The Book Of Isaiah. Day 165, Hezekiah's Illness, Part One

In our last study session we learned about how the Lord delivered the city of Jerusalem from the nation of Assyria. He put to death 185,000 Assyrian soldiers who were camped outside the walls of Jerusalem where they were preparing to lay siege to the city. He also caused King Sennacherib of Assyria to return to his own country where, before he could mount a second expedition to Jerusalem, he was assassinated by two of his own sons.

We might expect smooth sailing now, but as so often happens in life after a great victory, a great trial comes. It's a common method of the enemy of our souls to strike out at us when we have just experienced a marvelous deliverance from a problem. I think that's because it's a tendency of humans to kind of sit back and take it easy (spiritually speaking) right after something wonderful happens. It's a time when we are more likely to let our guard down. If we think about it, we rarely let our guard down when we are in the thick of battle, do we? It's often during our worst trials that we spend the most time on our knees in prayer and the most time reading the word of God. Satan has more difficulty distracting us with temptations when we are praying or reading the word of God. But when we sit back and relax after a mighty deliverance---when we slack off on prayer and Bible study---our enemy sees a weak spot in our defenses. I would like to propose that, right after a major victory, we need to pray and read the Bible more than ever.

I am not saying Hezekiah slacked off in his spiritual life but I am saying that he likely did not see a particular trouble coming his way. "In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death." (Isaiah 38:1a) The Lord had rewarded the faith of Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem by turning the enemy away from their gates and sparing them from siege and the fall of the city and captivity. I can only imagine Hezekiah's shock when he contracts a deadly illness. The Lord has just done such a marvelous thing for him that I imagine he feels not only shock but also confusion, possibly bitterness and anger and hurt. I dare say he might even feel offended because I have felt offended by certain troubles that have come my way in life when I was living close to the Lord and trying to as obedient to Him as I knew how. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like you were living smack dab in the will of God and yet some terrible trial came into your life? 

Hezekiah is so sick that even the prophet Isaiah has no good news for him. Isaiah had good news for him in regard to the Assyrian threat but he has no good news for him in regard to this health threat. "The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, 'This is what the Lord says: 'Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.'" (Isaiah 38:1b)

We don't know what Hezekiah's physicians were telling him. Perhaps they were not being entirely truthful with him. Considering he is the king of Judah, they may be reluctant to let him or his family or the general populace know he is on his deathbed. The death of a national leader can be a threat to national security, for usurpers may see it as a time to rise up against the royal household or foreign enemies may view it as a time to attack. In addition, Hezekiah is a good king who loves the Lord and may be well-liked by his team of physicians. Perhaps they are reluctant to tell him the truth due to their affection for him. This reminds me of the day my sister and I had to give our mother the bad news that her tests had come back showing very advanced cancer. The day we took her for her first oncologist visit was even worse because he had to inform her that while chemo and radiation might extend her life for a few months, these treatments were not capable of saving her life. I can well understand it grieving the hearts of Hezekiah's physicians to come right out and say, "You are not going to recover."

I think it grieves Isaiah's heart too but he must do what the Lord tells him to do. The Lord tells him to go to the king and inform him, "You are going to die." Isaiah must tell him to get his house in order. It is important for Hezekiah to publicly name a successor to the throne prior to his death, just as King David named Solomon as his successor prior to his death, so the way forward is made clear. This will help to prevent civil unrest, with various factions within and without the royal family vying for the throne.

But the situation is going to turn around, as they sometimes do. Have you ever known anyone who was given a terminal diagnosis who overcame the illness? Here at the beginning of Chapter 38 the situation with Hezekiah's health appears hopeless. I've been in situations that appeared hopeless, haven't you? I can think of one in particular where people around me were telling me it was hopeless. They were telling me to give up and move on. The only reason I didn't take their advice is because I knew that the Lord was capable of turning it around. I didn't know if He would but I knew that He could. Hezekiah knows this too and that is why later in our chapter we find him calling out to the Lord to change his circumstances.