lessons from hezekiah's prayer for healing

Amen. You want to say yes. Find out who in your congregation is sick and pray for these people with the children. Explain that 2 Kings 18-20 records the challenges and fears of Hezekiah, the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. As Hezekiah restored Temple worship and reformed Judah, revival came to Gods people. Since God has less need for discipline, he has greater freedom to grant us answers to our prayers without hurting us. The prophet Isaiah came and pronounced his sickness was unto death. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of theLord. He has made promises to you. Lesson 4: Hezekiah did not go flippantly to the Lord in prayer. Philippians his reign. Background Study: The kings of Israel continued to come and go. The Lord surely did glorify himself in answering Hezekiah's prayer. Mark Hezekiah was one of the few kings of Judah who was constantly aware of God's acts in the past and His involvement in the events of every day. a. Can you pray Hezekiah's simple prayer? Sermon on the Mount During the reign of Ahaz, the people of Israel said they feared God, but simultaneously they practiced idolatry (2 Kings 17:33). The Lord had a special message for King Hezekiah and he wanted Isaiah to give the king the message. As he worshipped in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons killed him by the sword as Isaiah had prophesied (2 Kings 19:36-37). Hezekiah was a remarkable king, used by God to rescue Jerusalem from the Assyrians and bring reform and revival to Judah. 21Hezekiah rested with his ancestors. Opposing idol worship (2 Chronicles 30:14), toppling the hilltop "high places" where Baal Be careful what you pray for! was one of the chief ringleaders in a rebellion against Assyria. Hezekiah has made all the etc.). Fore he clave to the LORD and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. This is how we should pray when we are sick. He took the letter, went to the house of the Lord, and spread it out before Him. God is not restricted in the means he can use to grant physical healing. Names of Jesus He hasnt promised to rid everyone of cancer or to heal every bad relationship. The captain teaches his soldiers what kinds of weapons the enemy uses. Before Isaiah had even left the palace courtyard, God told him to go back to the king. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. The prophet Isaiah came and pronounced his sickness was unto death. The angel of the LORD killed 185,000 Assyrians that night (2 Kings 19:35) and those who remained, including Sennacherib, withdrew in defeat to Nineveh the next morning. The Assyrians openly taunted and defied Judahs God, likening Him to the powerless gods in nations they already had overcome (2 Kings 18:28-35; 19:10-12). Hezekiah's prayer was Honoring, humble and respectful of who God is. He was compared to King David in 2 Kings 18:3. Ephesians MANY DO NOT RECEIVE HEALING AS THEY IGNORE THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN IN GODS WORD. Donations In Hezekiahs case, his answer came immediately. When King Hezekiah became sick, the prophet Isaiah told him that he would die. 2 Kings 20:11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz. See legal, copyright, and reprint information. In the New Testament, John writes: "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Revelation Hezekiah trusted God to be faithful to His word so he was willing to act in faith. 14Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, What did those men say, and where did they come from?, From a distant land, Hezekiah replied. Consider your own children's petitions. bisects Palestine. Click here for King Hezekiah Prays for Health printables to print on A4 size paper, Click here for King Hezekiah Prays for Health printables (Letter size-USA), Craft: Instructions for a simple paper crown from http://www.dltk-kids.com, Craft: Prayer pail with popsicle/craft sticks from http://www.lubirdbaby.com, Activity: Five finger prayer to teach children to pray from http://ministry-to-children.com, Lesson on prayer for children from http://ministry-to-children.com, Explaining how to teach children to pray from http://ministry-to-children.com. Thank you for being a Giving Member! After Isaiah applied to a simple poultice, the king recovered (2 Kings 20:5-7). It is likely that he had no clear successor at that point. It happened just as he requested. Previous Assyrian kings had attacked the Northern Kingdom of Samaria -- Tiglath Pileser III (745-727 The country needed him. he also prays for his nation's uncertain future -- under military pressure, leaderless, and without a successor that can inspire national unity and resistance. May these prayers for safety bring you comfort and peace of mind. At one point, the Assyrian king launched a huge smear campaign against Hezekiah with his own people. (That doesnt mean we shouldnt pray for everything. When your child is being openly rebellious, are you quick to respond to his demands? Hezekiah wanted to teach them some more so that they would learn to love and obey God. This is not an excuse to do nothing. 2 Kings 18:6-7a says the righteous king held fast to the LORD and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. According to the Bible, Hezekiah witnessed the destruction of the northernKingdom of IsraelbySargonsAssyriansin c. 722 BC and was king of Judah during thesiege of JerusalembySennacheribin 701 BC. What now?. The prophet made a terrible prediction (2 Kings 20:16-18). In addition, he is known for his prayer life that honored God, one memorable and what may have been considered an unfortunate choice. He also prayed for healing. What a time to fall ill and die! Great Prayers Bring some items to class that relate to illness. . military preparations he can, but now is the time to look to the 1 Peter It was probably instrumental, but only because God enabled it. 16Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them (2 Kings 20:13). I am troubled: O Lord, come to my aid! This led to Hezekiah pleading for his life. Article Images Copyright , What You Need to Know about Hezekiah in the Bible. 