Beginning the Journey (for new Christians). The result of his prayer, this argument contends, is I get this visual image of Hezekiah, and this letterlaying it there on the table, and saying, Okay, God, what now? He was still in the palace courtyard. King Hezekiah was very ill. Rather, have it go back ten steps.. Isaiah told him Sennacherib would hear a rumor and return to his own land where he would die by the sword (2 Kings 19:6-7). After Isaiah applied to a simple poultice, the king recovered (2 Kings 20:5-7). You may just need to get you some note cards right down all the things you are struggling withlay them out on a tablethen say, Okay God, here are my strugglesI cant do anything about them. This is not an excuse to do nothing. From God's response through Isaiah we get some hints to the reasons why God seems to have responded to Hezekiah's prayer, though we can't read God's mind: You, dear friend, are also loved by God. Explain that 2 Kings 18-20 records the challenges and fears of Hezekiah, the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Lord's Supper This story can be told using a variety of methods. But his ear is particularly open to his children who seek to be obedient to him. You will not get well.. (2 Kings 19:15) Lesson 4: Hezekiah did not go flippantly to the Lord in prayer. All Rights Reserved. So you should give your last orders to everyone. They have two married sons and three granddaughters. Hezekiahs name means God has strengthened. He is mentioned in many biblical passages. "He will save us," you tell your people. Sermon on the Mount 1 Peter To abstain from medicine like some extreme teaching is not scriptural at all. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. The Spiritual Life 2010 - 2030. Hezekiah That even though people may turn to God and bring other's to God, they may become prideful and selfish and cause problems for others because of their sin. The LORD tells Isaiah according to II Kings 20:5-6, "Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. Hezekiah begins his prayer with an awesome vision of who God really is. Weeping with his face toward a wall, Hezekiah asked God to be merciful. Lesson 4: Hezekiah did not go flippantly to the Lord in prayer. What does it mean, "Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord."? Amazingly, God relented and Hezekiah was healed. Perhaps Hezekiahs illness had something to do with boils. He just continued to pray and ask God to help him. Isaiah barely walked to the middle of the courts before he had to return to give the prophetic word that God was going to heal Hezekiah. Hezekiah cried desperately. Times couldn't be more desperate, more bleak, more filled with violence. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. The Assyrians had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. Help us to his reign. (II Kings 18: 6). If This corresponds to the magnificent opening of the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." The city would be spared (2 Kings 19:32-34). Hezekiah is also appealing to God's promises for offspring and for a long life to those who walk uprightly before him: Hezekiah, I am sure, had not reached sinless perfection, but he had been careful (unlike his father) to live a godly, righteous, and faithful life before the Lord. God can do miraculous things for his people. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of theLord. May these prayers for safety bring you comfort and peace of mind. 18And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon., 19The word of theLordyou have spoken is good, Hezekiah replied. Now he would have the chance to help his people. (James 5:14-15; Matthew 10:7; 12:15; He cried out desperately to God for his life. Hezekiah ruled over Judah and was a good and faithful king. Time appointed by God for our healing, deliverance, breakthrough,blessing,lifting and to take yoke away from our life. And if it won't hurt him, you'll often give it to him. Vitringa, an eighteenth century Dutch scholar, put it this way: But Hezekiah did respond in prayer and faith, and God changed his mind. be like your servant Hezekiah, who trusted in you and your promises with all his heart, and wasn't afraid to ask you for what he needed. The king should have been horrified by the prophecy, but his response showed another fault. Your capital is There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them (2 Kings 20:13). Listening for God's Voice I encourage you to pray. Hezekiah knew God had promised to save His people. Always remain true to the facts found in the Bible but help children connect to its meaning by using drama, visual aids, voice inflection, student interaction and/or emotion. He wanted a sign to be sure that he should go to the temple in three days. Your people quail in fear, many calling for you to submit to Assyrians. Even though