This morning we’re going on in our look at the life of King Hezekiah.  We’re coming to 2 Kings 20 - starting at verse 1.  To help to get into Hezekiah this morning - think with me about when things don’t go the way we expect them to.

These guys are all set up for a relaxing afternoon in the backyard pool. 

This probably wasn’t expected.  Or this.

Last one:  “Um, so let me get this straight, you want to wire all this money to Nigeria?  And it’s going to the widow of the late Minister of Finance, who recently died after hiding a vast fortune from rebels?”

“Yes please.  If you need the account number I’ve printed out the email.  Oh, and you’d better make some room in my account.  She will be transferring forty million dollars into there soon.”

“Ok, um…  There will be a $10,000 bank fee for that.”

“No problem.”

“And you’ll need to give that to me personally.”

We’re thinking about when things in our life do not go the way we expect them to - in fact they’re worse - disastrous.

Two Sunday’s ago we were introduced to Hezekiah - son of “daddy dearest” - the evil King Ahaz - who had led Judah down the tubes in every way possible - especially in their relationship with God.  We saw Hezekiah step in - after Ahaz’s death - saw Hezekiah step in and clean up - removed absolutely everything that was evil in Judah.  Hezekiah trusted God - clung to God - acted with Godly wisdom.  Did what pleased God.  Hezekiah followed God.  It was a huge 180° change of direction for the nation.

Last Sunday we saw that Hezekiah - following God - saw Hezekiah put everything on the line.  Led a rebellion against the Assyrians - a brutal people that made the Borg look like a bunch of pacifists.  When the Assyrians - with their undefeated military machine - when the Assyrians laid siege to Jerusalem - Hezekiah hung in their with God - trusted God - kept the end in sight.  Remember this?

So, how did all that end up?  God takes out Sennacherib - king of Assyria - God takes out Sennacherib and his army - as only God can.  The Assyrians are 1,000 and 1.  God’s people are saved.  God is glorified.

2 Kings 20 - starting at verse 1 - the first thing we’re coming to here is Hezekiah’s Prayer.  Let’s say that together:  “Hezekiah’s Prayer.”

Verse 1:  In those days - while all of what we’ve been seeing was going on - Hezekiah became mortally ill.  And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set you house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”

There was a Bible study group that was discussing the unexpected possibility of sudden death.  The discussion leader said, “We’re all going to die some day and none of us really knows when, but if we did know when we’d all do a better job of preparing ourselves for that inevitable event.”  And, everybody nodded their heads in agreement.

So he asked, “What would you do if you knew you only had 4 weeks of life remaining before your death?”

One man said, “For those 4 weeks, I would go out into my community and share the Gospel to those that haven’t yet given their lives to Jesus.”

“A very admirable thing to do.” said the leader.  And, all the group members agreed that would be a very good thing to do.

A lady said, “For those 4 weeks, I would dedicate all of my remaining time to serving my family, my church, and my fellow man with a greater conviction.”

“That's wonderful!” the group leader commented,  And, all the group members agreed that would be a very good thing to do.

One gentleman in the back finally spoke up loudly.  “For those 4 weeks, I would travel throughout the United States with my mother-in-law in a Ford Escort, and stay in a Motel 6 every night.”

Everyone was puzzled by his answer.  “Why would you do that?” the leader asked. 

“Because,” the man smiled sarcastically, “it would be the longest 4 weeks of my life.”

What would you do if you knew that your death was soon - really soon.  “Hezekiah - this is God’s word to you.  Make sure your life insurance is paid up.  Designate your heir to the throne.  Tie up the loose ends.  Your days on earth are gonna’ be over real soon.”

Verse 2:  Then he - Hezekiah - turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.”  And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Hezekiah you’ve just reformed the nation of Judah - rebelled against the Assyrians - trusted God in the face overwhelming disaster - you’ve come through big time for God.  You’ve walked with God with a whole heart.  Done what is right in God’s sight.  Like no other king since the great King David - and like no other king coming down the line of history.  You’re God’s man.  One righteous dude.  The reward that God has for you is... death.

