Isaiah 37:9-20

Outline:The enemy of God’s people always tries to undermine trust in God.  (9-13)The right way to overcome fear and the temptations of the enemy is to take it to God.  (14-15)The way of faith and the prayer of faith first and foremost sees God for who He truly is.  (16)The prayer of faith is most concerned with the glory of God. (17-20)Jesus is the king who lived, died and rose again for the glory of God, and he intercedes for us that we might glorify God and one day be with Him in glory. Home group questions:Sennacherib attacked the trustworthiness of God, His power and His Word by pointing to history and worldly realities. What are some modern versions of this, and what are some ways the world attacks God’s Word to suggest that He is unreliable, weak or not enough? What are some ways we, individually and as a church, might give in to those lies? Hezekiah doesn’t tear his garment, put on sackcloth or send to Isaiah to pray this time. What does this teach us about the completeness of God’s forgiveness following repentance? How should his confidence in going to the Lord in prayer encourage us? Hezekiah begins his prayer by focusing on who God is rather than immediately focusing on his problem (v.16). Why is it important to reorient our thinking towards God’s character before bringing our requests? Which of those aspects of God, His covenant faithfulness, His command of heaven’s armies, His presence with His people, His sovereignty over all nations, or His ownership of all creation, do you most need to remember right now? Hezekiah’s prayer wasn’t only, “Save us”; it was, “Save us so that the world will know that you alone are Lord.” How does this shift in focus, from self-preservation to God’s glory, change the way we pray about our own struggles and the way we pray for the church? Read John 17:20–26. How does Jesus’ prayer encourage you today, especially knowing that “he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25)?