Isaiah had gone, he had not gotten very far. In three days Hezekiah should go to the temple, and I will add fifteen years to his life. Isaiah did just as the Lord commanded. This king knew how to pray and he prayed in a way that got results. what is bad for us (Matthew 7:7-11). The angel of death wiped out his army and he ended up being murdered by his own sons. When it comes to healing, we must believe that it is Gods will to heal unless we have heard otherwise from the Holy Spirit. It happened just as he requested. Hezekiah was a very good king. Dr. Wilson's Books God spoke to him and told him to go back to Hezekiah. "Prayed" is plal, "intervene, interpose, pray," the most common Hebrew root for prayer and praying, the verb occurring 84 times in the Old Testament. The king of Assyria, which was a much more powerful nation, decided to attempt a take over of Hezekiahs kingdom. Second, Hezekiahs love for God and desire to please Him brought him additional years of life. BC), Shalmanezer V (727-722), and Sargon II (722-705). The challenge and call of faithful Christian living is to express gratitude and joy to God no matter what our circumstances, healthy or sick, satisfied or discouraged, in plenty or in loss. Hezekiah did not forget the Lord or blame him because of his sickness. The final chapters of II Chronicles recount the reigns of the various kings, most of whom are fairly unforgettable. military preparations he can, but now is the time to look to the None Tell the story using a power point presentation. God has promised to always get glory for Himself and always work things for an ultimate good. As soon as Isaiah left, Hezekiah began to pray to God. God heard his prayer and he was healed. The testimony of scripture is, There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him (2 Kings 18:5-7). "Resistance is hopeless," they cry. To be alone with God that he might pray with some privacy and without interruption, he turns to the wall. Amazingly, God relented and Hezekiah was healed. as far as Gaza that were allies of Assyria(18:8). The timing of the illness, "in those days," can't be determined exactly,4but it may well have taken place around 701 BC at the time of Sennacharib's campaign. The Assyrian kings also conquered Philistine cities west of Judah and imposed a tribute upon Hezekiah's father. loomed. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). The Bible describes Hezekiah as a king who had a close relationship with God, one who did "what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God" ( 2 Chronicles 31:20 ). Try, If The Preacher Is Dead, The Sermon Will Be Dead, Chasing The Dream, Preaching Greatness, And Knowing Your Audience. When Hezekiah prayed for a longer life, what answer did the Lord give him? but that didn't happen. James teaches us: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b). There are at least five lessons we can learn from Hezekiah's life and choices. a) He did what was right in the sight of the Lord V3, g) He rebelled against the King of Assyria V7. Help us to worship you no matter what circumstances we are in. 4Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. The Early Church Hezekiah often became the target of warring nations. 4. When Hezekiah receives the letter, he brings it before the Lord and spreads it out for God to read. What do you say to God? E.J. He destroyed Judahs idols, pagan temples, and altars (2 Chronicles 29:3-19; 31:1-2); and he re-established worship, reinstated the Levitical priesthood, and set up contributions for temple worship (2 Chronicles 29:5; 20-35; 31:2-21). Article Images Copyright , What You Need to Know about Hezekiah in the Bible. Samaria finally fell in 722 BC and the Northern Kingdom ceased to exist (2 Kings 17:3-6; 18:9-12). David, Life of who brought about great reforms. Being righteous does not exempt us from the trials of life. Because of that relationship, Hezekiah didnt wonder if God would be there when he came before Him. 4Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of theLordcame to him: 5Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, This is what theLord, the God of your father David, says: I have heardyour prayer and seen your tears;I will heal you. But Hezekiah still wanted a sign that in three days time he would be well. 2 Corinthians In 2 Kings 19:15 it says "And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: "O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth." Hezekiah knew his place as king but he also knew God's place as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. So the sunlight went back the ten steps i had gone down. (Isaiah 38:7,8 NIV), Apparently Hezekiah praised God before he had recovered his health. He wanted to teach the people to love God. Check the Teaching Ideas page on this website for ideas that are adaptable to any lesson. Hezekiah has made all the He chose to cling to the Lord, follow Him, pursue holiness for himself and his people, and lead Judah in renewed worship. During the reign of Ahaz, the people of Israel said they feared God, but simultaneously they practiced idolatry (2 Kings 17:33). Hezekiah prayed for God's protection. 