That certainly isn’t what Hezekiah expected.

Hezekiah turns his face to the wall - turns his back on Isaiah - gets alone with God and breaks down in tears.  “God, don’t you remember?  All that I’ve done for you?  How can you let my life end now?  How can this be?”

Ever prayed a prayer like that?

Long ago - one of the first funerals I did was for a family in the church - a funeral for their teenage boy with Down Syndrome.  What do you say to a family at a time like that?  What do you pray?

Long ago in a church far far away - there was an elderly man - a man who had served God for years - was well loved by his family - respected in his community.  When I met him for the first time he was living in care home.  One of those homes that really are like a private residence - a home with 5 or 6 residents - 24/7 care.

He sat in a room - in that home - sat in a room all day long - mumbling in some language.  We didn’t know what it was.  Sounded like combination of Turkish and Armenian.  Sometimes he’d get a little agitated - then he’d calm down.  That was the most of what went on.  As far as I know he really didn’t know who was around him.  He died at the age of 91 - after having spent way too long in that room.  What do you say to his wife - a godly women?  What do you pray?

One minute you’re a happy family driving home - in an instant you’re a quadriplegic.  Your spouse abandons you for someone else.  You no longer have job.  Name your situation.  Its just unfair.

Do you ever question God?  “God, how can this be?  God, what in creation are you thinking?  I’ve given my life to you and this is what happens?”

That’s Hezekiah’s prayer.  He’s pouring his heart out to God.  Groanings - the deep stuff of the heart - that Paul writes that the Holy Spirit hears - “With all that I’ve done for you, God, how can this be?”  

Verse 4:  Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court - Isaiah is at the palace with Hezekiah.  Hezekiah turns to pray.  Isaiah starts leaving - before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him - that’s one quick answer to prayer - the word of the Lord came to him - Isaiah - saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you.  On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.  I will add fifteen years to your life, and 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 My servant David’s sake.”’” 

Let’s pause there and understand God’s Answer to Hezekiah’s prayer.  Let’s try this together:  “God’s Answer.”

First - notice how God describes Himself:  “Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David.”  That combination “the Lord, the God” in Hebrew is actually one name:  Yahweh.  “Thus says Yahweh.”

When Moses - was commissioned by God - to bring God’s people out of Egypt - in front of the burning bush - Moses asked God, “What do I tell Your people is Your name?”  Response, “I Am.”  Yahweh.  The God who exists - always.

The name Yahweh speaks of intimacy - relationship.  The always existing - eternal - God who has chosen His people - who chooses to reveal Himself to His people - who cares in a very special way for His covenant people - who redeems His people - out of Egypt - out of their sins.  The name Yahweh - here in verse 5 - brings to mind the awesome self-existent God - who has chosen to enter into an ongoing love relationship with His people.

Yahweh - God says to Isaiah - “Tell Hezekiah the leader of My people.”  Point:  They’re not Hezekiah’s people.  These are the people that God has chosen to love - even before creation was creation. 

Second - notice the first person pronouns:  “I have heard.”  “I have seen.”  “I will heal.”  “I will add.”  “I will deliver.”  “I will defend.”  See those?  God - who hears the cries of the people He’s chosen to love - God is the only god who is able to accomplish what He purposes to do for His people.  Point:  God - the Almighty sovereign God acts on behalf of His people.

Third:  Notice God’s reason for answering Hezekiah’s prayer - verse 6:  “For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

For God’s sake is about God’s reputation - His name.  Remember last Sunday - while the Assyrian’s had laid siege to Jerusalem - all the blasphemous things they’d said about God - Yahweh being no more powerful than all the other gods of all the other peoples the Assyrians had mowed down.

