King Hezekiah was a righteous and faithful king of Judah, who lived from 721-691 B.C. He was the son of the wicked King Ahaz and is described in the Bible as having a close relationship with God. Hezekiah's story is told in 2 Kings 16:20—20:21; 2 Chronicles 28:27—32:33; and Isaiah 36:1—39:8. He is also mentioned in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; 26:18–19; Hosea 1:1; and Micah 1:1. Hezekiah was a man of prayer and is known for his God-honouring prayer life. He is said to have faithfully walked with God and was rewarded with prosperity. God answered Hezekiah's prayers and delivered him from his enemies.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
God's response to Hezekiah's faith | Hezekiah's prayer was answered |
Hezekiah's life was extended by 15 years | |
Hezekiah was healed | |
Hezekiah's enemies were defeated | |
Hezekiah's kingdom was delivered |
What You'll Learn
God answers Hezekiah's prayer for healing
Hezekiah was a remarkable king, renowned for his godliness and prayer life. He was a man of prayer, turning to God in times of trouble and in times of blessing.
When Hezekiah became mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah informed him that he would not recover. In response, Hezekiah turned to God in prayer, weeping and asking God to remember how he had walked before him faithfully and with wholehearted devotion. Hezekiah's prayer was an appeal to God's promises to David, and an expression of his trust in God's power to heal and save.
Even before Isaiah left, God instructed him to tell Hezekiah that his prayer had been heard and that he would be healed. God added that he would grant Hezekiah fifteen more years of life and deliver him and the city of Jerusalem from the Assyrians.
Hezekiah's healing was a sign of God's faithfulness and a testament to the power of prayer. It demonstrated that God hears and answers the prayers of the righteous, and that Hezekiah's trust in God was not in vain.
Hezekiah's prayer and God's response provide a model for us to follow in our own prayer lives. We, too, can turn to God in times of distress, seeking His help and healing. Like Hezekiah, we can pour out our hearts to God, expressing our fears, tears, and anguish. We can also reason with God, presenting our petitions and desires while seeking His glory and will above all else.
By filling our minds and hearts with God's Word, as Hezekiah did, we can learn to pray in accordance with God's will and purposes. We can be confident that God hears our prayers and will answer in His perfect timing and according to His good purposes.
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God grants Hezekiah 15 more years of life
King Hezekiah was a righteous and faithful king of Judah, whose name means "God has strengthened". He was a godly king, known for his God-honouring prayer life and remarkable miracles.
Hezekiah's story is recorded in the Bible in 2 Kings 16:20-20:21, 2 Chronicles 28:27-32:33, and Isaiah 36:1-39:8. He is also mentioned in Proverbs 25:1, Isaiah 1:1, Jeremiah 15:4, Jeremiah 26:18-19, Hosea 1:1, and Micah 1:1.
Hezekiah's prayer life is exemplified in his response to God's message that he would die. The prophet Isaiah informed Hezekiah that he would not recover from his illness and should put his affairs in order. Hezekiah was around 39 years old at the time and, according to the Scriptures, he lay on his bed, turned toward the wall, and wept bitterly.
Hezekiah's prayer to God was an earnest appeal for deliverance. He reminded God of his faithfulness, saying, "Remember now; O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight." Hezekiah's prayer was not selfish or self-centred; rather, it was a profound expression of his desire for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
God responded to Hezekiah's prayer immediately. Before Isaiah had even left the building, God instructed him to turn back and deliver a message to the king. God told Hezekiah that He had heard his prayer and seen his tears, and that He would grant him 15 more years of life. This news brought great joy to Hezekiah, who asked for a miraculous sign to confirm God's promise.
The additional 15 years of life granted to Hezekiah had significant consequences for the kingdom of Judah. During this time, Hezekiah fathered a son, Manasseh, who would succeed him as king. Unfortunately, Manasseh was one of the worst kings in Judah's history, undoing many of his father's reforms and bringing untold misery to the people.
Hezekiah's story serves as an encouragement to continue bringing our concerns and prayers to God. While God does not always respond in the way we might expect or desire, He hears every prayer and considers our requests seriously.
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God delivers Hezekiah from his enemies
King Hezekiah was a righteous and faithful king of Judah, the son of the ungodly king Ahaz. He was zealous for the Lord, and his story is told in the Bible in 2 Kings 16:20—20:21, 2 Chronicles 28:27—32:33, and Isaiah 36:1—39:8. He is also mentioned in Proverbs 25:1, Isaiah 1:1, Jeremiah 15:4, 26:18–19, Hosea 1:1, and Micah 1:1.
