We fold our tents and go home. Isaiah says: "Hezekiah, this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says." Hezekiah turns over with wonder and joy on his face. All rights reserved. As long as I don't have to personally suffer for my sin, why should I care?" Now let's look at this situation through Manasseh's eyes. Hezekiah would live fifteen more years! Hezekiah was king of a nation and that is an important job, yet Hezekiah willingly humbled himself in prayer, because he knew his place before the King of kings. 11Then the prophet Isaiah called on theLord, and theLordmade the shadow go backthe ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Voices in the culture can confuse or misdirect us from Gods will, but His Word is wisdom for us, and we must seek the Lord in prayer to be grounded and built up in Him (Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; Colossians 2:7). Though Hezekiah had led the nation in reform and revival, his indifference for the future had terrible consequences. 18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. He could rightly point to how he had served God and done exploits for His glory. His prayer seems short, but he knows God well by this time in his life, and in its shortness and abbreviation of expression much is implied: You may think it naive of Hezekiah to appeal to God on the basis of his own righteousness. Find out who in your congregation is sick and pray for these people with the children. know to be God's will, the dictum of "Be careful what you pray He could not do that if he was dead! Grace The city would be spared (2 Kings 19:32-34). Stress is your daily companion. From what we study in the three lessons on Healing and Prayer, we conclude the following: 1. Jesus answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned but that the works of God should be revealed in him. Such a short, simple prayer certainly had a remarkable result. en Espaol Hezekiah was terminally ill. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.'" Check the Teaching Ideas page on this website for ideas that are adaptable to any lesson. God has been his help in crisis many times. Even the kings descendants would be taken to serve as eunuchs in the Babylonian palace. This thirteen lesson Bible category curriculum covers: The Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, the Tower of Babel, the Call of Abram, Abram and Lot, Abram the Promised a Son, Abraham is Visited by Angel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Hagar and Ishmael, and Abraham Offered Isaac (PDF rank large: 1.1 MB). the macho exterior that men try to project. a few miles south, sent his field commander ("Rabshakeh," KJV, NRSV) with a large army to Jerusalem again. In Hezekiahs case, his answer came immediately. He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. How do you pray in a time like this? from Sennacherib gloat over the victory: The scripture records the humiliating conclusion: But the Assyrians felt after this that they had made a tactical error leaving Jerusalem unconquered. He threw off the Assyrian yoke and defeated the Philistines (2 Kings 18:7-8). Your email address will not be published. Church Your capital is He stopped paying tribute and expanded Judah's influence by attacking Philistine cities ", 1In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. will answer? But Hezekiah still wanted a sign that in three days time he would be well. 18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Judah's king Ahaz was wicked and disobeyed God's laws and led God's people to worship false gods. for," is useless. He said, Lord, please remember that I have always obeyed You. Hezekiah got alone with God. The prophet made a terrible prediction (2 Kings 20:16-18). for healing. withdrew to fight the Egyptians (2 Kings 19:9). Such a beautiful Mass and amazing turnout. 4Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader 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. But God does honor the prayers of the upright over those of the backslidden. I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. So the sunlight went back the ten steps i had gone down. (Isaiah 38:7,8 NIV), Apparently Hezekiah praised God before he had recovered his health. Bible Lesson: King Hezekiah Part 3: Hezekiah prays when threatened by Assyria Before an army fights the enemy the captain receives orders from the king. He sanctified the temple vessels that had been desecrated but destroyed the bronze servant Moses madebecause Gods people had turned it into an idol (Numbers 21:9; 2 Kings 18:4). The final chapters of II Chronicles recount the reigns of the various kings, most of whom are fairly unforgettable. Hezekiah needed to name a successor so leadership would pass to another at his death without palace intrigues and unnecessary disruption to the kingdom. They have two married sons and three granddaughters. He had confidence that God would do what He had promised to do. a faithful, upright, righteous life. Maybe youve bee. (2 Kings 20:2-3), Standard Abbreviations https://www.jesuswalk.com/greatprayers/refs.htm. & 2 Thessalonians Hezekiah's prayer was Honoring, humble and respectful of who God is. As Hezekiah restored Temple worship and reformed Judah, revival came to Gods people. He wanted to teach the people to love God. When he bragged about his possessions, he brought disaster to Judah, including the looting of Israels treasury and the nations eventual captivity. Bring some items to class that relate to illness. You want to say yes. nations as the only true God. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Upgrade with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com. Lord. Luke 32:2-8). Naaman was healed only after he dipped seven times in the Jordan river. David, Life of It scared all Hezekiahs people to death. But God brought the king back from death's door and gave him fifteen more . God brought the shadow back ten steps and Hezekiah knew that God would make him well. Second, Hezekiahs love for God and desire to please Him brought him additional years of life. Lesson 4: Hezekiah did not go flippantly to the Lord in prayer. What do I do next?, Are you in a tough spot right now? The adjective is gdl, "great," indicating "many" in number and other intensified concepts like "loudness" in sound, being old in years," etc.8A good translation in this context is "profusely." The Lord kept His promise to protect Jerusalem. Joshua place where you don't need to discipline us so much. All Rights Reserved. Even good people fall sick. It was probably instrumental, but only because God enabled it. Help us grow. Opposing idol worship (2 Chronicles 30:14), toppling the hilltop "high places" where Baal The more you grow in your relationship with God, the bolder your prayers can become, because the more your heart will begin to line up with Gods heart. Background Information on the Divided Kingdom. Why? Hezekiah failed that test. Consider your own children's petitions. Because of that relationship, Hezekiah didnt wonder if God would be there when he came before Him. But God brought the king back from deaths door and gave him fifteen more years of life; a wonderful gift, indeed. The King was very happy. Instead, the news was bad. Central Lesson: From the Sickbed The Scourge of Sickness This chapter ushers us into the sickroom of King Hezekiah that we may learn the painful lessons God taught him there. 