If Hezekiah dies and the Assyrians come back and over run the city it just proves that faith in Yahweh is a joke.  The Assyrian gods are way more powerful.  But God is going to answer Hezekiah’s prayer in a way that preserves God’s reputation.

For the sake of “My servant David.” is about God’s promises.  God’s working in history to fulfill His promises to His people.

David - David’s kingdom - David’s capital Jerusalem - all that is crucially a part of what God’s promises His people.  God told David that when David died David’s son would rule after him.  That David’s son - Solomon - would build God a temple and that God and Solomon would have a father son intimate relationship.  Even when Solomon turned away from God - God promised David that Judah and the city of Jerusalem would remain with Solomon - the kingdom with David’s line - would be established by God forever.  (2 Samuel 7:8-17; 1 Kings 11:12,13)

Promises that we know are fulfilled and being fulfilled in King Jesus - in the new Jerusalem that’s coming.  (Mark 10:47; Revelation 21:1-7)

God - here in verse 6 - God’s answer is about God’s reputation and God’s fulfilling of His promises.

Pulling all that together - God’s answer:  God knows Hezekiah’s heart.  God deeply loves Hezekiah.  And, God deeply loves His people.  But God’s response - His healing of Hezekiah - isn’t about Hezekiah - it’s about God.  The almighty sovereign eternal God - Yahweh - doing what the almighty sovereign eternal God purposes to do because He - the almighty sovereign eternal God - has chosen to do it.

Grab this:  In his prayer - Hezekiah centers on his own achievements and activity for God.  In His answer - God centers on Himself.

That may rock our boat a tad.  When we pray - way too often we’re expecting God to answer with what we’re looking for as an answer - based on our expectations of how life should be.  And if God does - answer with the answer that fits within the box of what we’ve asked for - somehow we get the idea that God’s answer is about us.

God’s answering prayer is about God - who is sovereign - who lovingly  chooses to listen to us - His people - and to respond - even to weave the desires of our hearts into His purposes.

Let’s go on.  Verses 7 to 11 focus on Hezekiah’s Healing.  Let’s stay that together:  “Hezekiah’s healing.”

Verse 7:  Then Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.”  And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

Hezekiah’s going to die.  He’s got some kind of fatal skin disease.  The standard treatment at the time was to put some kind of pudding like concoction - a paste made out of figs and who knows what else - to smear that on the sore.  Its like putting yogurt on a sunburn.  Folk medicine.

In Hezekiah’s case it worked.  Complete recovery.

Verse 8:  Now Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?”

Do you remember the time Jesus was in Capernaum and He was teaching in His house and there was a large crowd in the house and spilling out into the street.  There were the four friends who cut the hole in the roof and lowered their friend - the paralytic - lowered him down into the house right in front of Jesus.  Remember that?

Jesus - seeing the faith of these five men - tells the paralyzed guy, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The teachers of the law that were there get all bent out of shape.  “How can He say that?  The only One who can forgive sins is God.”

Jesus says, “Look, what’s easier?  To say to the paralyzed guy, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’  Or, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.’?  So you’ll know that I have authority to forgive sins - I’m going to give you a sign - evidence - because forgiving sin is an unseen thing - internal - a paralytic walking is seen thing - a sign that the unseen thing has been accomplished.”

I’m paraphrasing this a tad to make a point.

Jesus tells the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.”  Which he did.  (Mark 2:1-12)

Are we together?  The outward sign demonstrates the inward reality.

That’s what Hezekiah is looking for.  He’s healed.  By God’s grace the fig pudding thing worked.  That’s been seen.  But - what he’s been promised is not seen - 15 more years.  How does Hezekiah know that God has done that? 

Been there?  When life takes an unexpected turn?  When the future is unclear?  “God if you’re up there give me a sign.  Help my struggling faith.”

Verse 9:  Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that He has spoken:  shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?”  So Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn backwards ten steps.”

This is who?  This came out Friday.  Maybe you saw this?  Bill Gates and a dozen scientist submitted patents for technology to reduce the danger of approaching hurricanes.   Hurricanes are fueled by what?  By  warm water.  Theory is that cooling the waters surrounding a storm would slow a storm's momentum.

