Hezekiah - Prayed unto the Lord (Quality: Average)

[0:00] seeking for the Lord's gracious help. I direct your thoughts to the chapter that we read in Isaiah chapter 38 and verse 2.

[0:19] Isaiah chapter 38 and verse 2. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord.

[0:42] Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord. And I do feel that this prayer was then true exercise of a sinner that felt his great and solemn need before his God.

[1:10] Desiring to know, desiring to have the witness, desiring to have that truth within his heart.

[1:26] But as a sinner, that he was not without hope. We might say that in his prayer then, he prayed in this way.

[1:45] Then he speaks of himself as being upright. He speaks of this way that he sought to walk in those ways that were right.

[2:01] He does not mention it in that way, shall we say, that he was a sinner. I believe that we can say regarding this, Lord, thou knowest my heart.

[2:18] Thou knowest my sin. Thou knowest how I've grieved over it. How it has been that sore that has run within me. How I have sought to walk in those ways, not in any righteousness or goodness that is found within me, but in the fear of the Lord.

[2:39] And I fear that those hearts that the Lord has touched, those souls that the Lord has dealt with, they tremble over their sin.

[2:52] They know that there is that that is found within them. They do not use this as an excuse. Oh, but they say, Lord, I'm a sinner of vile indeed.

[3:02] I cannot keep myself. I cannot save myself. I cannot take one step aright. Only by thy grace and by thy mercy, I am what I am.

[3:15] Know they are mourners. Mourners over all that is found within them. Know how they go on in their lives. And they feel this more and more.

[3:28] Do we not feel the depth of our sin? Do we not feel our need growing greater and greater? And do we not feel it in this way? Lord, if I am deceived, if I am resting upon a false foundation, if there are those things that, well, is it not in the hymn that we have just been singing, resting upon all those things that are false, those things that are light, oh, that the Lord may undeceive me, oh, that the Lord not only may show truly what I am and what my need is, but also to show where my salvation is.

[4:16] To show where my salvation is. Now what does Hezekiah say here? And I feel that we must speak a little more of this.

[4:27] Remember now, oh Lord, I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight.

[4:37] Can it not be spoken in this way? By grace, He was what He was.

[4:55] Can we not say that if we have a hope, a trembling hope in that work that the Lord has begun in our own soul, that it is not a self, it is not of the flesh, it is not of our sinful nature, it is not of anything that is found within us, but it is by His grace and by His mercy we are what we are and we trust by His grace that He has led us and brought us through thus far.

[5:24] Kept and reserved, brought us up out of darkness, brought us up out of the pit, set our feet upon a rock. Nothing in self I find, and isn't it so?

[5:38] But I do think of those. And do you feel to be in this way? Brought up unto the truth, knowing all those things, and yet is it only in word and not with power that I know these truths.

[6:07] Oh, how we long to have that true witness of the Holy Spirit within our soul. And isn't it so with you?

[6:18] Oh, isn't it so with each one of us that we desire to have that witness to the Spirit within? That those things that we know and believe are written there by the pen of the Spirit.

[6:35] That is not something that we have learned. That is not something that we have gathered unto ourselves. That is not something that we have been brought up into. It is not something that we have ventured into.

[6:49] What I mean is this. There are those of you that have walked in the paths of obedience according to His commands. But you know this. That path is not unto salvation.

[7:05] It is unto obedience and unto love unto His commands. And you know that there is the one thing needful that you want, you desire in your own soul.

[7:21] It is never to be found in position. It is never to be found in a particular place. And there is one thing I know. And I read it so very clearly in the Word of God.

[7:36] I read it so very clearly not all those that prophesied or spoke in the name of the Lord were His.

[7:50] The Lord was pleased to use in His sovereign purposes different ones that spoke were found amongst the prophets and we think of King Saul in this way.

[8:06] When he was sought out to be anointed as King over Israel he was found amongst the prophets. Do you know these are searching thoughts, they are solemn thoughts.