Hezekiah's reign began in 715 BC when he was 25 years old, and he reigned for 29 years. He was a faithful worshipper of God and is known for his God-honouring prayer life. He reopened the Temple of Solomon, which his father, King Ahaz, had shut, and he reinstated the Levitical priesthood. Hezekiah also destroyed idols, pagan temples, and altars and reinstated the Passover celebration as a national holiday.
During his reign, Hezekiah faced a crisis when the Assyrians, led by King Sennacherib, invaded Judah and marched on Jerusalem. Hezekiah sought guidance from the prophet Isaiah, who told him that Sennacherib would hear a rumour, return to his land, and die by the sword. Sennacherib sent a letter full of threats to Hezekiah, who responded with a bold and public prayer, begging God to vindicate himself and show his glory among the nations.
God answered Hezekiah's prayer and delivered him from his enemies. The angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night, and those who remained, including Sennacherib, retreated in defeat to Nineveh the next morning. Sennacherib was later killed by his own sons, just as Isaiah had prophesied.
Hezekiah's faith and trust in God were rewarded with answered prayers, successful endeavours, and miraculous victory over his enemies. God delivered Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the Assyrians, fulfilling his promise to protect Jerusalem.
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God promises to protect Jerusalem
King Hezekiah was a righteous and faithful king of Judah, the son of the wicked King Ahaz. Hezekiah's name means "God has strengthened", and he is known for his God-honouring prayer life, a remarkable miracle, and a tragic choice.
Hezekiah's reign began in 715 BC, and he ruled for 29 years. He was zealous for the Lord, and during his reign, he reopened the Temple of Solomon, reinstated the Levitical priesthood, and re-established worship. Hezekiah also destroyed the idols, pagan temples, and altars throughout his kingdom.
During his reign, Hezekiah faced a crisis when the Assyrians, led by King Sennacherib, invaded Judah and marched on Jerusalem. Hezekiah sought guidance from the prophet Isaiah, who prophesied that God would protect Jerusalem. In response to Hezekiah's prayers, God promised to defend the city.
True to His word, God kept His promise to protect Jerusalem. The angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians in a single night, and the remaining Assyrians, including Sennacherib, retreated in defeat. Thus, God delivered Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from their enemies.
Hezekiah's faith and trust in God were rewarded with answered prayers, successful endeavours, and miraculous victories over his enemies. God's promise to protect Jerusalem was a testament to Hezekiah's faithfulness and a demonstration of God's power and faithfulness.
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God forgives Hezekiah's sins
King Hezekiah was a righteous and faithful king of Judah, the son of the ungodly king Ahaz. He was zealous for the Lord and did remarkable acts of service, including protecting and purifying the Lord's worship. Hezekiah was also a great man of prayer.
Hezekiah's first prayer was for God to be glorified in the defeat of Sennacherib's army. The Assyrians had invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem, and Hezekiah knew that his prayer was in accordance with God's stated plans and purposes. The Lord answered with swift and decisive deliverance.
The second prayer was a desperate appeal for deliverance from a terminal illness. Hezekiah asked God to remember how he had walked faithfully and wholeheartedly, doing what was pleasing to the Lord. Hezekiah was a godly king, but he also knew his own sin. There was no guarantee that God would grant his request, and so he wept bitterly. God heard his humble anguish and extended the king's life by fifteen years.
In response to being healed, Hezekiah offered a third prayer in the form of a hymn. He reflected on the horror and oppression he felt when facing death, as well as God's power to forgive sins and restore life.
Hezekiah's life is, for the most part, a model of faithfulness and trust in the Lord. His faith was more than superficial, as his bold reforms show. Hezekiah's trust in the Lord was rewarded with answered prayers, successful endeavours, and miraculous victory over his enemies.
God forgave Hezekiah's sins and answered his prayers. In the Bible, John Cassian comments on this compassion of God:
> What can be clearer than this proof that out of consideration for mercy and goodness the Lord would rather break His word, and instead of the prearranged limit of death, extend the life of him who prayed, for fifteen years, rather than be found inexorable because of His unchangeable decree?
Hezekiah's example teaches us that God offers guidance, encouragement, protection, deliverance, answered prayers, restoration, and forgiveness to all faithful believers.
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Frequently asked questions
Hezekiah's prayer when he was sick is recorded in 2 Kings 20:3: "Remember now; O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight."
God answered Hezekiah's prayer and healed him. Isaiah told Hezekiah that he would live an additional 15 years.
God responded to Hezekiah's prayer for deliverance from the Assyrians by promising to protect Jerusalem. The angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night, causing the remaining Assyrians, including Sennacherib, to retreat.