How Leaders Should Pray

When the message from Rabshekeh reaches Hezekiah about Sennecarib's insulting taunt, we find the king's response incredibly specific. He seeks God. But he teaches us how leaders should do so. 

Isaiah 37:1–4 (ESV) As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the LORD. 2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. 4 It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”

He sends a message to Isaiah the prophet. That's where you go when you need direction. To the Word of God through his prophets. Today we have the Bible for that very purpose - to give us help in our time of need. 

He is also honest with the situation. Hezekiah does not put on a showy pretense of vain religion. He knows it's a bad time. He uses the analogy of a woman unable to deliver a child. What does that show you about Hezekiah's view of the situation? It shows you he knows there's hope but he does not have what it takes to bring it about. He knows there's a child to be born but he is unable to deliver it. That's prayer. We know there's an answer but we can do nothing to make it happen. We are totally dependent on God. 

He defines the feeling he has about what's going on and he appeals to Isaiah to intervene. It's interesting because his speaking to Isaiah exposes our inward need to have a mediator in times of difficulty between us and the Lord. 

Isaiah delivers the Lord's response:

Isaiah 37:6–7 (ESV) Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’ ”

And so it comes to pass. Sennacherib does hear of an invasion from Cush and sets out to fight against them. But as he goes he sends more intimidating words to Hezekiah through his messengers. And I love what Hezekiah does then. 

Isaiah 37:14 (ESV) Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

He showed God what was written about him and against him. He laid it out. Good prayer does that. We don't hide, we are honest about our problems, both inwardly and externally. We don't have to pretend we are full of faith when we are not. We can show God what is bothering us, even if they are the lies of our enemies.

Then the final act of prayer from Hezekiah shows the kind of faith we need when we approach the Lord. 

Isaiah 37:15–20 (ESV) And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: 16 “O LORD of hosts, 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. 17 Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 18 Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD.”

He acknowledges that God is over the nations and lands. He knows their gods are nothing but the work of men's hands. He prays for deliverance from the oppression of his enemy and he prays for this deliverance with the ultimate aim that "all the kingdoms of earth may know HE alone is the LORD!"

That's how leaders should pray. They need to center the purpose of their request on the glorification of God among the people. God help us, so that the world may know there is no help outside of you.