8 Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, "What is the confirming sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the Lord's temple the day after tomorrow?" 9 Isaiah replied, "This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said. Assyrian records Extending and strengthening the wall of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:5a). the birth of Manasseh, the worst king Judah had ever seen. 18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. He is Risen . When the people got up the next morningthere were all the dead bodies! King Hezekiah began to reign over Judah when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. to control as a buffer against their arch-enemy Egypt. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king. Though the exact derivation of the root is a matter of conjecture, both the verb and the noun (tepill, the macho exterior that men try to project. By signing up with iDisciple, you will be able to enjoy such perks as: Get the iDisciple Verse of the Day sent directly to your inbox. 1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. Hezekiah was a remarkable king, used by God to rescue Jerusalem from the Assyrians and bring reform and revival to Judah. him be the general and just follow his orders. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. No one can see the future but God. While the dating and order of events Hezekiah would live fifteen more years! Grace: Favor for the Undeserving. We pray to a Father who gives us what is good for us, not 19 Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32; Isaiah 36-39, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. God brought the shadow back ten steps and Hezekiah knew that God would make him well. "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. No one My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon. Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide Amen. Some time later, King Hezekiah was terribly sickso ill that Isaiah came to him and told him to get his life in order because death was imminent (2 Kings 20:1-7; 2 Chronicles 32:24). Can you pray Hezekiah's simple prayer? Hezekiah was terminally ill. It is only after this litany of praise and thanksgiving to God Isaiah tells them to Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover. (Isaiah 38:21 NIV. 32:2-8). God answers sincere prayers from our hearts. writer of Kings, who tells us: Why does Hezekiah say what he does? They sent a letter by messenger to Hezekiah, basically which, said, The Assyrians are tough and they are coming for you next.. Click here for King Hezekiah Prays for Health printables to print on A4 size paper You need to understand that faith is always based on the promises of God. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.'" To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. All rights reserved. Hezekiah isn't responsible for Manesseh's sins any could have predicted Manasseh's wickedness except God himself. As a thank you for signing up for a free iDisciple account, enjoy this downloadable e-book. (present-day Iraq) and the Egyptians, who encouraged rebellion against Assyria. Christ Powered Life (Rom 5-8) He had been zealous for the Lord, in the face of much pressure and criticism from idolaters. He could not do that if he was dead! Regarding The Information age And The Clash of Civilizations. A writer at Ligonier Ministries said, Incredibly, Hezekiah himself indicates the ongoing failure of Gods people to trust the Lord.Hezekiahs heart became proud and he failed to respond to the kindness God has shown him (2 Chronicles 32:25). Fourth, Hezekiahs downfall was sinful pride. Sometimes God answers the prayers of rank sinners and backslidden Christians. Young discusses the various problems of dating and reconciling accounts in a long and detailed appendix (Edward J. Throughout the stressful time in leadership, Hezekiah consistently used the same battle plan. This led to Hezekiah pleading for his life. He fortified the city walls, expanded his military, and built a 1,750-foot-long tunnel to provide a secret water supply (2 Chron. But with a different human response, the outcome can be different, though all within the boundaries of God's will. Fifth, even though this righteous king made sweeping reforms in Judah, he failed to pass on his love for God to his own son, Manasseh. When the Babylonians heard about the kings sickness, Marduk-Baladan, the son of the king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift by envoys to Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:12). God gave specific instructions for healing. In the 15 years after his illness, Hezekiah fathered the heir to his throne, Manasseh. Through a sad turn of circumstances, instigated by Hezekiahs foolish choice, God poured out His indignation on Hezekiahs kingdom. King Hezekiah was a man of prayer. He just continued to pray and ask God to help him. God provides healing through the cross. He did not want to die. Why? His prayer mainly reminds God of how good and faithful Hezekiah had been (as if God needed to be told!). 