[8:19] How do they affect us? How do they affect you and me? Is this then very real solemn exercise in our hearts regarding the reality of our standing, our religion, our hope, our foundation?

[8:44] Well, in great mercy, in great mercy, the Lord brought Hezekiah to this very place where he turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord his God.

[9:10] Oh, what a mercy it is then when the Lord is so pleased to work in our hearts, in our souls, that we have to turn our face to the wall and weep and pray unto the Lord.

[9:35] I'll be careful in what I say here but it was this the first time that Hezekiah really sought the Lord.

[9:48] You know what I mean. You've uttered your prayers. You've uttered many words. I think of those that are called upon to speak in public prayer.

[10:01] I think also of those that in their homes we think of the husbands and the fathers as they pray around and with their families. Oh, do you sometimes feel in this way?

[10:16] Do I ever pray? Or as we sometimes sing and the children sing do I ever pray?

[10:30] Do the words go along with their thoughts their feelings with our desires is the real prayer that is known within us? Do we know what it is to really pray?

[10:42] To commit all our way as sinners unto the Lord? there to look only unto him? You know what I mean? And I think of those that are called upon to speak in public prayer.

[10:57] Do you know what it is for the Lord to empty you completely? Do you know what it is that you seem to stutter and to stammer your way through the prayers and you feel your utter foolishness?

[11:11] You go back to your seat and you feel to be such a wrench? And yet it's been real prayer when the Lord is emptied and filled.

[11:33] Those of you that perhaps in the night seasons and you have been in trouble you have been in soul trouble you have been in distress you have been going about your daily concerns wherever it might be and you have tried to pour out your heart before the Lord and you say I cannot pray.

[11:52] You seem to be bereft of prayer. You seem to be so cold in your prayers. There seems to be nothing there. And yet there's been those sighs there's been those cries there's been those groans there's been those tears that the Lord himself has taken note of and in his great mercy he's heard and answered.

[12:15] I remember when I was very young my pastor Mr. Frank Gosden said this has the Lord answered one of your prayers and if he has there you have the witness you're one of his.

[12:42] Now this will bring an exercise soul to this very place have I ever prayed but I knew what he meant I know what he means now and I believe in my youth then I knew a little of what he meant and you know there is something there that I could hold to there is something there that I had to cling to and oh I have to pray now oh that I might have real prayer vital prayer and what is it the pouring out of our soul the pouring out of all our soul needs before our God that he knoweth our frame he knoweth our infirmities he knoweth all those things and oh there are those tears before him how did Hezekiah then come in prayer and this might be a little bit of a trial to those that do speak in public prayer or those that will gather their loved ones around them around the word of

[13:48] God and seek for the Lord's help and blessing you know what I mean we pray in public and we think of what our Lord said regarding those that pray in public they love to be seen of men as Satan tempted you in this as Satan tried you in this as Satan got hold of you in this way that your prayers are just words before man that you desire to be seen of man no it's when you creep back to your seat it's when you feel to be utterly ashamed of yourself it's when you feel to be nothing and I many times I speak in this way when we feel when the Lord is pleased to bring us down to that lowest place or as

[14:48] John Bunyan said he that is down need fear no fall oh and the Lord is pleased to bring us to that lowest place it's when those souls have that clearest view of Christ and his work I feel that I must speak and I'm speaking to those that feel that they are nothing that they have nothing they're miserable sinners at this time you feel to be an outcast a stranger oh I know that you are in the place that you are and others might look at you and say well there is one that walks in the ways of the Lord that has the fear of the Lord in their heart that walks tantling in his sight yes in the third verse here that they would say this of them that they have walked before the

