In this chapter we read of King Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery in verses 1-8. As we read on verses 9-22 are about his thanksgiving. Good study of the scriptures requires we consider the subject at hand in its full context. A closer look can be found in 2 Kings 20: 1-11. The thing to be learned from this scripture today and it applies to all situations involving prayer… whether we live or die, we shall be his, we do not pray in vain. No prayer is ever not answered but not always in our way or time. Hezekiah’s illness is of a very serious nature. It is written that the prophet Isaiah went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” His reaction is what can be expected with this one exception that speaks to the character and strength of this man’s faith.  He immediately turned his face to the wall and began to pray. “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” The King then wept bitterly. Illness can overtake a person in the blink of an eye, its seriousness will determine reaction and the response… How we react to different events in our lives is determined by the content of the life we are living. The story takes a quick turn and even before Isaiah was past the middle court the Lord instructed him to return to the king….

“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you….On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. 

Writings indicate that the King was a good man, a Godly man but it’s worth noting that the scripture shows a moment of doubt ever so slight… Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord on the third day from now?” … “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.” Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

There is such beautiful depth in the power of prayer and the lesson here among the scriptures. The King grieves that he will no longer see the Lord. Hezekiah’s desire has always been to serve God and have  communion with him. Consider that when a good man’s time here on earth is over all his cares and frustrations are ended and he rests from the labour of life itself. As we continue in these scriptures I see a beautiful vision. God has appointed our time here but the depth and seriousness of an illness can cause us to calculate the time we have left, when it is far more important to secure our own salvation and trust in our faith in God and his promise of eternal life through repentance and the pardon of our sins. God has promised Hezekiah 15 more years and he in return has promised to abound in praising and serving God. God’s promises are not to do away, but to quicken and encourage life and health which are given that we may glorify God and do good.

There will be a link below to a web site containing 7 Seven Reasons For Payer. I will post them here, go to the web site for a more detailed account.

1) Prayer can set (or change) the tone of your day

2) Prayer helps you make better decisions

3) Daily prayer keeps God in the forefront of your mind, not forgotten until Sunday

4) More frequent communication builds a stronger relationship

5) The discipline of daily prayer is submitting your heart to God

6) Answered prayers are prayers prayed

7) Opening your heart to God daily allows God to transform your heart

Remember the link below and make a daily habit of having a conversation with God.

Life is Good

jk

https://www.prayerandpossibilities.com/importance-daily-prayer/