16 Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. He chose to cling to the Lord, follow Him, pursue holiness for himself and his people, and lead Judah in renewed worship. In Jesus' name, we pray. Sometimes we get upset because God doesnt do something we asked or wanted Him to do but the fact is He had never promised to do it. 11Then the prophet Isaiah called on theLord, and theLordmade the shadow go backthe ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. God can use the following methods or any combination to heal. Hezekiah didn't know about eternal life in the presence of God; it was a later revelation. Hezekiah had been a good king who tried to obey God, and one of his strengths was that he was a man of prayer. Spend some time talking about prayer. Watercolors Resurrection Was Hezekiah terrified of death? As he spread the Assyrians letter before the Lord, he prayed a humble, powerful prayer of faith, asking for deliverance so all the kingdoms of earth would know that the Lord alone is God (2 Kings 19:19). Hezekiah was one of the few kings of Judah who was constantly aware of God's acts in the past and His involvement in the events of every day. Increasing the production of shields and weapons (2 Chronicles 32:5b). nations as the only true God. We fold our tents and go home. It was prior to making his plans. Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books The Lord stopped Isaiah before he had even left Hezekiahs palace. We dont know His will, but we cant guarantee God to do that which He hasnt promised to do.) But Hezekiah made an honest attempt to follow God in his life and repented when he was convicted of his sin. Then, Isaiah had Hezekiahs servants boil some figs and make a paste. As long as I don't have to personally suffer for my sin, why should I care?" Now let's look at this situation through Manasseh's eyes. We get discouraged. 35 That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. He is mentioned throughout the Old Testament in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; Jeremiah 26:18-19; Hosea 1:1; and Micah 1:1. This isn't a works-righteousness mentality. ' (NIV), The Bible tells us that Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (Isaiah 38:2 NIV), Isaiah had already left Hezekiah but God suddenly spoke to him, telling him to return and tell Hezekiah the following, This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I wil add fiteen years to your life. He reads it to God and observes that the insult is to the living God far more than it is to Hezekiah himself. What a time to fall ill and die! When we pray, we must remember that God is sovereign and will answer us according to His eternal purposes. Without Manasseh, we wouldn't have had Josiah the boy king Hezekiah cried and he kept on praying and begging the Lord to make him well. E-mail Bible Study Opposing idol worship (2 Chronicles 30:14), toppling the hilltop "high places" where Baal He prayed to God often, and he always obeyed God. Hundreds of thousands of Organizing combat forces (2 Chronicles 32:6), The Bible never indicates that requesting prayer for He is known for his God-honoring prayer life, a remarkable miracle, and a tragic choice. In Hezekiahs Tragic End: A Warning and a Promise, J. D. Greear wrote, Hezekiah had passed the test of adversity but he failed the test of prosperity.. top. Revelation He has redeemed you by the blood of Jesus, which cannot be valued because it is so costly. After his wicked fathers reign, Hezekiah committed himself to set things right again in Judah. Hezekiah cried out to God for healing. It is likely that he had no clear successor at that point. Hezekiah recognized it was not his own reputation that was at stake; it was Gods. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. He brought immorality back to Judah, promoted the worship of pagan gods, and Jewish tradition says he even may have murdered Hezekiahs long-time friend, Isaiah. 14Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, What did those men say, and where did they come from?, From a distant land, Hezekiah replied. Hezekiah wasn't sinless (2 Chronicles 32:26). He went to Hezekiah and told him the good news. Hezekiahs godliness was in direct contrast to his fathers wickedness. With foresight, Hezekiah decided to fortify Jerusalem against siege. