Hezekiah recovers from sickness

II Kings Chapter 20

Hezekiah became deathly ill and the prophet Isaiah went to visit him. He told the king to get his affairs in order and that he would die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed and wept bitterly.

But before Isaiah left, he got a message from the Lord telling him to go back to Hezekiah and tell him his prayers were heard and the Lord would heal him and fifteen years would be added to his life. Also the Lord promised to rescue Hezekiah and the city from Assyria. Then Isaiah had the servants of the king make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil and the king recovered.

When King Hezekiah asked Isaiah what sign the Lord would give him, Isaiah replied that God could make the shadow on the sundial go forward ten steps or backward ten steps. Hezekiah said, "Make it go backward." So the Lord did this.

Soon after, Merodach-baladan, son of the king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah wishes and a get-well gift. Hezekiah welcomed the Babylonian envoys and gave them many treasures and showed them everything he had. When Isaiah hear this, he warned Hezekiah that all the treasures stored by his ancestors would be taken away to Babylon, including some of his own descendants. But King Hezekiah was thinking that at least he would have peace and security during his own lifetime. And when the king died, his son Manasseh became the next king.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: King Hezekiah had become proud and showed off his treasures to the Babylonians. Instead of giving credit to God, he tried to impress the foreigners.

During his lifetime, Hezekiah built a pool ad tunnel from the Spring of Gihon to the Pool of Siloam. It was a water source outside the city of Jerusalem to a secure reservoir inside the city. This was done so the Assyrian army could not cut off their water supply.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? How often do we take God's wonderful blessing and use it to try to impress others who may be bent on harming us? It is a mistake that Hezekiah made. When God helps us, we must not use his blessing to impress others. A testimony of victory can quickly degenerate into vanity and self-congratulations. It happened to the king and can happen to us to. Be aware of pitfalls and thank our Lord for his blessings.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
My niece Suzanne who was in a terrible car accident and is in the hospital with many broken bones. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.