King Hezekiah Healed
Isaiah 38:1-22 | In those days Hezekiah [king of Judah] became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, “For the Lord says this, ‘Set your house in order and prepare a will, for you shall die; you will not live.’” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Please, O Lord, just remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and truth, and with a whole heart [absolutely devoted to You], and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept greatly. 4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘For the Lord, the God of David your father says this, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; listen carefully, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city [Jerusalem].”’ 7 “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that He has spoken: 8 Listen carefully, I will turn the shadow on the stairway [denoting the time of day] ten steps backward, the shadow on the stairway ([a]sundial) of Ahaz.” And the sunlight went ten steps backward on the stairway where it had [previously] gone down. 9 This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after he had been sick and had recovered from his illness: 10 I said, “In mid-life I am to go through the gates of Sheol (the place of the dead), I am to be summoned, deprived of the remainder of my years.” 11 I said, “I will not see the Lord The Lord in the land of the living; I will no longer see man among the inhabitants of the world. 12 “My dwelling (body) is pulled up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have rolled up my life as a weaver [rolls up the finished web]. He cuts me free from the warp [of the loom]; From day to night You bring me to an end. 13 “I lay down until morning. Like a lion, so He breaks all my bones; From day until night You bring me to an end. 14 “Like a swallow, like a crane, so I chirp; I coo like a dove. My eyes look wistfully upward; O Lord, I am oppressed, take my side and be my security. 15 “What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander aimlessly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. 16 “O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; Restore me to health and let me live! 17 “Indeed, it was for my own well-being that I had such bitterness; But You have loved back my life from the pit of nothingness (destruction), For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 18 “For Sheol cannot praise or thank You; and rejoice in You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. 19 “It is the living who give praise and thanks to You, as I do today; A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness. 20 “The Lord is ready to save me; Therefore we will play my songs on stringed instruments All the days of our lives at the house of the Lord.” 21 Now Isaiah had said, “Have them take a cake of figs and rub it [as an ointment] on the inflamed spot, that he may recover.” 22 Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the house of the Lord?”
NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible Study
2 Kings 20:13-15 Hezekiah was showing off his wealth to the Babylonians, in disregard of the mercy God had just granted him.
13 Hezekiah listened to and welcomed them and [[c]foolishly] showed them all his treasure house—the silver and gold and spices and precious oil and his armory and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house (palace) nor in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. 14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say [that would cause you to do this for them]? From where have they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” 15 Isaiah said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything that is in my house (palace). There is nothing in my treasuries that I have not shown them.”
Isaiah 38:1–22 Ch. 38 is the account of the life-threatening illness of King Hezekiah and his miraculous healing in answer to prayer. See note on 2 Kin. 20:1–7.38:8 See note on 2 Kin. 20:8–11.
38:9–20 These verses express Hezekiah’s reaction to the thought of being doomed to death. He appeals to God for help. When he receives it, he evaluates the meaning of life in terms of worshiping God. Doing so, he exemplifies the NT believer’s attitude at being rescued from death and given eternal life.
38:17 If God is making no further accusation regarding a man’s past sins, then the man should sense no further condemnation over them.
38:21 God chose to miraculously heal Hezekiah through a simple medical procedure (see John 9:6–15). It is not clear why a simple boil was nearly fatal (v. 1).
LORD, just as You endured the cross and the suffering that went with it because You saw the glory and joy set before You at the right hand of Your Father God, help me to endure what I must for the joy set before me of knowing You have defeated the enemy and I will spend eternity with You. Thank You for the joy of knowing we will win because You have conquered death and defeated hell. I thank You that you have given me a second chance to do something great for You. No matter what I have done or what has happened in my past, You will still use me for Your purposes because I have committed my life to you in every way. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. ~Prayer by Stormie Omartain | PRAYER WARRIOR
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