Lesson 345 - Senior

Memory Verse

"Search me, O God, and know my heart:  try me, and know my thoughts:  and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23, 24).

Cross References

 

I The Sickness of Hezekiah During the Time of Judah's Distress

1. Jerusalem is threatened by Sennacherib's armies, [2KG:20:6]; [2KG:18:17].

2. Isaiah tells Hezekiah he will die of his sickness, [2KG:20:1]; [ISA:38:1].

3. Hezekiah weeps before the Lord, [2KG:20:2-3].

II The Miracle-Working God

1. God sends Isaiah back with the answer, [2KG:20:4-6].

2. Hezekiah is healed, [2KG:20:7]; [JAM:5:14-15]; [EXO:15:26].

3. God sends a sign, [2KG:20:8-11]; [MAK:16:17-18].

III Hezekiah's Trial

1. Hezekiah receives an embassy from Babylon, [2KG:20:12-13]; [2CH:32:31].

2. Hezekiah's heart is lifted up, [2CH:32:25-26]; [PS:101:5]; [PRO:6:17].

< p>3. Isaiah reproves Hezekiah and tells of the Babylonian captivity, [2KG:20:14-18].

 

4. Hezekiah dies, [2CH:32:32-33]. 

Notes

 

Strength in Weakness

Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. He sought the Lord three times to have it removed, only to hear the words: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" [2CO:12:9]). It is certainly true that in time of trial and sickness -- when we are weak -" our reliance on God is the strongest, and God's strength is made manifest.

The Refiner's Fire

Hezekiah was a godly king, a man who served God with all his heart; but, yet, he faced many trials to prove him and to humble him. Sennacherib came against him with all his Assyrian host; the kingdom of Judah faced annihilation. To face this trial Hezekiah strengthened himself in the Lord. To make matters more serious, it was during this invasion that Hezekiah became sick unto death. To bring, as it were, even more despair, the Prophet Isaiah was sent to tell the 39-year-old king to set his house in order, that he was going to die.

How dark must have seemed that day to the king when Isaiah delivered his message of death, and then left! It must have seemed as though all hell was arrayed against him and the heavens were as brass over his head. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and, in the bitterness of his soul, wept sorely. How quick and powerful was the answer when God saw that his servant was in danger of being overcome in the fires of affliction. It was like that moment when Abraham lifted his knife to offer his only son, and the angel of the Lord called out of Heaven and stayed his hand. May all the children of God know that the Refiner of Levi knows his gold and will not let the fire burn hotter than necessary to purify His sons!

Signs and Wonders

How marvelous are the works of the Lord! and how great is the deliverance when He stretches forth His hand! With signs and wonders He made Himself known to Hezekiah. The angel of death passed over the king of Judah and smote the host of the Assyrians, leaving Sennacherib to make his way back to Nineveh, moping, and with shame of face, as the virgin daughters of Zion shook their heads and laughed him to scorn.

These were not all the strange events of that memorable time, for God sent Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah that He would heal him and add fifteen years unto his life. As a proof that his message was from God, Isaiah cried unto the Lord and God sent the sun eastward for forty minutes in its flight, and the dial of Ahaz must have appeared to have gone away as the shadow moved backward ten degrees. What a shock it must have been to the inhabitants of the world to see the sun reverse its order in the skies! Let the sceptics mock at such an event if they will; but the God of Hezekiah is the God who created the sun, earth, and sky; it is He who set the worlds in motion; and when He wills, He can reverse that motion to the confusion of those who do not believe.

Praise

What a rejoicing there must have been, and how the house of the Lord must have vibrated on that third day as Hezekiah gave thanks to God for deliverance and fifteen years of extended life! "The grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day," were the words from the lips of the king, that rang through the corridors and echoed in the courts of the Temple.

Healing

To pray unto the Lord for healing as Hezekiah did is not strange to the children of God. The Lord hath promised, "I am the LORD that healeth thee" [EXO:15:26]). In His Word, the afflicted are exhorted to pray, and the sick to "call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up" [JAM:5:14-15]). His power to heal is still made manifest to those who put their trust in Him.

A curse is pronounced upon those who look to the arm of flesh and fail to put their trust in God. God was displeased with Asa who "sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians" [2CH:16:12]). Asa found no healing, and died; but Hezekiah prayed, and lived. Some would point to the plaster of figs that Isaiah told Hezekiah to lay upon the boil as an example of using earthly remedies. It was not expected that the figs would heal the boil, nor that the waters of Jordan would heal leprosy. The clay that Jesus used to anoint the eyes of the blind man was no more a remedy for blindness than the oil of anointing that is placed upon the forehead by the elders of the church. Obedience to the word of command, and faith in God bring healing to the sick, and no aids or helps are necessary to accomplish His purpose. Let those who serve God put their trust solely in Him "who healeth all thy diseases" [PS:103:3]).

Pride

"But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up" [2CH:32:25]). With his health regained, the Assyrian threat removed, and riches and honour bestowed upon him, Hezekiah should have walked softly before His Maker who had so wondrously wrought for him. However, when ambassadors came with presents from Babylon, it was too tempting for him. With swelling pride he showed them all his treasures. Once more God sent His Prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah, this time with a word of rebuke for his folly.

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" [PRO:16:18]). Everything that Hezekiah and Judah pointed to with pride was to be swept away from them. All the treasures in which they had vaunted themselves were destined to fall into the hands of the men of Babylon before whom they boasted. May God help us all to realise that pride is an abomination in the sight of God. "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour" [ECC:10:1]).

Humility

Hezekiah accepted the rebuke from the Lord and, as a truly great man, humbled himself; and God delayed the captivity of Judah so that it did not come in Hezekiah's day. God certainly respects the humble and "saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" [PS:34:18]). God regarded the murderer, even Ahab, when he humbled himself at the rebuke of Elijah; and He heard the prayer of Manasseh who filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, because he humbled himself greatly. The mercy of God is always extended to those who will humble themselves and acknowledge their guilt before Him. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" [JAM:4:10]). Are you big enough to be small? 

Questions

 

1. Study the chronology of Hezekiah's life and tell how you know that his sickness came at about the time of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah.

2. Relate some of the things Hezekiah had done during his reign prior to his sickness.

3. How old was Hezekiah when he became sick?

4. How long was God in answering Hezekiah's prayer for healing?

5. What are some of the Scriptural reasons why we trust God for healing?

6. How do we figure that ten degrees on a sundial is 40 minutes?

7. What part did the figs play in the healing of Hezekiah?

8. Look up other prophecies about the Babylonians captivity.

9. What prevented the wrath of God from being poured out on Jerusalem during Hezekiah's reign?