Good morning People of God in Christ Jesus.
We give glory to God for the gift of another new day, we thank God for the privilege of life and for His unending mercy and grace upon us always. Praise God!
Isaiah Chapter 38
Yesterday, we learnt about how King Hezekiah received threat letters from Assyrian King (Sennacherub) and how Hezekiah joined forces with Prophet Isaiah to pray to God for intervention and God answered him and Sennacherub and his army couldn’t perform their enterprise.
Today, we want to look at another challenge faced by King Hezekiah – He became seriously sick, even unto death.
Isaiah 38:1
[1]In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
What was the nature of the sickness?
2Kings 20:7 provides us with a clue.
2 Kings 20:7
[7]And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
The Hebrew transliteration for “boil” is: shechîyn
Pronounced as : shekh-een’
The word was taken from a root word that describes something that burns – an inflammation of the ulcer family.
So, he had an inflammation on or in his body, a serious one that could cause death.
Also, the book of 2 Kings Chapter 18:2 and 20:6, provide us with the details of how old Hezekiah was when he knew he would die. He was 39 years old.
So, he felt he was still very young to die.
So, he again did what he knew how to do – He prayed to God in the privacy of his room, on his bed, turning his face to the wall.
Isaiah 38:2-3
[2]Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD.
[3]And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
From the tone of his prayer, we will observe he claimed self righteousness as a justification for God to answer him.
Self righteousness was actually allowed in old Testament dispensation, because that was the only way to be right with God.
Remember I have done a series of teachings on the characteristics of Old Testament on this platform – one of which is that Old Testament is a relationship between God and man, based on what man can and must do to be declared righteous, which is by obeying the laws of Moses.
While on the contrary, New Testament is a relationship between God and man, based on what Christ Jesus did on our behalf to qualify us for righteousness before God by faith, because no man has the wherewithal to be righteous before God.
So, we should not blame King Hezekiah for praying the way he did. He was operating based on Mosaic law (OT), which is no longer applicable to New Covenant believers.
Well, our God is a merciful God. He answered his prayers. In response to his prayer, God sent a word from His Prophet to confirm it.
Isaiah 38:4-6
[4]Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
[5]Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
[6]And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.
What a merciful God…what happened next?
To be continued tomorrow by God’s grace. Praise God.
Our Prayers for everyone on this platform reading this message:
👉The mercy of God will speak for you in all ramifications, in Jesus name.
👉What the devil had planned for your destruction, will lead to progress and extravagant blesings for you, in Jesus name.
👉No one on this platform will die any untimely death, in Jesus name.
👉As many as possible that are sick, receive perfect healing, in Jesus name.
Bible readings for today: Reflection time on all the Chapters you have read so far from the past six days and covering of missed Chapters.
I call you blessed now and always.
Thursday May 7, 2020 (DDMI)
