‏ 2 Kings 20:1-11

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery

This section describes a difficult time in the life of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah becomes very sick, and the prophet Isaiah tells him that he will die. Hezekiah prays earnestly to God, reminding Him of his faithfulness. God hears his prayer, sends Isaiah back, and promises to heal Hezekiah and give him more years to live. This story shows the power of sincere prayer, God’s mercy, and the importance of trusting God even in the face of bad news.

v. 1: Hezekiah becomes very sick. The prophet Isaiah comes to him and says, This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover . This message is very serious and sad for Hezekiah.

v. 2: Hezekiah turns his face to the wall and prays to the Lord. He is deeply troubled and seeks God privately, showing his faith in God’s power to help .

v. 3: Hezekiah cries and asks God to remember how he has walked faithfully before Him, with a loyal heart, and has done what pleases God. Hezekiah’s tears show his deep emotion and desire for God’s mercy .

v. 4: Before Isaiah has left the middle court, God speaks to him. God tells Isaiah to go back to Hezekiah .

v. 5: God tells Isaiah to say to Hezekiah, 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 . God promises to heal Hezekiah and gives him hope.

v. 6: God says He will add fifteen years to Hezekiah’s life and will deliver him and Jerusalem from the king of Assyria. God promises to protect the city for His own sake and for His servant David .

v. 7: Isaiah tells the people to prepare a poultice of figs and put it on Hezekiah’s boil, and he recovers. This shows that God can use simple things to bring healing .

v. 8: Hezekiah asks Isaiah for a sign to prove that the Lord will heal him and that he will go up to the temple on the third day .

v. 9: Isaiah says, This is the sign from the Lord that he will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps? . God offers a miracle as proof.

v. 10: Hezekiah answers that it is easy for the shadow to go forward, but much harder for it to go back. He asks for the shadow to go back ten steps .

v. 11: Isaiah prays to the Lord, and God makes the shadow move back ten steps on the stairway of Ahaz. This miracle is a sign that God will keep His promise to Hezekiah .

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