The Healing and the Judgment

Read Isaiah 38-39
 
Isaiah 38:4-6 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.’”
 
Isaiah 39:5-7 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.”
 
ONE challenge in reading the Bible the events are not necessarily in chronological order. The events and chapter numbers do not coincide. An example is that Isaiah 36-37 told of Assyria’s defeat. Then chapter 38 relates Hezekiah’s healing and prophecy of Assyria’s defeat.
     In these two passages are two more examples of God’s power to dramatically change our lives. King Hezekiah’s healing is a clear example of prayer’s power. In addition, the LORD gives a universe-changing sign he will surely add 15 more years to Hezekiah’s life. This is very similar to God holding the sun as Joshua fought the Amorites (Joshua 10).  
     Then comes the second – and a sad prophecy – of great change to come to Judah one day. This prophecy is of the Jews’ exile to Babylon. Please know Hezekiah’s prideful display of Judah’s wealth to Babylon’s officials was not the cause of the exile. There are many prophecies before and after Hezekiah’s reign of Judah’s 70 years of punishment in Babylon. Evil kings preceded and followed Hezekiah. The Sovereign Lord’s will was to judge his disobedient people for their generations of disobedience. God had set the time of the exile to be about 100 years after Hezekiah’s reign.
     These are two sure examples of God’s Word fulfilled. Healing individuals, judging nations and changing nature all occur with God’s spoken Word.
     Often it is difficult to God’s severe judgment words. Yet, God does not leave his chosen people in the judgment. He continually extends his gracious hand to encourage and save all who repent and believe his Word is true.
     After these many accounts of judgment, the chapters to come next will be very encouraging for you.
 
Rejoice! God does not leave his faithful people in his judgment.