II Kings 13:4

"And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them."

It is one of the few time, if not the only time in Scripture that we read of one of the kings of Israel beseeching the Lord. Since Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin, all that we read of the kings of Israel are that they did evil in the sight of the Lord. WE read of the prophets going to them and speaking the word of the Lord, and they never repent nor serve the Lord. This is as close as we get with Jehoahaz. It is a time of trouble, The armies of Syria are coming against them with a fury and there is no hope nor help for the children of Israel. The king defintely ahs heard of the Lord and knows of Elisha the prophet. He cries out to the Lord out of his need for deliverance and help. Many a time this is the only time a person or family will cry out ot God, is when they are in trouble. Let us read of the Lord's reply, "and the Lord hearkened unto him - what a merciful God we do serve; Despit all their wickedness and sin, despite all their hard hearts and evil practices, the Lord hears their cry for help. Is He not willing that none should perish but that all should be saved? He hears and knows the needs of the children. And how much more is the Lord willing to hearken unto us that despite our sinfulness, He stands ready to hear and answer. In Psalm 66, "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me"; and IN Psalm 65, "O Thou that hearest prayer". It is true that sin will limit our prayer life. God limits Himself from hearing prayer from sinners. But His children receive mercy from Him. Israel was the descendants of Abraham, who God had made a covenant with. And even though, they were in sin and breaking the covenant, God was still holding up His part to preserve them for the sake of Abraham. And we as well, when we sin, we limit God from hearing us, but His grace and mercy aids us so that we are not left to our own undoing. This is His provision at His discretion. Do not dare think for a moment that you can take advantage of this and conintue in sin, for this is not the will of the Father. For he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them - word study, to see; He sees all and knows exactly what Syria was doing unto His people. He looks upon the church and sees all the SAtan is doin against us and the vices of the world that afflict us. Let us seek Him with our whole heart and not have one inkling of comparison to the children of Israel and their disobedience. Love the Lord your God, fear Him and follow after Him and when oppression is pressing sore against us, the Lord will take care of it all. His faithfulness reaches to us in the midst of the battles.