AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Wednesday – February 1, 2023, Sh’vat 10, 5783
HEZEKIAH SICK UNTO DEATH – PART THREE
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 was provided by my sister-in-law Lynn Alix of a snow in New Hampshire a week before Christmas. It is beautiful but I am so glad we are not dealing with the snow and the cold. 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.
Let’s look again at another portion of Scripture and again see the sin and the repentance that not only healed and preserved King Hezekiah but Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 32:24-26 (ESV)
24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the LORD, and he answered him and gave him a sign.
25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.
26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
King Hezekiah had pride and when he repented deliverance came. Notice his pride brought wrath (judgment) upon not only him but Judah and Jerusalem. What about the head of a household, the head of a Church? Contrary to the heading for this section in Isaiah given by the translators, the wrath of God was not turned due to prayer and tears but repentance. Now, this principle is not just applicable to kings and the sin of pride but to any manner of sin. There is no place for the curse absent sin. Read Deuteronomy Twenty-eight very carefully again. Now let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say on this topic. The story of King Hezekiah and many others in Scripture plus what we are about to read answers the question of why bad things happen to good people.
Luke 13:1-5 (KJV)
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Let me repeat, there is no place for the curse in the absence of sin. Read the first fourteen verses of Deuteronomy twenty-eight. Let me ask you, is there any mention of the curse in these verses? Does it say that some will be poor and some sick, it is just their lot in life? Does it say you are going to be sick sometimes and have financial disasters sometimes? The answer is no to all of it. The curse comes into our lives by way of sin, period. Anything we believe, think, say, or do contrary to the Word of God is sin and opens the door to the curse.
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.
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please contact us and we will respond. Our goal is to build a solid foundation upon which children of God can become sons of God, stand and do exploits in Jesus’ name.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 15007 Rock River Street, San Antonio, Texas 78247-3030
