken to me and He Himself has done it’ (Isaiah 38:15).

The one thing God does want you to know is, having called on Him, He has this promise for you:

’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:11-13). I look forward to hearing reports of how God has answered your prayers!

Finally, how Hezekiah reacted in this situation helped prepare him for the next challenge that confronted him. This time it was his health. ⁵ The battle we win today will help us to overcome tomorrow. For Hezekiah that meant recovery from a life-threatening illness and an extra fifteen years added to his life.⁶

Endnotes

¹ Isaiah 37:8-13

² Matthew 6:5-15

³ Hebrews 4:16

⁴ Isaiah 37:36-38

⁵ Isaiah 38:1-3

⁶ Isaiah 38:4-5