2 Corinthians This could have even happened during the crisis with Assyria itself. When the people got up the next morningthere were all the dead bodies! "He will save us," you tell your people. be like your servant Hezekiah, who trusted in you and your promises with all his heart, and wasn't afraid to ask you for what he needed. 1 Corinthians But it is unfair to judge him You have made heaven and earth. He caused a shadow on some steps to fall in the opposite way from normal. God's answer is both amazing and wonderful. 19 Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.. Everything Hezekiah had shown the Babylonians would be taken from himcarried off to Babylon. Hezekiah was king of a nation and that is an important job, yet Hezekiah willingly humbled himself in prayer, because he knew his place before the King of kings. Why is it that some of our prayers for healing, prayed with humble earnestness and hope, are heard but not answered by God? Fourth, Hezekiahs downfall was sinful pride. King Hezekiah wanted a sign from the Lord. "He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him" (1 Kings 18:7). Finally, Jerusalem was besieged and Hezekiah was forced to admit his rebellion and pay a huge tribute to lift the siege. Glorious Kingdom, The The living, the living they praise you as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. As mentioned above, it is likely that he had no heir yet, no one to carry on the line of Davidic kings promised centuries before that would culminate in a Messiah (2 Samuel 7:11-16). He lived it! Even good people fall sick. Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books Below are some things I learnt about sickness and healing from this passage. Talk about how it feels to be sick. Try addressing God the way Hezekiah did when you pray and see how different the prayer feels. ", 1In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. Jesus answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned but that the works of God should be revealed in him. It helps you to watch as God answers. The Spiritual Life 2010 - 2030. Manasseh would be incredibly evil and undo most of his fathers reforms (2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32; Isaiah 36-39). Then, Isaiah had Hezekiahs servants boil some figs and make a paste. First, the kings priorities were right though he lived in a wicked, immoral culture. "Real men don't cry," is the way we train our sons. GOD GIVES INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEALING AND EXPECTS US. According to Pliny, figs were used for the cure of ulcers.11Did the poultice of figs cure Hezekiah? 35 That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. Hezekiah mortal illness involved a boil (20:7), Hebrew shehn, "boil, enflamed spot. Time appointed by God for our healing, deliverance, breakthrough,blessing,lifting and to take yoke away from our life. Naaman was healed only after he dipped seven times in the Jordan river. You could even try making shadow shapes for fun. What can we learn from listening in as Hezekiah prayed? 2 Kings 20:3 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. westerners tend to see tears as a sign of weakness in a man? (2 Kings 19:15-16), "Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 'Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.'" You will start receiving theiDisciple Verse of the Dayto your inbox tomorrow morning. Consider: Think of the pressure we take upon ourselves when we try to be the general in God's battles. Continue to do this until all of the words of the verse are erased and the children can say the verse. You need to understand that faith is always based on the promises of God. They sent a letter by messenger to Hezekiah, basically which, said, The Assyrians are tough and they are coming for you next.. (1 John 4:4). Hezekiah 3Remember,Lord, how I have walkedbefore you faithfullyand with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. He gave a 5 fold reply. his lifetime. In todays story we are going to learn about a time when King Hezekiah was sick. A few minutes after Hezekiah prays, Isaiah returns to his bedroom. 17"It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. Perhaps Hezekiahs illness had something to do with boils. military force on earth, is ravaging the countryside a few miles away, threatening weaker cities into submission and destroying the rest, carting away their riches and levying a burdensome annual tax that bleeds the nation even more. The timing of the illness, "in those days," can't be determined exactly,4but it may well have taken place around 701 BC at the time of Sennacharib's campaign. He is also one of the most prominent kings of Judah mentioned in the Bible and is one of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. The answer was not long in coming through Isaiah the prophet: After a poetic oracle or prophecy, the narrator recounts: God answered Hezekiah's prayer, but then another crisis If possible, make arrangements with the childrens ward of the hospital to donate items that your class prepares. The first appears in 2 Kings 19:14-19 as Judah faced impending invasion by the Assyrians, who had invaded the land and besieged Jerusalem. Hezekiah learns from his illness. Stopping up springs around Jerusalem that could supply water to an attacking Assyrian army (2 Chronicles 32:1-4). The actual petition is quite brief: "Deliver us from his God can use the following methods or any combination to heal. Judah had a long history of bad kings before and after It's just good heavenly parenting. It is God who turned Resurrection Hezekiah did not forget the Lord or blame him because of his sickness. Because of that relationship, Hezekiah didnt wonder if God would be there when he came before Him. May these prayers for strength encourage your spirit and strengthen your faith. 