King Hezekiah of Judah, inspired by the legacy of his ancestor David, wholeheartedly devoted himself to doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. His fervent commitment to his faith was unmistakable through his sweeping and radical reforms. He obliterated the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and tore down the Asherah poles. He purified the temple, cleansing it of the idols that his predecessors had embraced.
Yet, in the midst of his faithful crusade, Hezekiah faced a harrowing personal crisis around 713–712 B.C. Stricken with a life-threatening illness, his situation seemed dire. The prophet Isaiah, bearing a grave message from the Lord, instructed Hezekiah to set his affairs in order and prepare for his imminent death. Despite his unwavering faith and zealous reforms, he was told he would not recover. This profound and perplexing moment occurred roughly twelve years before the infamous invasion by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18 & 19). It painted a poignant picture: even a king as devout and proactive as Hezekiah was not immune to God’s judgment.
Hezekiah lived a godly life, so why did God send Isaiah to him with such a dire message? The exact reason for God sending Isaiah to Hezekiah with such a grim message is not explicitly stated in the text. It underscores the notion that God’s will is sovereign and often beyond human understanding. Death, as seen in the broader spiritual context, is not merely an end but a bridge to cross over and be with God. Moreover, it’s possible that there were hidden aspects of Hezekiah’s life known only to God. This message could have been a divine challenge for Hezekiah to reflect on and possibly address any concealed sins. Since we are not privy to the personal conversations between God and Hezekiah, it would be unwise to make judgments solely based on outward appearances.
Our external actions, although important, are ultimately a byproduct of God’s grace and a reflection of the inner peace He bestows upon us. It’s essential to understand that outward actions alone do not sanctify our hearts or cleanse our innermost desires. Assuming that our deeds can shield us from God’s judgment is a misconception held by many even today. Hezekiah’s story shatters that notion and puts into perspective the need for a deeper understanding of God’s will in our lives rather than blindly following the traditions and practices of our ancestors.
Hezekiah’s Response
Faced with this devastating news, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed earnestly, reminding the Lord of his faithful and wholehearted devotion. Hezekiah’s plea was poignant and filled with raw emotion, as he wept bitterly while seeking divine intervention.
“Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. – 2 Kings 20:3 (NIV)
In response to his dire situation, Hezekiah prayed, recounting his faithfulness to the LORD. What should our response be when we face similar situations? Like Hezekiah, many of us do not want to leave this world prematurely; we expect to live a full life and then go to God. However, when confronted with severe trials, we often find ourselves grief-stricken, sometimes even unable to pray.
In such moments of despair and loss of hope, it’s easy to forget the countless ways God has worked in our lives up to that point. In these challenging times, it’s crucial to remember God’s past faithfulness and to seek His presence through prayer, even when it’s difficult. Our response should be rooted in trust and faith, acknowledging that God’s will is ultimately beyond our understanding but always grounded in His love and wisdom.
As Isaiah was on his way back to the temple, he was in the middle court, the area between the temple and the palace. Remarkably, before Isaiah had even left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him again. God had heard Hezekiah’s prayer and seen his tears. Isaiah was instructed to return to Hezekiah with a message of hope: “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. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.”
Our prayers can influence God’s actions. Hezekiah’s prayer reflects a deep belief that God responds to heartfelt petitions, a theme supported by similar biblical references. For instance, in Ezekiel 33:14-16 (NIV), God states that if a wicked person turns away from their sin and does what is just and right, they will live, and their sins will not be remembered. This shows that God is open to changing outcomes based on people’s actions and prayers.
And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live. – Ezekiel 33:14 & 16 (NIV)
God desires communication with us and wants us to be involved in His plans. Some people just accept their fate as given, attributing it to their past sins, but God sent His son as a ransom for our sins so that no one should perish. Even after making that sacrifice, many find it hard to approach God with their petitions. While God’s will ultimately takes place, it is important for us to seek an understanding of His will rather than blindly accepting our fate and living in constant fear without God.
To aid in Hezekiah’s recovery, Isaiah instructed the preparation of a poultice of figs, a common medicinal practice in ancient times. When applied to the boil, Hezekiah began to recover. This use of figs, coupled with divine intervention, underscores how God often uses natural means to achieve supernatural ends.
Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. – 2 Kings 20:7 (NIV)
Even though we believe in God as our ultimate healer we too depend on modern medicines. We make the conclusion that medicines are a conduit for God to heal us forgetting that God does not need any medium or precedence to reveal His Glory in our lives. It is because we have such little faith that God is working through conduits but that is also preventing us from experiencing his unfettered grace in our lives.
Hezekiah Asks for a Sign
Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?” – 2 Kings 20:8 (NIV)
Curious about the certainty of his recovery, Hezekiah asked Isaiah for a sign from the Lord. Isaiah presented an unusual choice: should the shadow on the stairway of Ahaz go forward ten steps or back ten steps? Hezekiah, reasoning that it was a simple matter for the shadow to advance, requested that it go back ten steps instead. Isaiah called upon the Lord, who then made the shadow move backwards, providing a miraculous sign of the promised healing.
