Rear Guard Prayers

“Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amaz, prayed and cried out to heaven.  Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria…Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”  2 Chronicles 32: 20-22

Father, we thank you that you fight on behalf of Deeper Still.  We thank you that you send your angelic armies out before us and cut down every enemy scheme and tactic.  We thank you that you protect Deeper Still, the Deeper Still Team and deliver your people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hezekiah was a king who honored the Lord by tearing down the high places and all alters and images of false gods. It says in 2 Chronicles 31 that he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God.  In 2 Chronicles 32, it says, “After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities thinking to win them over to himself.”(emphasis added)

The enemy came to attack after Hezekiah was so faithful.  We have an enemy too who may try to attack after we have done what is good, right and true.  We need prayer warriors like King Hezekiah and Isaiah who will pray and cry out to heaven. 

And I love how when they cried out and prayed, the Lord fought for them.

They had prepared for battle.  In 2 Chronicles 32:3-7, it describes all the extensive ways they had prepared and fortified themselves to stand up under attack.  King Hezekiah encouraged his armies stating, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.  With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and fight our battles.”

The enemy “called out with a loud voice in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them.”   Our enemy also tries to call out in a loud voice in a language we understand to frighten or trouble us.  When our enemy calls, we need to cry.  Not cry tears, but cry out.  Our cries should always be louder and greater than the enemy calls. 

King Hezekiah and his people may have been frightened or troubled.  But, they were prepared and pressed on in prayer.

They prepared and pressed on in prayer.   In the end, they didn’t even have to lift a spear.  It says an angel of the Lord came and cut every single enemy down!  Hallelujah!

Yes, we have an enemy.  Yes, he is out to destroy us and make us doubt God will come on our behalf. He comes thinking he can overtake us.  But, greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4).  The numbers are in our favor. There are more with us.  The Lord our God is with us to help us and He fights our battles.  We just need to cry out, stand and watch Him be victorious!