Isa 37:20

Isa 37:20  Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.  In Isaiah 36, we read of the king of Assyria’s threat to Hezekiah and Judah. In Isaiah 37, we have the prayer of Hezekiah. When Hezekiah heard the message from the king of Assyria, he was afraid. He sent for the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah told him not to worry for God would punish Assyria. God said to Hezekiah: “Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land” (v.7).                              True enough, the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians (v.36). And, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was murdered by two of his sons (v.38). Hezekiah trusted in Jehovah God. When he was in trouble, the first thing he did was to go to God in prayer (v.14-20). God heard his prayer and answered it (v.21-38). James says: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Hezekiah’s prayer was effectual because he was righteous. What does “effectual fervent” mean? The Greek word is “energeō” which we have the English word “energy”. “Effectual fervent” signifies energetic supplication. It is a prayer that is fervent, sincere, earnest, and coming from the heart. From James 5:16, we learn that for a prayer to be of use, it must meet three conditions: 1. It must be effectual. 2. It must t be fervent. 3. The heart must be righteous before God. Most prayers are offered in a lukewarm attitude. They are just routine and going through the motion. There is no energy, no earnestness, and even by hearts that are not right with God. Such prayers are fruitless because the person prays for the sake of praying; because he is called to pray. In the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican’s Prayer recorded in Luke 18:9-14, we see the Pharisee made a long prayer and yet was condemned. Why? Because his heart was not right, its content was wanting, and it’s a self-praising prayer. The Publican’s prayer was short and accepted by God. Why? It was fervent; he was beating his chest. It proceeded from a humble heart. Much of our prayers are not effective simply because they are not fervent. They are offered with a lukewarm attitude that virtually asks God to care about something that the prayer leaders care little about. Can you imagine the person who is leading in prayer for a sister who is struggling through cancer but doesn’t remember her in the past six days? Does he care? Will that be a fervent prayer? Effective prayers are fervent and sincere. They gain God’s heart by being fervent for the things He is fervent for. God cares for that sister who is struggling daily in her cancer. Do you care? Our prayers will be different if we care because they will proceed from a heart who earnestly desires that sister to be healed. That prayer will be fervent. Look how the publican prayed: “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). He was sincerely requesting God to forgive his sins. Many prayers are mechanical: “Please forgive our sins.” And, the prayer is over. Hezekiah prayed and God answered. A publican’s prayer was heard. Will God hear your prayers?