Tender Care

Read 2 Kings 8:13-16, 20, Isaiah 38
 
2 Kings 20:2-6 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. 4 But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord: 5 “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”
 
THIS is one account of several remarkable events in Hezekiah’s life. Another immediately follows as the LORD directs the sun’s shadow to reverse its progression of the day. Others occur in God’s destruction of the Assyrian army and even the people’s gracious responses to Hezekiah’s reforms. There are very few in God’s Story so abundantly blessed.
   Perhaps God was using Hezekiah to remind Judah of his grace to be their God. The small nation had suffered the pains of Ahaz’s idolatry. When God was absent, Judah suffered. The LORD was moving Judah’s heart to live in his blessings.
   Hezekiah’s prayer for healing is a very good example for us. We may even be a bit surprised this godly man would be so grieved to hear his death is near and to then pray so earnestly for healing. Perhaps it is a natural reaction and even an automatic response to this sudden change in his life. Receiving bad news is always a surprise. It’s doubtful anyone immediately says, “God’s will be done.” More likely we say, “LORD, really? Are you sure? Will you heal me?” Hezekiah, the man of God, turned to God. That’s a good lesson for us.
   Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the LORD healed us all so quicky as we prayed? We might even be a bit jealous of Hezekiah’s quick recovery. But yet this should give us hope. If Hezekiah had not asked, he would have lived another 15 years. We are reminded to seek the LORD in all circumstances and await his response. Life is in his hands.  
   It seems, too, God instructed Hezekiah to respond with worship: three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. Worship is the only response to God in all circumstances. Hezekiah surely worshiped many times with joy and thanksgiving as he considered the many ways God had blessed him.