Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Hezekiah was sick and near to death"
Text: Isaiah 38:1
HEZEKIAH FACES DEATH
The stress and strain of life can take a heavy toll on anyone, and perhaps even more so, on a king. Hezekiah was threatened by the Rabshakeh, representing King Sennacherib, among other things he had to face as the ruler of Judah. He became very sick and he was near death.
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death.
And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him,
‘Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.”
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall,
and prayed to the LORD, and said,
‘Remember now, O LORD, I pray,
how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart,
and have done what is good in Your sight.’
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.”
Isaiah 38:1-3
1. A word from the LORD.
a) This word was given through Isaiah.
b) Isaiah declared to Hezekiah that his time on earth was drawing to a close.
c) The word given to Hezekiah:
i) He must set his house in order.
ii) He would soon die.
d) There were things that Hezekiah still needed to attend to.
i) He must give attention to his household.
ii) There were details he must set in order.
iii) If he were to die with a house that is not set in order, there would be serious consequences for his house and for the kingdom.
2. Hezekiah’s response.
a) He prayed earnestly to the LORD.
b) He wept bitterly before the LORD.
3. The Content of his prayer to God.
a) He spoke candidly to the LORD.
b) He recounted what he had done in his life.
i) He had walked before the LORD in truth.
ii) He had maintained a loyal heart.
iii) He had done what was good in God’s sight.
c) These words were uttered in bitter tears.
i) The thought of death was onerous.
ii) He was deeply saddened by the thought that he would die soon.
4. What was the point of Hezekiah’s prayer?
a) He was implicitly asking the Lord to defer his death.
b) He was pleading with God to withdraw His word and to grant an extension of life.
c) He feared that he would die immediately and he asked for a little bit more time.