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. Let students answer. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Copyright 2023, Ralph F. Wilson. Early Church: Acts1-12 As Hezekiah restored Temple worship and reformed Judah, revival came to Gods people. She is the tenth president of Columbia Theological Seminary. What kind of a baby is Hezekiah? Hezekiah prayed that the Lord would give him a longer life. There are at least five lessons we can learn from Hezekiahs life and choices. Help us grow. He turns to God now in earnest and heartfelt prayer. 12At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiahs illness. I love the imagery here in this prayer story of Hezekiah. The first appears in 2 Kings 19:14-19 as Judah faced impending invasion by the Assyrians, who had invaded the land and besieged Jerusalem. But what can I say? John's Gospel IsaiahandMicahprophesied during his reign. One time King Hezekiah became very ill. He went before the Lord in prayer and followed the Lords commands. You will start receiving theiDisciple Verse of the Dayto your inbox tomorrow morning. He also prayed for healing. This led to Hezekiah pleading for his life. We hope it is a blessing to you! The Lord brought the victory (2 Chronicles 32:21-22). I am troubled: O Lord, come to my aid! The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.". Hezekiah is still lying on his side facing the wall. We can trust our prayers When he bragged about his possessions, he brought disaster to Judah, including the looting of Israels treasury and the nations eventual captivity. The principle is: "The Battle Is the Lord's!" Scripture: He hasnt promised to rid everyone of cancer or to heal every bad relationship. And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.. The prophet Isaiah came and pronounced his sickness was unto death. Privacy, 7 Lessons from the Prayer Life of Hezekiah. Charismatic. Incline . Though Hezekiah had led the nation in reform and revival, his indifference for the future had terrible consequences. will answer? This is one of the most troubling mysteries of our faith. 7 Last Words of Christ The servants spread the paste on the kings skin and he got better. I also encourage you to consider personal holiness. Click here for visual aids and story-telling methods. Here we see the mighty king reduced to a quivering, crying babe. Aug 22, 2021 22:50. The prophet made a terrible prediction (2 Kings 20:16-18). Abraham If this took place in 701, it was before his son Manasseh was born. What situations are you dealing with today that you know you are helpless to do on your own and you desperately desire Gods answer? King Hezekiah was a very good king. When Sennacherib, the Assyrian general, sent a letter full of threats to Hezekiah, the king immediately ran to the temple where he spread the letter out . This was not just for himself. It is right to pray for physical health and healing. Hezekiah's Prayer for Deliverance - Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. His prayer seems short, but he knows God well by this time in his life, and in its shortness and abbreviation of expression much is implied: You may think it naive of Hezekiah to appeal to God on the basis of his own righteousness. He walked the walk! Fore he clave to the LORD and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Karen Barber is the Founding Director of Prayer Igniters International, a Contributing Editor with Guideposts Magazine, the author of Surprised by Prayer and the creator of the Personal Prayer Power video/study series. This content provider does not have additional content available right now. The prophet told Hezekiah, The Lord says you are going to die. It's just good heavenly parenting. He was known as one who "trusted in the Lord" (18:5), "held fast" and followed him (18:6), with the result that the Lord Well, Gods answer was swift and definite. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 He was one of Judah's only "righteous and just" kings, bringing about a number of reforms during 2 Kings 20:3 Remember now O Lord I pray, how I have walked before you in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in your sight. Lord. Reopening the temple, which had been closed by his father, repairing it, and reorganizing its services, priests, and Levites (2 Chronicles 31:11-21). Hezekiah brings the letter before the Lord and begins his prayer. Do not put this on a website. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The answer was not long in coming through Isaiah the prophet: After a poetic oracle or prophecy, the narrator recounts: God answered Hezekiah's prayer, but then another crisis But it is unfair to judge him One report follows another of RESTORATION THROUGH COMMITMENT. He also would have wanted to produce an heir to the throne.