Hezekiah King of Judah and Isaiah

After the fiasco with the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, when the God of Israel delivered Israel, Hezekiah ran into another problem. Hezekiah, king of Judah, became ill; so ill the nation believed he would certainly die.

Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to see the king. The Lord told Isaiah that the king of Judah would not live. Isaiah delivered the message to Hezekiah saying, “This is what the Lord says, set your house in order.” “You will not survive this illness,” Isaiah sadly relayed the message.

Upon hearing this, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and earnestly prayed to the Sovereign Lord. He said, “I implore You, O Lord, to remember how I have been faithful and in truth before You.” Hezekiah reminded the Lord that he has had a perfect heart before the great and terrible God.

Isaiah Sent Back to the King

“I did what was pleasing before Your sight my Lord,” said the king Judah crying bitterly. What happened next would be considered amazing! Before the prophet Isaiah was gone out to the middle of the courtyard, the word of the Lord was made to Isaiah again.

The Lord ordered him to go back to Hezekiah, the captain of my people, and this is what you tell him. The Lord, the God of David your father says this; “I have heard your prayer and have seen your tears.” “See, I have healed you. On the third day, you will go to the house of the Lord,” says the Lord.

The Sovereign Lord says, “I will add fifteen years to your days and I will defend this city for David’s and My Own sake, as well as deliver you also.” Isaiah took a lump of figs and placed it on the boil on Hezekiah. When this was done, the king of Judah was recovered.

Healed but Here Comes Berodach from Babylon

Hezekiah then said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” The prophet responded, “This is the sign the Lord will show you that you are healed. The shadow will it go forward or backward ten degrees?”

Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go forward ten degrees, but to go backward is more challenging.” Isaiah the prophet cried inwardly to the Lord to show the king. The Sovereign Lord brought the shadow backward by ten degrees by the same lines which had gone down.

These were the same lines it originally had gone forward during the days of Ahaz’s horologe (timekeeping device). It was around this time that Berodach-Baladan, who was the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon sent letters to Judah. He sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah because he’d heard the king of Judah was ill.

Poor Judgment by the king of Judah…

Hezekiah was glad to hear from the king of Babylon and welcomed his messengers. The king of Judah showcased his kingdom to them. He showed them the house of spiceries, the gold, silver, the precious things, ointments, vessels, armor, and all things in his treasures.

The king did not hold back showing anything or any word in his house that he didn’t show the messengers from Babylon. After the party was complete, here came the prophet Isaiah, with a message from the Lord. Isaiah timed his arrival as all the Babylonian messengers were leaving.

He asked the king, “Who are these men, where did they come from, and what is their business here?” Then king Hezekiah replied, “They came from far, even from Babylon.” Isaiah then asked what have they been shown and what did they see in the king’s house.

Babylon Will Come Back for It All

Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all things, whatever was in my house, I showed it to them; there is nothing in my treasures that I did not show them!” Isaiah then replied, “Listen to the word of the Lord; see, the days are coming that all that is in your house will be gone.”

The prophet continued, “All that your fathers have laid up in the house will be carried to Babylon and nothing will be left, says the Sovereign Lord.” “Also your sons that will come from you will be taken away and placed as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Hezekiah then graciously replied to Isaiah, “Good is the word of the Lord that you have spoken; only peace and truth will be in my days. Is that not a good thing?” The remainder of the deeds Hezekiah did is recorded.

The Kings Records… All Recorded

All his might and accomplishments; the pool and conduit he made that brought water into the city; these all are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah. Hezekiah, the king of Judah, slept with his fathers, and Manasseh, his son, took over the rule of Judah in his place.

Selah (article based on 2 Kings chapter 20)

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