1, 2, and 3 John Then, Isaiah had Hezekiahs servants boil some figs and make a paste. Click here for visual aids and story-telling methods. 17"It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. You've been there. He is Risen . 19Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God." "5This may have been a furuncle or carbuncle, the latter being "a more extensive inflammation of the skin, usually attended by a lowering of bodily resistance, and it can prove fatal. We give up. The country needed him. Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. This king knew how to pray and he prayed in a way that got results. Heres a website with some patterns: Bring a fig to class and let the children have a taste. 7Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." There are at least five lessons we can learn from Hezekiah's life and choices. When the prophet Isaiah told him his death was near, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and wept bitterly. Healing, Faith In God, Prayer General, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. Tunneling a shaft through 1,748 feet of solid rock to supply water to the city in time of siege (2 Kings 20:20). There He Goes- Jesus on a Donkey Song, Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock Song, (Thai) Jesus Loves Me, (Thai) Jesus Loves the Little Children, (Thai) This Little Light of Mine. It helps you remember to pray for them. He was known as one who "trusted in the Lord" (18:5), "held fast" and followed him (18:6), with the result that the Lord Apostle Paul Before copying or reproducing any portion of this website please carefully read the Mission Bible Class Copyrights and Permissions Page. You will not get well.. Copyright 2023, Ralph F. Wilson. So God gave each of them a sign to strengthen their faith. Always remain true to the facts found in the Bible but help children connect to its meaning by using drama, visual aids, voice inflection, student interaction and/or emotion. "He will save us," you tell your people. He had encouraged the people with confidence and trust in God when threatened by his enemies. Young discusses the various problems of dating and reconciling accounts in a long and detailed appendix (Edward J. talked about a righteous life. He chose to cling to the. Hannah's Prayer. He went before the Lord in prayer and followed the Lords commands. Thank you for signing up. It was prior to making his plans. Moses King Hezekiahs prayer for healing is a scripture that can help you pray for healing for yourself. As I consider his life, let's look at three of his prayers. (How to choose the best learning activities for my teaching situation). "L ORD " is the Hebrew personal, specific name of God, pronounced "YAW-whey." The Jews felt that the name of the Lord was too holy to even pronounce, and substituted for it when reading or speaking the word Adonai, "lord." For the most part, King Hezekiah faithfully walked with God (2 Chronicles 31:20), and there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him (2 Kings 18:5). Psalms And Sennacherib? 4Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of theLordcame to him: 5Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, This is what theLord, the God of your father David, says: I have heardyour prayer and seen your tears;I will heal you. Before Isaiah had even left the palace courtyard, God told him to go back to the king. It helps you to watch as God answers. Believe should learn from the life of Hezekiah to be committed to God alone no matter what. He is considered a very righteous king by the author of the Books of Kings. The children could collect packets of crayons and pictures to colour. Hezekiah prayed for God's protection. God is sovereign in all his ways and does allow sickness to come to Godly men and woman. To abstain from medicine like some extreme teaching is not scriptural at all. We find this account in 2 Kings 19:14-19. Let students answer. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. What a difficult time 20As for the other events of Hezekiahs reign, all his achievements and how he made the pooland the tunnelby which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? military force on earth, is ravaging the countryside a few miles away, threatening weaker cities into submission and destroying the rest, carting away their riches and levying a burdensome annual tax that bleeds the nation even more. Receive the devotional in your email inbox every morning! God heard his prayer and he was healed. IsaiahandMicahprophesied during his reign. She has focused much of her work on atonement theology and the development of theological education. The Lord said, "You will die; you will not recover" (20:1b), They sent a letter by messenger to Hezekiah, basically which, said, The Assyrians are tough and they are coming for you next.. As a thank you for signing up for a free iDisciple account, enjoy this downloadable e-book. According to Pliny, figs were used for the cure of ulcers.11Did the poultice of figs cure Hezekiah? 