The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

2 Kings 20

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In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

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2

Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

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3

I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now 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.

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4

And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

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5

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

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6

And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

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7

And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

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8

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?

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9

And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

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10

And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

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11

And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

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12

At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

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13

And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

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14

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

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15

And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.

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16

And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.

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17

Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

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18

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

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19

Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

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20

And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

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21

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

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Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

2 Kings 20 details Hezekiah’s sickness and miraculous healing. God adds fifteen years to his life and gives a sign with the sun’s shadow. However, Hezekiah later shows his treasures to the Babylonians, leading to a prophecy of future exile.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. The God Who Hears Tears: God saw Hezekiah’s tears and changed the decree of his death (v. 5). Sincere, broken-hearted prayer can move the hand of God.
2. The Danger of Spiritual Pride: After his healing, Hezekiah pridefully displayed his wealth (v. 13-15). We must be most careful right after a great victory or blessing, as that is when we are most prone to pride.
3. Thinking Beyond Our Lifetime: Hezekiah was content that there would be peace in "his days" (v. 19). We must strive to leave a legacy that protects and blesses the generations that come after us.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for being the God who heals. Keep us humble in the midst of Thy blessings and grant us a vision that seeks the welfare of our children and their children. Amen.

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