The Drama of King Hezekiah

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“About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’” When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord: “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city. “‘And this is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised:”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭38:1-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

King Hezekiah was sick. Deathly ill in fact. The Bible did not mention the exact sickness. It might have been cancer. Or leprosy. Whatever it was, it was fatal.

And it was God appointed. The Lord Himself told the King that he wouldn’t recover from the sickness.

But he prayed to God, and God granted his prayer and added fifteen more years to his life.

And apart from that, He even gave a promise to rescue the entire city.

“and I will rescue you and this city…. Yes, I will defend this city.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭38:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God answered the prayer, and gave Hezekiah more than he asked for.

This is a perfect example of the goodness of God. He answers prayers, and when He blesses, He blesses to the overflow.

1 God’s blessings are sometimes not apparent

Hezekiah’s blessing came after a dreadful sickness. The relief of the healing must have been astounding. It must have seemed like the light breaking through the clouds. The king learned many new insights via this ordeal.

Surely it was for my benefit
    that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me
    from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
    behind your back.

Isaiah 38:17

Suffering through his anguish, he realised that it was something that he was supposed to go through. He recognised that his illness, his near death experience, made him appreciate life all the more. He saw the difference between living a life praising God, and languishing in sin without Him. It is a stark contrast that he would not have seen without having gone through the threat of death.

If anything else, it gave him words with which to praise the Lord so eloquently.

2 God blessings are always for our good

Apart from being cured and being given more years to live his life, God promised Hezekiah deliverance for the entire city as well.

And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

Isaiah 38:17

God doesn’t move in half measures. His plans are always perfect and complete. His wisdom encompasses more than we can fathom; His mind is unknowable, reaching far beyond what mere humans can comprehend.

So first He healed the king, and then He saved the land. If it happened that way, it must have been His good intention all along.

We might not understand the order that He chooses to impart His answers. We might not have the complete picture in our minds, and we might never have this knowledge. It doesn’t matter, because our lack of understanding fortunately does not affect His desire and ability to bless, not one iota.

Whatever our life situation may be, He is always on our side, and always leading us towards the good.

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