2 Kings

2 Kings 20:1-11

Hezekiah was apparently sick while the Assyrians were at his wall.  Isaiah came to him and prophesied that the Lord said he would die.  One again, we get a glimpse into Hezekiah's prayer life.  He prayed and wept bitterly to God and the Lord heard his prayer.  Before Isaiah go very far away, he had to return and tell Hezekiah that he would live another 15 years.  Why did Hezekiah need a sign?  Why were they always looking for a sign?  The healing and the going to the house of the Lord were tied together.  He couldn't go to the house of the Lord while sick.  The sign of this was the shadow going backward 10 steps.  What would have happened had Hezekiah just given up and not prayed?

2 Kings 20:12-21

Read 2 Chronicles 32:22-23.  Hezekiah had received many gifts and become quite wealthly.  Hezekiah received a gift from the king of Babylon and was flattered by the attention.  He then showed the king the treasure house; all the gold, silver, spices and precious oil.  Isaiah then prophesied that all of those things and the people will be carried away to Babylon.  He told Hezekiah some of his sons would become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.  (Is this Daniel, Shadrach, Meshiach and Abednego?)  The response of Hezekiah seems shocking.  Would we do any better?  Here was a man who had the worlds greatest army out to kill him.  He had a death sentence by his health.  He was already on borrowed time (Incidentally, he knew the approximate time of his death!).  Now he was rich and getting the attention of the kings of the earth.  Hezekiah didn't guard his heart, but we can understand how this might happen.  Hopefully we can use Hezekiah's life to learn about our own.

©2016 Doug Ford