[15:53] Lord in truth with a perfect heart they have done that which is good in his sight but you know what's in your heart you know what a wretch you feel and you know how it is to feel to be such a stranger to all these things and outsider like the publican in that parable that went up to the temple to pray he stood afar off he could not so much as lift his eyes up he smote upon his breast and he cried out and is that your cry you you feel it more and more that this is your only plea you cannot rise up any higher than that you cannot seem to lift yourself up you feel to be bereft of all grace oh that is a prayer that is an utterance that is a cry unto the

[16:56] Lord that is real vital prayer I tell you that the Lord will answer because it's in his covenant he must answer it he will bring it to pass he will have mercy on those that cry unto him and that brings you lower still that brings you lower still for you say how can there be mercy for such a wretch as I and Satan says give up others might say thou art foolish trouble not the master but you still have to cry Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me for you believe and you hope and you trust that there is plenty mercy to be fine with him it's your only hope you must sing forever without it you must sing forever and this is where this soul and where these souls they turn their face to the wall and their plea is before their

[18:18] God and it's in faith oh it's in faith that he might hear it's in faith that he might answer and it's in faith that you continue and it's in faith that you cry again and again and I know that you say that you have no faith I know that you say that you are one that seems to be such a contradiction how can the Lord have mercy how can the Lord answer hear what the unjust judge saith and shall not the Lord avenge his only late who cried daily unto him I tell you he will answer them speedily he will answer them in that time and in that way that he has ordained and that he has appointed has the

[19:31] Lord then answered one of your poor petitions one of your poor cries I tell you this it hasn't it been in a perfect way hasn't it been in a way that you could not even foresee oh the mercy of the Lord in this something that you were burdened over exercised in tried over and you had to lay your case before the Lord and oh what a strange path it's been hasn't it oh what a path of trial it's been you see we we have those thoughts we have those plans we have those schemes we lay a case before the Lord and we say in a belief that the Lord will bring it to pass in this or in that way we almost can see it and view it the and he turns everything upside down and he brings it to pass in his own perfect sovereign way and manner and you know what else well I have it in my own experience a little

[20:53] I trust but we also have it clearly set out before us in the word of God when he is pleased to answer our poor cries he not only fulfills it but he brings it to pass to show unto us that this is he that has spoken and he that has answered and those times when there's the added blessing there's that pouring out of something that shows to us that this is the Lord that has spoken the Lord that has performed when Satan tries to take it away from us when Satan tries to tempt us that it's been but only perhaps of chance or of those things that would have happened anyway we can say no the Lord brought this to pass in answer to my poor cries I have the witness here I have the evidence of it let us turn again back to this word then

[21:59] Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord what did we say well perhaps I was wrong when I said that this was the first time that he had really prayed what I mean is this there is reality here the Lord had brought him to this very place but I feel that you do understand what I mean when the Lord brings us to those spots and places where we feel that it's the very first time that we have prayed because there is reality in it the Lord has brought us to that very place where we have had to cry mightily unto him and that's been before our God everything and I think we can say this everything has been brought to the truth there's there's no pretense there's no seeking to put anything on this is our case before our

[23:00] God this is a committing of all our way unburdening our hearts our burdens our trials our sorrows our distresses our all before the Lord what a time of prayer it was what a time of prayer it is and there's that unburdening and the Lord heard and the Lord answered sitting here in the pulpit before the service began my thoughts went to David King David what was his prayer I have sinned do you know the Lord came and when the Lord is pleased to send his messengers with those messages you see that time was a time of much sorrow in the heart of

[24:12] David and he had much grief to pass through much grief of heart oh he was brought very low you know the occasion because of his sin and the Lord sends his servant Nathan with that solemn message thou art the man but you know it was a time of reality and it was a time of much blessing the Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die there were those things that he must suffer because of it the chastening hand of his Lord oh the chastening hand of his God upon him do not suffer the punishment as we do not suffer the punishment for that punishment has fallen upon one that bore it in his own body and was worthy to bear it and in love bore it I mean Christ oh in that great love that he he laid down his life and suffered as he did oh that wondrous mystery but you know have you felt sometimes and it has been good as it now it's been in love that the