15And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. Privacy, 7 Lessons from the Prayer Life of Hezekiah. Just ask the children what they would want to do if they were in the hospital. James to a loving Father, who knows better that we do. Hezekiah led Judah through several crisis situations. "Bitterly" (NIV, NRSV) and "sore" (KJV) suggest a wrong attitude on Hezekiah's part where the text doesn't imply any. He did not stop praying just because he was sick. He knew this sign meant God would keep His promise and add fifteen years to his life when he went to the temple in three days. King Hezekiah was a very good king. "You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.". Hezekiah chose the way that was not possible. This doesn't mean you must be sinless to get your prayers answered. God answered the kings prayer swiftly! In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. He chose to cling to the Lord, follow Him, pursue holiness for himself and his people, and lead Judah in renewed worship. This is one of the most troubling mysteries of our faith. This was not just for himself. He cried out desperately to God for his life. Hezekiah knew his place as kingand he knew Gods place in the Kingdom. A second answer came from Isaiah: Assyria would never enter Jerusalem. He prayed to God often, and he always obeyed God. What do you do when you are backed into a corner about to face something bigger than your ability to handle? Hezekiah cried and he kept on praying and begging the Lord to make him well. He walked the walk! Hezekiahs prayer was Dependent. 8Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, What will be the sign that theLordwill heal me and that I will go up to the temple of theLordon the third day from now?, 9Isaiah answered, This is theLords signto you that theLordwill do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?, 10It is a simplematter for the shadow to go forward ten steps, said Hezekiah. But his ear is particularly open to his children who seek to be obedient to him. He threatened and belittled Hezekiah and insulted Yahweh himself: The prophet Isaiah reassured Hezekiah, and the Assyrian army he also prays for his nation's uncertain future -- under military pressure, leaderless, and without a successor that can inspire national unity and resistance. Judah was a relatively small country caught between the nutcracker of Assyria e) I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria V7. Hezekiah knew that he was a good king and he wanted to live a long life to bring the people closer to God. In Jesus' name, we pray. What sign did the Lord give Hezekiah to show that he would get well? In addition, now he faces death and the burden of succession. RESTORATION THROUGH COMMITMENT. They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. There are at least five lessons we can learn from Hezekiah's life and choices. came to Hezekiah demanding that he surrender Jerusalem. Let's not confuse this by second-guessing. Hezekiah had been a good king who tried to obey God, and one of his strengths was that he was a man of prayer. what is bad for us (Matthew 7:7-11). Placing the lump of figs on the boil was a symbolic act; at that time Hezekiah began to get better. Hezekiah knew his place as kingand he knew God's place in the Kingdom. Lexi threw me the sweetest surprise min, Happy Easter! It happened just as the Lord said. Hezekiah often became the target of warring nations. Hezekiah asked for an impossible sign and God answered his prayer. Verse one contains the familiar expression Put your house in order. When Isaiah left, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed earnestly with tears. 2 Corinthians Hezekiah experienced the miraculous on more than one occasion. Below are some things I learnt about sickness and healing from this passage. But when your child is compliant and obedient -- and asks for something special -- you think twice about saying no. Charismatic. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. . Christmas Incarnation Hezekiah cried desperately. I encourage you to pray. Hezekiah isn't responsible for Manesseh's sins any Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Good leaders are quick to pray. He wanted the Lord to give him a longer life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Never limit Gods method of healing. Extending and strengthening the wall of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:5a). Then look at how Hezekiah approached God's throne in prayer: And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: "O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. I have decided to add more years to his life. Hezekiah ruled over Judah and was a good and faithful king. The Lord healed his illness and also performed an extraordinary phenomenon. Donations The prophet Isaiah came and pronounced his sickness was unto death. God's heart is open to the prayer of his child seeking to live No one can see the future but God. 16Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. From verse 5, it seems as though God granted Hezekiahs prayer because he was king and because he was Davids descendant. There were several men of God who asked God for signs when their faith was not enough to believe God for the impossible even after God spoke to them. Use save ready lesson plant at instruction . For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Kings 20, 2 Kings 20:11, 2 Kings 20:1-11, 2 Kings 20:3, 2 Kings 20:7, 2 Kings 5, James 5:13-15, John 9:2, Sermon Topics: He just continued to pray and ask God to help him. Hezekiah was a good king (2 Kings 18:5-7). King Ahaz had nailed Jerusalems Temple doors shut, but Hezekiah reopened the temple and cleansed it. a city breached and burned, another cowed into submission. 17"It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. Make cards or gift baskets to send to someone who is sick. Let's examine Hezekiah's short prayer. During the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, attacked Judah, took all the fenced cities, and was about to take Jerusalem and destroy the land of Judah. Hezekiah Prays. To access and start using your account today, go to iDisciple.org and click login. In this instance, the answer was immediate. Try addressing God the way Hezekiah did when you pray and see how different the prayer feels. Experience. Dawn assists author and radio host Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth with research and works with various departments at Revive Our Hearts. While he was sick, the prophet Isaiah came to visit him. It helps you to watch as God answers. He lived it! Hezekiah is also appealing to God's promises for offspring and for a long life to those who walk uprightly before him: Hezekiah, I am sure, had not reached sinless perfection, but he had been careful (unlike his father) to live a godly, righteous, and faithful life before the Lord. Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide He was still in the palace courtyard. You have made heaven and earth. He fortified the city walls, expanded his military, and built a 1,750-foot-long tunnel to provide a secret water supply (2 Chron.
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