1. Hezekiah’s Prayer 2 Kings 18:37-19:3

2. Hezekiah is Troubled 2 Kings 18:37-19:3

3. Surrounded by Wrath & Might of Assyrian Empire 2 Kings 18:7,13,17-20

4. Assyrians were one of the most warlike people in history, lovers of the violence of the war and hunt. Amongst the people of the ancient Middle East, they were famous for their cruelty. At the peak of its power, Assyria stretched from Egypt to Persian Gulf. Who Are the Assyrians?

8. Assyrians invented siege machines, like battering rams and mobile towers shooting arrows. The ram hanged on a rope inside the mobile tower. The whole population of the besieged towns would be massacred and the human heads piled outside the city's wall.

11. Besides massacring the enemy soldiers, Assyrians made mass deportations of the rulers (nobles, functionaries, craftsmen), so that the remaining people obeyed with humiliation (the most famous is that described in the Bible, of the Israeli to Babylon). Enemy kings were beheaded, and their heads hanged in trees and cities were destroyed. Women were made slaves.

12. Defeat of Lachish

13. King Jehu’s Tribute Black Obelisk

14. Carried away with hooks Amos 4:2

15. King Sennacherib: “No god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand…How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?” 2 Chron. 32:17

16. What would YOU do? Complain? Worry? Accuse? Blame? Give in? Quit? In the midst of this crisis

17. Hezekiah PRAISED GOD! 2 Ki. 19:14-19 What did Hezekiah do?

18. God Heard Hezekiah’s Praise 2 Kings 19:20,32-36; 2 Chron 32:20-23 “The Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor”

19. Scripture is Filled with Praise of God Angels (Isa. 6:3) All Creation (Psa. 148) Numerous Psalms Prayers of faith Day and night (Rev. 4:8)

20. How do YOU handle the trials of life? Complain? Worry? Accuse? Give in? Quit? TOO OFTEN our lips are without praise! (Heb. 13:15)

21. When We Praise God… Deflates Enemy’s Power (Psa. 18:1-6) Minimizes problems (Habk. 3:3,17-19; Rom. 8:31) Takes focus off of self (Psa. 115:1f) Empowers our walk (Exod. 15:1-5; Psa. 28:6-7) Testimony to World (Psa. 57:9)

22. “Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (Psa. 146:1-2)