Yes, one can trace Hezekiah’s progress in the life of prayer.

He’s the man who asked for, and received THINGS from the Lord!

And that’s the part of prayer that I’d like to de-emphasize really. Prayer is more, much more, than just getting from God! It is learning to praise God! To thank God! To confess sins! To gain wisdom and insight into Scripture! To overcome discouragement! To intercede for others whom you love! Honing one’s intimacy with God, too!

Nonetheless, Hezekiah (and you and me too) proves that God does give things … in answer to prayer.

By the way, our Lesson on Jabez illustrated this fact as well. And it is archived here on the Website. And God did promise us: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty THINGS, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Three times I see Hezekiah getting some thing from God!

Once his city was besieged by a foreign power. Assyria meant harm to Jerusalem. Hezekiah (the King) asked Isaiah (the Prophet) to pray. and … the enemy left town, detracted by troubles elsewhere! The thing was granted, safety!

Then later the army (the most powerful on earth) returned! With a vengeance. And with nearly 200,000 troops! Hezekiah prayed (this time without the mediator Isaiah) and God miraculously killed (by means of the Angel of the Lord) 185,000 attackers, as they slept! God granted a thing, an astounding thing! National well-being!

Then even later in life Hezekiah got sick. With a terminal illness. But he prayed again! And God heard and answered, adding 15 more years to the King’s longevity. A thing was again given, as sought … life itself, more time!

THINGS!

I need another lesson tomorrow to continue these thoughts … but I do want to quote our Lord Jesus here. “I say unto you, Whatsoever (THINGS INCLUDED) ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give IT you.” John 16:23

What do you need today?

Be careful. “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” True, James 4:2.

But also true, we must ask unselfishly! “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Still James 4, verse 3 this time. “Amiss” here means (“kakos” in Greek) “good for nothing, wrong, improper.”

In fact I think … the “things” God gives us are merely ways to bring us closer to Him!

Keep praying!

Keep asking!

And you will keep receiving … things.

But also keep seeking a closer relationship with Jesus in the process.

Knowing Him … the greatest reward of prayer!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell