Have you ever been sick or faced a situation that you felt your suffering was depressing and hopeless?Imagine someone coming to you with more bad news.
Allow me to use the following teaching and reference:2Kings 20:1-
2 Kings 20:1
Background of the story.
There was a man named King Hezekiah son of Ahaz, and the 13th successor of David as king of Judah at Jerusalem . Hezekiah was more than sick , he was ill and facing death.
God sent one of his true prophets, Isaiah the son of Amoz to deliver a message of warning so that he can start preparing for his death. Hezekiah was a God-fearing man unlike many religious people, both ordinary and those in high offices of power.
verse 2 says Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, verse 3 says “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.
In verse 3 , Why did Hezekiah turn his face towards the wall and prayed to God? Some say he did not want to face his terrible situation, but why couldn’t he just close his eyes and pray or simply looked up to heaven? Theologians may need to confirm and verify if Hezekiah was showing religious and spiritual tradition of crying or wailing and praying against the ancient retaining wall of the built-up hill known to Jews and as the Temple Mount of Jerusalem. Hundreds of Jews pray and cry against the Wailing wall. A few Christians know about this wall and dozens are still visiting this site, writing their prayers and inserting them in holes in the wall.
Temple Mount is where the ark of the covenant was stored. The Ark of the Covenant was/is a gold-plated wooden chest that, in Jewish and Christian tradition, houses the two tablets bearing the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses by God .
It is clear that King Hezekiah depended on God, lived faithfully and seeking to live a life that pleases God.
in verse 3 ,King Hezekiah cried and pleaded with God, negotiating with God for a way out.
In verse 4 , God immediately responded to the kings prayer:
verse 4 says Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: 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. 6 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.’”
What would you do today if visited by the messenger announcing your imminent death?
Fear and panic will drive you crazy ,am i right ? Imagine the words came to a King and You are probably not a king or queen , a President , a Minister without Portfolio , a boss at work or just a worker. Do you think ,believe or assume that your life worth sending a warning to? Is your life worth preserving and prolonging like King Hezekiah whom God added fifteen more years to his life?
Believing ,Trusting God and keeping his commandments is the will of God for those who have desired a relationship with him. Obeying out of love not from a legalistic attitude. Do you have a relationship with him or do you desire a relationship with God? Hezekiah negotiated with God but God did neither approved nor confirm Hezekiah`s claims
God was moved by compassionate towards King Hezekiah and for his own name sake and for the sake of King David (read verse 6 carefully) GOD decided to heal the King and defend the city from its enemies . God was and is still known for being a loving God , a merciful , patient and truthful God. God knows his enemies and the enemies of his people. Who are your true enemies ? Is it not Satan , the devil himself ,the one who lies ,steals and kills?