Faced with mixed messages and feeling totally broken and lacking confidence, he sought reassurance from God. This need for a sign reflects his deep desire for confirmation and clarity in a moment of profound uncertainty. Initially, Hezekiah’s death seemed imminent, but his sincere prayer and God’s merciful response altered the course of events. This highlights the dynamic relationship between human agency and divine will. It also draws a parallel to King Ahaz, who refused to ask for a sign despite God’s instruction and subsequently lost his kingdom. Hezekiah’s request for a sign, therefore, illustrates his faith and his willingness to engage with God’s promises, seeking assurance in his time of need.
The Fall of Hezekiah
At that time, Marduk-Baladan, the son of Baladan and king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, having heard about his illness and recovery. Marduk-Baladan, who ruled Babylon intermittently between 722 and 703 BC, was likely seeking alliances to resist Assyrian dominance. His gesture towards Hezekiah was part of this broader geopolitical strategy. Hezekiah received the envoys warmly and proudly showed them all his treasures, including silver, gold, spices, fine olive oil, his armoury, and everything else of value in his kingdom. There was nothing in his palace or throughout his dominion that he did not display to the visitors. Hezekiah welcomed the envoys from Babylon with great enthusiasm, partly because he took pride in showcasing his achievements and wealth. As a relatively low-level king compared to the powerful Babylonians, he likely felt a sense of validation and importance in their attention.
Additionally, Hezekiah may have seen this as an opportunity to forge a strategic alliance with Babylon to ward off the threat of an Assyrian invasion. Similar to the northern kingdom’s attempt under King Hoshea, aligning with the dominant Babylonian empire seemed like a promising way to secure protection and support. In those days, Babylon was a mighty kingdom, and forming an alliance with them would have been highly desirable. However, Hezekiah’s actions also reveal a misjudgment. He failed to recognize that the LORD had already determined the fate of the Babylonians, choosing the Assyrians as the instrument of their downfall. This underscores the fact that human plans and alliances are ultimately subject to God’s sovereign will.
The prophet Isaiah then approached Hezekiah with probing questions about the visitors from Babylon. Hezekiah confessed that the men had come from Babylon and that he had shown them everything without holding anything back. Isaiah then delivered a grave prophecy from the Lord.
The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” “The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?” – 2 Kings 20:17-19 (NIV)
Hezekiah’s reaction to this prophecy was notably indifferent and his response suggests a short-sighted concern for his own era’s stability rather than the long-term implications for his descendants and kingdom. Hezekiah’s diplomatic error and lack of trust in God were evident in his actions, which emphasized reliance on wealth and alliances rather than divine trust. By displaying his treasures to Babylon, he sought security through human means rather than relying on God (2 Chronicles 32:31; Isaiah 30-31). Isaiah’s prophecy accurately foretold the future Babylonian captivity, a consequence of Hezekiah’s misplaced trust and pride. This prophecy was fulfilled during the reigns of Jehoiachin and Zedekiah, ultimately leading to Judah’s exile and downfall.
Like Hezekiah, we often manipulate our understanding of the scriptures to hear what we want. We selfishly interpret God’s word, ignoring verses that call us to shine the light of Jesus on others, even our enemies, while we double-underline promises of prosperity and demand answers when our prayers aren’t answered as we expect.
Hezekiah’s notable achievements include the construction of a tunnel to bring water into Jerusalem. This tunnel, was a remarkable engineering feat aimed at securing a water supply during sieges (2 Chronicles 32:30). Facing the imminent threat of Assyrian attack, Jerusalem encountered a critical situation as its water source lay outside the city walls. In response, King Hezekiah initiated the construction of a tunnel that redirected water from the source to the Pool of Siloam inside the city walls. Hezekiah rested with his ancestors and Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
Hezekiah’s life offers a complex example of leadership marked by both great faith and significant failures. His reign underscores the importance of humility and reliance on God rather than human strength and alliances, as seen in his interactions with Babylonian envoys. Hezekiah’s additional fifteen years of life, granted around 701 BC, coincided with critical historical events, including the Assyrian threat under King Sennacherib. Moreover, Hezekiah’s story reaffirms God’s promises to David’s lineage, highlighting the Lord’s commitment to defend Jerusalem for the sake of David. However, Hezekiah’s pride after his recovery led to the Lord’s displeasure and serves as a lesson on the importance of humility and repentance for all of us.
Discussion Questions
- Hezekiah lived a godly life so why did God send Isaiah to him with such a dire message?
- In response, he prayed recounting his faithfulness to the LORD. What is our response when we are going through similar situations?
- Can our prayers change God’s mind?
- If the healing is from the LORD then why were figs needed to soothe Hezekiah’s boils?
- Was Hezekiah right when he asked the LORD for a sign?
- Why was Hezekiah so welcoming to the envoys from Babylon?
- Did Hezekiah misunderstand Isaiah’s prophecy?
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