Lay It Before the Lord- for His Glory

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: "O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. 

"It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God." 2 Kings 19:14-19 

Hezekiah received a letter.  It was a threat to him and his kingdom, but more than that, it was an insult to the living God.  Hezekiah took the letter and then spread it before the Lord.  Then Hezekiah prayed. 

He didn't say, "Lord, save me, I don't want to die."  He didn't reason out all the good things he had done so that God would spare him.  Hezekiah merely pointed out to God that all the boasting in the letter was meaningless, because the gods that the Assyrians had destroyed were not gods at all but wood and stone fashioned by the hands of mere men.

And then Hezekiah prayed, "Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God."

I can't help but feel a little guilty.  Do I pray like that in the face of trouble?  Hezekiah didn't pray for a victory for himself.  He didn't even make a plea for his people.  Hezekiah was concerned only for the glory of the Lord and the establishing of God as the living God among all the nations.

Are we seeking and praying for God's glory to be revealed or are we only concerned with our own welfare or the welfare of our ministry or family.  When trouble comes, do we lay it before the Lord and name it for what it is, the hollow threat of the enemy, and then pray that God will answer to bring his glory before everyone?  We all must face our Sennacherib from time to time.  Instead of giving in to desperation, we need to recognize the deception.  Sennacherib boasted of destroying gods, but Hezekiah recognized that they were only man-made idols. After we see the truth of the situation we must ask the Lord to bring glory to himself in the midst of our situation.  

Sennacherib's threat came to nothing that very night while Hezekiah slept in his bed!