Rev. J. Loren Russell
2 Kings 20:1-7 NKJV
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ”
Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”
Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.”
For me, this is one of the most compelling texts in scripture. Hezekiah was diagnosed by the prophet Isaiah as having a terminal condition. He was told to get his house in order and prepare to die. Hezekiah was visibly saddened. He turned his face away from the prophet and prayed to the Lord. He didn’t ask for continued life, but that the Lord would remember him for his faithfulness, walking in truth, and serving with a loyal heart. Then he wept intensely. Before the prophet Isaiah could get to the middle of the city, the Lord spoke to him and told him to go back to Hezekiah.
Because the Lord refers to Hezekiah as the leader of My people and to Himself as the God of David your father, theologians see this as a divine association between Hezekiah and King David. The message that Isaiah shared with Hezekiah had to have been a huge encouragement to him; “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you.” When the Almighty God hears your cries and sees your tears, a blessing is sure to come! Not only would Hezekiah be healed, but he would live an additional fifteen years. Hezekiah’s deliverance from death to life is a precursor to the promise of eternal life Jesus gave in John 5:24; “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
Not only would Hezekiah be healed, but the Lord would also deliver and defend the city of Judah from Assyria for His own honor and in remembrance of His servant David. And it gets even better. Isaiah instructs Hezekiah to take a lump of figs and lay or anoint his soars with it. As soon as Hezekiah and his servants spread the fig ointment over the boil, Hezekiah recovers.
The Lord is looking to heal and to bless us. He is always looking for an opportunity to be gracious to us. Faithfulness, obedience, and loyalty are the things the Lord looks for. That’s what he saw in Hezekiah. Healing is not in figs; it is in the power of God’s word. However, if Hezekiah was not obedient to Isaiah’s instruction about the figs, he would not have been healed.
If the Lord has not heard your cries or seen your tears, it might be due to a lack of faithfulness, obedience, or loyalty. Maybe the doctor is your Isaiah, but you haven’t been taking the prescribed medication.
Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company and The J. Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting, an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at Smashwords).
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