Hezekiah was one of the faithful kings of Judah. He was a righteous man who helped Judah avoid Assyrian captivity.

After helping his kingdom avoid the same fate as the southern kingdom of Israel, the Holy Spirit tells us about an interesting moment in Hezekiah’s life.

Four Observations from 2 Kings 20:1-7

  • Hezekiah is sick. He is so ill that he is dying. He has a boil that is killing him. Isaiah tells him to “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live” (2 Kings 20:1).
  • Hezekiah responds by weeping and praying. He takes the news hard and calls upon the Lord (2 Kings 20:2-3). Have you ever done those things when facing a trying time in your life? They are certainly appropriate.
  • God hears Hezekiah. God sees his tears and hears his prayer (2 Kings 20:4-6). The Lord sends Isaiah back to the king, informing him that his life would be extended for fifteen years. Hezekiah would live to see his kingdom victorious over the Assyrians.
  • God doesn’t heal Hezekiah through the act of a miracle. He doesn’t do something supernatural to extend his life. Instead, God heals him through a common medical treatment of the day (2 Kings 20:7). In three days, Hezekiah was healed.

Three Lessons

  • God’s people are not immune from facing problems (Matthew 5:45). King Hezekiah was a righteous king who led Israel out of idolatry (2 Kings 18:1-6). His righteousness did not exempt him from facing sickness and other problems in this sin-cursed world.
  • Prayer is powerful! When faced with suffering, the first thing Hezekiah does is pray. He turns to God and calls upon him. People whose first inclination is to pray to God demonstrate trust and dependence in God (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalm 46:1-3).
  • God continues to work through providence in the lives of His people. While the times of miracles have ceased (1 Corinthians 13:9-13), God is still in the healing business! He continues to heal through doctors, medicine, and treatments. We need to believe and remember this as we pray for the sick in the spiritual family.

Conclusion:

Have you allowed God to work in your life in the most important way (Romans 6:1-4)?