6I will add fifteen years to your life. Leanne Van Dyk is a Reformed theologian and theological educator. He almost died. A fig poultice was a way to bring a boil to the surface of the skin. King Hezekiahs prayer for healing is a scripture that can help you pray for healing for yourself. 8 Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, "What is the confirming sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the Lord's temple the day after tomorrow?" 9 Isaiah replied, "This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said. The Assyrian kings also conquered Philistine cities west of Judah and imposed a tribute upon Hezekiah's father. A writer at Ligonier Ministries said, Incredibly, Hezekiah himself indicates the ongoing failure of Gods people to trust the Lord.Hezekiahs heart became proud and he failed to respond to the kindness God has shown him (2 Chronicles 32:25). Extending and strengthening the wall of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:5a). King Hezekiah was a very good king. 7 Last Words of Christ what is bad for us (Matthew 7:7-11). this would have been to leave his country leaderless! But God does honor the prayers of the upright over those of the backslidden. When Hezekiah recovered, he sang a song of praise to God: The living, the living, they thank you, as I do this day (38:19). There He Goes- Jesus on a Donkey Song, Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock Song, (Thai) Jesus Loves Me, (Thai) Jesus Loves the Little Children, (Thai) This Little Light of Mine. But in Hezekiah's culture, men were able to admit and express their emotions openly. Let's examine Hezekiah's short prayer. 18And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon., 19The word of theLordyou have spoken is good, Hezekiah replied. He told him he would live for fifteen more years. Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. In no way do I want to imply that God owes us anything, that salvation is by works rather than grace. Yet you are a believer in Yahweh, the true God. It was no shame to cry when under stress. Invite students to look for principles that can help them with their challenges and fears as they study these chapters. 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." 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 2Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to theLord. Our desire is that you grow closer to God through the resources we provide to iDisciple. I will defend this city. (Isaiah 38:4-6 NIV), Not only did Isaiah deliver this amazing message that Hezekiah would be healed, but God also offered him a remarkable sign which defied all laws of nature. was with him (18:7) and gave him victory (18:8). You restored me to health and let me live. (Isaiah 38:14-20 NIV). While he was sick, the prophet Isaiah came to visit him. a few miles south, sent his field commander ("Rabshakeh," KJV, NRSV) with a large army to Jerusalem again. This led to Hezekiah pleading for his life. In the face of these threats, Hezekiah grieved, but he knew where to turn. Hezekiah knew God had promised to save His people. (19:15-19). Anticipating conflict with Assyria, Hezekiah had taken a number of steps: The Assyrian armies crushed the rebels in Phoenicia and the Philistine coastal cities. He sought wisdom from the prophet Isaiah (2 Kings 19:1-5). 7Then Isaiah said, Prepare a poultice of figs. They did so and applied it to the boil,and he recovered. Hezekiah recognized it was not his own reputation that was at stake; it was Gods. Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. more than God is. The final chapters of II Chronicles recount the reigns of the various kings, most of whom are fairly unforgettable. The Bible describes Hezekiah as a king who had a close relationship with God, one who did "what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God" ( 2 Chronicles 31:20 ). Songs of Ascent "Bitterly" (NIV, NRSV) and "sore" (KJV) suggest a wrong attitude on Hezekiah's part where the text doesn't imply any. Learn how your comment data is processed. He is Risen . We cannot leave this important task to others. All rights reserved. We can trust our prayers who brought about great reforms. but that didn't happen. His prayer seems short, but he knows God well by this time in his life, and in its shortness and abbreviation of expression much is implied: You may think it naive of Hezekiah to appeal to God on the basis of his own righteousness. You could do this with a lamp indoors if it is not a sunny day. Tell the story using a power point presentation. Hezekiah's Praise to God before His Healing Apparently Hezekiah praised God before he had recovered his health. and physicians who are concerned at the impending death of this strong and godly king. Samaria finally fell in 722 BC and the Northern Kingdom ceased to exist (2 Kings 17:3-6; 18:9-12). Quoted from the Prism of Sennacherib, in James B. Pritchard (ed.). Hezekiahs prayer was Immediate. So God gave each of them a sign to strengthen their faith. Then a letter John's Gospel From God's response to Hezekiah's prayer through the Prophet Isaiah (20:6b), it sounds like Sennacharib's presence was still threatening Jerusalem Colossians First, the king's priorities were right though he lived in a wicked, immoral culture. Psalms Even the kings descendants would be taken to serve as eunuchs in the Babylonian palace. He threatened and belittled Hezekiah and insulted Yahweh himself: The prophet Isaiah reassured Hezekiah, and the Assyrian army a faithful, upright, righteous life. Just ask the children what they would want to do if they were in the hospital. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. The adjective is gdl, "great," indicating "many" in number and other intensified concepts like "loudness" in sound, being old in years," etc.8A good translation in this context is "profusely." Maybe youve bee. Copyright 2023, Ralph F. Wilson. He is in his own bedroom, probably hovered over by various counselors, officers, In 2 Kings 19:15 it says "And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: "O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth." Hezekiah knew his place as king but he also knew God's place as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When he bragged about his possessions, he brought disaster to Judah, including the looting of Israels treasury and the nations eventual captivity. Make sure that the children in your class know how to pray. top. to control as a buffer against their arch-enemy Egypt. Hezekiah had great wealth and honor from the Lord, and God had given him great success (2 Chronicles 32:27-30); but God decided to test his servantto know everything that was in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31). Sometimes God answers the prayers of rank sinners and backslidden Christians. The Word of God tells us God desires our love, and He honors those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30; Matthew 22:37). God's heart is open to the prayer of his child seeking to live Gideon What a difficult time He prayed to desire Gods glory above all. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. Click here for visual aids and story-telling methods. In the later part of his life, he fell sick and was close to death. He sanctified the temple vessels that had been desecrated but destroyed the bronze servant Moses madebecause Gods people had turned it into an idol (Numbers 21:9; 2 Kings 18:4). You've been there. This story can be told using a variety of methods. To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. Invite the class to follow along . Hezekiah was transparent before the Lord. Being righteous does not exempt us from the trials of life. When Hezekiah receives the letter, he brings it before the Lord and spreads it out for God to read. Help us to worship you no matter what circumstances we are in. It scared all Hezekiahs people to death. Amazingly, God relented and Hezekiah was healed. Judah's walled cities were conquered and many of its villages given as punishment and political favors to loyal vassals in Philistia. 2011-2023 Mission Bible Class. But when Assyrian troops departed, Hezekiah began to assert independence. We fold our tents and go home. Grace 1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. To access and start using your account today, go to iDisciple.org and click login. Young discusses the various problems of dating and reconciling accounts in a long and detailed appendix (Edward J. Hezekiahs prayer was Dependent. "L ORD " is the Hebrew personal, specific name of God, pronounced "YAW-whey." The Jews felt that the name of the Lord was too holy to even pronounce, and substituted for it when reading or speaking the word Adonai, "lord." James teaches us: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b). Assyrian records They could make games or collect stickers. Hearing of this, Isaiah went to Hezekiah and rebuked him for the foolish pride that endangered Jerusalem and Gods people. He is mentioned throughout the Old Testament in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; Jeremiah 26:18-19; Hosea 1:1; and Micah 1:1. Let's go over five Bible stories about prayer as they provide excellent examples of how prayer can change our lives and simply provide proof that it actually works. In the case of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, he was asked to dip in the Jordan seven times. Hezekiah would live fifteen more years! Verifying his place in biblical history, archaeologists found Hezekiahs royal seal in 2010 in an area at the foot of the southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. I love the imagery here in this prayer story of Hezekiah. A single copy of this article is free. 11Then the prophet Isaiah called on theLord, and theLordmade the shadow go backthe ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. God gave specific instructions for healing. Hezekiah led Judah through several crisis situations. He almost died. Personal Prayer Power emphasizes interactive prayer, including how to find an answer to every prayer and how prayer shapes your future. Hezekiah was regarded as a good king. He went to Hezekiah and told him the good news. He cried out desperately to God for his life. Let students answer. Sennacherib told the people Hezekiah was lying to them about being able to deliver them from his hand (2 Kings 18:29-36). To be alone with God that he might pray with some privacy and without interruption, he turns to the wall. All rights reserved. Listening for God's Voice The more you grow in your relationship with God, the bolder your prayers can become, because the more your heart will begin to line up with Gods heart. Third, Hezekiah knew where to turn in times of trouble. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32; Isaiah 36-39, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. IsaiahandMicahprophesied during his reign. Grace: Favor for the Undeserving. Hezekiah prayed for God's protection. Judah was a relatively small country caught between the nutcracker of Assyria Reopening the temple, which had been closed by his father, repairing it, and reorganizing its services, priests, and Levites (2 Chronicles 31:11-21). So you should give your last orders to everyone. Hezekiah focuses on praise. The Lord brought the victory (2 Chronicles 32:21-22). Background Information on the Divided Kingdom. Verse one contains the familiar expression Put your house in order. When Isaiah left, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed earnestly with tears. 18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Ecclesiastes: Wisdom for Living Well An In-depth Bible Study. We have collected Hezekiahs prayers to use in request to God. Without Manasseh, we wouldn't have had Josiah the boy king Hezekiah isn't responsible for Manesseh's sins any He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. After all, everyone sins. One time King Hezekiah became very ill. 34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.

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lessons from hezekiah's prayer for healing