[25:17] Lord has chastened that the Lord has corrected that the Lord sometimes has laid his hand upon us oh it seems so so strange perhaps at the time and those times when we have said I cannot bear up under it but he said as we mentioned in prayer that his grace is sufficient and oh it does but how the Lord does chasten and how he corrects and how needful it is oh do we not feel it and that is a sure token of love oh a sure token of love when he does correct and when he does chasten oh do we not believe it can we not see it and do we not know it but that prayer of David then that was before his God I have sinned

[26:19] I have sinned and what did the Lord say through his servant the Lord hath put away thy sin they shall not die I feel again then that he was brought to that very place are there any here this morning that the Lord himself has brought you to that very place that before your God you feel to be such a sinful wrench and how can there be any mercy how can there be any hope you cry unto him and there is that balm that is applied there is that healing that is given and it is through Christ Jesus oh that blessed way there was something

[27:21] I was going to say just now and it was this the Lord servant Nathan did not hesitate to speak to the king oh what a solemn position he was put in to speak to king David in the way that he did thou art the man and thus far the Lord has given me help I believe I feel that Nathan spoke that in love and as I seek to speak it in love but never to hesitate to speak faithfully before my hearers do you want something false to rest upon do you want a false hope that will never hold you up in the hour and article of death never do you want me to comfort you needlessly and falsely you know what

[28:34] I mean to speak comfortably unto you in which there is no hope at all no I feel that you would say to me I will lay the matter straight be faithful to me be clear unto me for you also know this that if there are those words of comfort if there are those words of hope there will also be reality in them oh there will also be reality in them and you do feel your need of it I do and that is why you have to turn your face to the wall and cry unto the Lord that the Lord would hear your cry and that the Lord would have mercy upon you you see there is a there is a point in the lives of each one of us when all truth will be revealed all pretense all false foundations will be all taken away and I mean this that time when we stand wholly on our own that there is none in this whole world that can help us that time that each of us will face unless the

[30:08] Lord shall come before and that is the day of our death oh if there is only one truth that we can attest to and it is this that there is a time to die there is one truth there and we hasten on to that time I have one that is near to me my mother-in-law that is near her end how helpless I feel I cannot speak any words of comfort to her she said to me but yesterday morning when I went to see her and it was only briefly she said have you come have you got a word for me

[31:10] I said no I cannot give a word only the Lord can oh how solemn to speak a false word of comfort or of hope to someone someone in that place and in such a position as that and you know all of us here we're very close to our end aren't we maybe many years maybe only a few days but in comparison to eternity we're very close to our end can I give you a false word a false hope never would you consider what Nathan had to say then to his king to David his earthly king he was faithful to him and when we think of

[32:11] Isaiah here when Hezekiah was sick thus saith the Lord set thine house in order for they shall die and not live what was Hezekiah's concern what was David's concern and what is our concern and is it a very real concern with us not the time of our death but whether we shall live in Christ is that our concern whether we shall live in Christ that's the reality of it I know what a reality it is give me Christ or else I die now the

[33:13] Lord had another message for these two for David it was this thou shalt not die the Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die see David was brought to that place of true confession I said I will not and I cannot give you any false hope false foundation promise word whatever it might be but I will say this you read through that psalm that David penned the 51st psalm when he was brought into this place is that the language of your heart can you go along with part of it have you had to plead in such a way some of those pleas that David had to cry before his Lord or in Hezekiah's case here has this been your prayer you know what I mean we had to cry unto the Lord that he might purge you deliver you from blood guiltiness have you had to cry unto the Lord that you might be set free from your sin

[34:33] I fear that if we walk but a little in the paths of such as these and in the language of that fifty first psalm oh there is a blessed hope for the Lord has brought us into such a place the Lord has brought us into such a place into such a path the Lord brought Hezekiah here and he brought him to turn his face to the wall and to cry unto his God and everything was laid out there no pretense no deceiving at all no at such times as this and at such times when we are brought to that place of reality ah when all truth will be revealed our only plea our only hope our only trust our only foundation where will it be will be there in Christ give me

