AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Monday – January 30, 2023, Sh’vat 8, 5783
HEZEKIAH SICK UNTO DEATH
Greeting precious saints of God and welcome back to our Bible Study of the wonderful Bible Book of Isaiah. Please take a moment to share this teaching by every means available to you. Thank you for sharing. The featured picture today is of the Statehouse in the State of Florida. The purpose of the picture is to remind us to pray for those in authority.
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (KJV)
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Notice that this passage tells us how to approach the Lord concerning those in governmental authority and “all that are in authority”. That includes the manager at Walmart and the leaders in our Churches and many others. If we are not speaking to God in these ways, what can we expect? The Lord is so good, He not only tells us how to approach Him concerning those in authority but what the outcome will when done in faith and love. Now let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible Study. The title for the following passage of Scripture in the Bible Program I am using is “Hezekiah’s death is foretold, but his life is lengthened through prayer”. Yes, we will see that his life was lengthened but was it through prayer? Now, let’s read our primary text, continuing to read out loud.
Isaiah 38:1-8 (KJV)
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,
3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.
7 And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;
8 Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
We have been looking at the threats coming from King Sennacherib of Assyria. The Assyrians have destroyed all of Judah and only Jerusalem with King Hezekiah remains. The Lord has assured King Hezekiah that not only will Jerusalem be spared by the Hand of God, but King Sennacherib will have a violent end. As if all of this wasn’t enough, King Hezekiah is taken ill, an illness unto death allowed its natural course. As we will find out later, he has a huge abscess and God tell Isaiah how to treat it in a natural way. As we focus on verse five above, we see that Jerusalem is being spared due to God’s relationship with David, and the prayer with tears of King Hezekiah. Is that the whole story? Let’s look at this same account in the following text.
2 Kings 20:1-6 (KJV)
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
5 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.
6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
In this text we see Hezekiah after being told to get his house in order turning to the wall and praying to the Lord. He reminds the Lord how he has walked in truth, with a perfect heart, and had done what was good in the Lord’s sight. Had the Lord forgotten these things? The Lord sends Isaiah back to the King to tell him that God heard the prayer, saw his tears and that He will heal him and extend his days. Not only that but he will be delivered from the hand of the King of Assyria. Is this the whole story?
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Receive the blessing in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (MSG)
24 GOD bless you and keep you,
25 GOD smile on you and gift you,
26 GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper.
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