What is an invocation, and how can we use it in our prayers? (2 Kings 19.15–19)

And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have hurled their gods into the fire, though they were no gods but the work of human hands—wood and stone—and so they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, I pray you, from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.”

One of the ways we can enrich our prayers is by looking at the different forms, or structures, of prayers in the Bible. We can mimic them and adapt them to our circumstances. In this way, we might find new ways to pray that we would not have considered.

Background

Once again, a lot of story has passed before we find another prayer. First, the author of Second Kings tells us of Elisha’s death, then follows it with several stories about the kings of both the south and north of Israel. There is little hope or encouragement. After seven kings in the north have ruled, Sennacherib of Assyria attacks and destroys it. Leaders are executed, the people are scattered, and foreigners are moved in. Despite God’s warnings, the people never returned, and they reap the results of their rejection of God (17.7-18).

Five kings reigned in the south (Judah) during this time. Hezekiah was the one in power when the north was destroyed. Hezekiah, up to this point, had worked to steer his people back to God. He did “what was right in God’s eyes.”

But Sennacherib is coming south, and he sends messengers who tell Hezekiah to surrender, for they have no hope against the Assyrian army who has defeated so many already—in overwhelming fashion. The message even suggests that Israel’s God is using Sennacherib to punish Judah, just like he did northern Israel!