[35:53] Christ or else I die we read to the children this morning in the Sunday school that declaration of faith and I felt that I could not really explain those things to them that were found there because it was that confession of faith of Simon Peter to his Lord his Saviour you see the Lord said to his disciples whom do men say that I am the answers that were given some say John Baptist some say Eli some say one of the prophets but the Lord said but whom say ye that I am and what did Simon Peter say thou art the Christ the son of the living

[36:53] God thou art the Christ what did Christ say blessed art thou Simon Bar Jonah for flesh and blood hath not revealed this to you but my father which is in heaven and upon that rock he the Lord Jesus Christ the son of God that gave his life that shed that blood for the remission of sin that gave that supreme sacrifice that ushered in new testament the covenant of the new testament in his blood that he gave his own life for sinners for those that were his and as we read in this same prophecy thou shalt see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied the law was satisfied there the payment was made the debt was made was paid oh the blessed truth yes upon that rock and upon that foundation his church is built now what

[38:12] I felt in this because we read a bit further on the Lord says to Simon Peter get me behind me Satan for thou save us to the things of this world sometimes how can there be truth reality how can there be that right thing that dwells within us when we save so much of the things of this world and this life well doesn't it prove that we carry about with us that body of sin and death the apostle cried out who shall deliver me from the body of this death who shall deliver me and he could say I thank God through Christ Jesus oh that blessed deliverance and he turned his face to the wall he prayed unto the Lord and the Lord heard and answered may the

[39:16] Lord help me to speak in such a way as this true prayer and may such a truth as this be revealed unto us true prayer God will answer consider this true real vital prayer those supplications of a broken heart the contrite spirit yes going back again to that 51st psalm that broken heart the contrite spirit that acceptable sacrifice before our God is there are those things that are acceptable in his sight those prayers that are heard and answered oh Lord give me faith to believe give me faith to hold give me faith to understand give me faith to know for my prayer is this isn't this the language of our hearts then my prayer is this that the

[40:23] Lord would have mercy that the Lord would appear that the Lord would wash away my sin real religion how personal it is and so will be the day of our death oh how personal that will be and how real that will be and how real Christ is under such oh how real this man is there is a man a real man Thomas desired to see him he is risen and I feel as I desire to bring my thoughts to a close for this morning let us speak of Thomas for I feel that there are those that would say you do not know my doubts you do not know my fears you do not know my unbelief

[41:39] Thomas called Didymus is often spoken of as doubting Thomas but I feel that I have to look at him in this way and this I feel is what the Lord means when he said to Thomas in that way that not to be of an unbelieving heart he wanted the witness he could not go on the word of others he wanted the witness in his own soul that his Christ his Lord his Redeemer was risen indeed and isn't it so in our hearts we want that true vital witness that only the Lord can give unto us that he is risen indeed and not only risen that he is our saviour our redeemer our

[42:43] Lord and our all yes give me Christ or else I die those things that you want to handle taste and feel of the word of life the reality of it oh the reality of it and Christ did not turn away from his prayer no he came again in the midst of his disciples and Thomas was with them one final word and I will close in the 14th chapter of John what did our Lord say I will come again I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where

[43:45] I am there you shall be also and oh isn't that cry in our hearts even so come Lord Jesus Amen Let's close this morning by singing hymn number 882 the tune is Philadelphia 391 hymn number 882 prayer was appointed to convey the blessings God designs to give long as they live should

[44:46] Christians pray for only while they pray they live hymn number 882 Amen鬼 they love God S Janae Bun m bless The End The End

[46:16] The End The End The End

[47:18] The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End The End May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, sweet fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us.

[48:46] Amen. Amen.