According to the patents - a whole lot of tub-like barges would be placed directly in the path of an oncoming storm.  Each barge would have two conduits, each 500 feet long.  One conduit would push the warm water from the ocean's surface down.  The other would bring up cold water where it lies deep undersea.  Change the water temperature - slow down the storm.  (1) 

The experts said, “Might be possible.  Might not be very effective.  The cost would be prohibitive.”  But think about that.  The concept of little old man just nudging a hurricane sounds so immense.

Fig pudding on sores is one thing - man made remedies that God uses.  The shadow is going to go down the steps anyway.  Moving the rotation of the solar system - maybe even moving creation backwards - that’s a God thing - something only God can do.  No barges.  Just Divine authority - the almighty sovereign eternal God at work.  A sure sign that God is in this - even for 15 years. 

Verse 11:  Isaiah the prophet cried to the Lord, and He brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down the stairway of Ahaz.

There’s this email that goes around every year or so which says that NASA has found a missing day.  Have you seen this?  The email claims that NASA has been - what?  Using computer models of the solar system to wind the planets forward to where they’ll be a year from now - 10 years - 50 years - whatever.  Purpose being - being able to see where stuff out in space will be in the future so that our spacecraft can avoid bumping into something.

So - the email says - someone got the bright idea - if we can wind the solar system forward to see where stuff will be - let’s try winding it backwards to see where stuff was.  And - lo and behold - as they did that they discovered that some time was missing - amazingly just the same amount of time as recorded here in 2 Kings 20:11 and another passage in Joshua where God stopped the sun.

Well - if things are too good to be true they’re what?  Probably are - too good to be true.  There’s absolutely no truth to the email.  Think about it.  If we wound the clock backwards we wouldn’t know that there was missing time because it wouldn’t show up - because its missing.

Oh - by the way - if you get that email please don’t send it to me.  I’ve seen it.  Many times.

We don’t know what steps Hezekiah is talking about.  Probably something Ahaz built - the location of which we don’t know.  Maybe someday some archeologist will come across some steps that’ll have some dedication plaque on it “Made By Ahaz.”

We don’t know how much time it took for the shadow to go ten steps forward or to go ten steps backward.  What size were the steps?  How deep?  So - we have no way of knowing just how much time is missing here anyway.

And that isn’t the point.  The point is that the Almighty Sovereign Eternal God - Yahweh - takes the time (pun intended) - takes the time to make it happen.  That God would even offer Hezekiah a choice like this is amazing.  And yet, God lovingly reassures Hezekiah that He - the almighty sovereign eternal God - really has healed him and given him 15 more years.

How many of you have seen the movie The Hiding Place?  Or, read the book?  True story.   About who?  Corrie ten Boom and her family - living in Nazi occupied Holland - World War II - working with the “underground” to help save the lives of countless Jews.

They end up getting arrested.  The family gets spread around in different concentration camps.  But Corrie and her sister Betsie end up together at Ravensbrück.   This scene is in a dorm in Ravensbrück where Betsie is leading a Bible study.

("The Hiding Place" 1:51:31 to 1:54:31) 

When life takes an unexpected turn for the worst - what answer is there?  How do we make sense of it?  Corrie’s answer:  “We cannot answer.  All I can say is that the same God that you are accusing - of willing such tragedy - such horror - came and lived in the midst of our world, was beaten, and He was mocked, and He died on the cross, and He did it for love… for us.”

That’s a tough reality.  Isn’t it?  Each of us weighed down - bound by the inexplicable crud of this world.  God’s answer - God so loving each one of us - that God the Father sends His only Son to death on the cross.

“And why do you think your God of love sent you here?”

“To obey Him.”

God’s love that compels obedience - even to death.

“If you know Him you don’t have to know why.”

God answers Hezekiah with a reminder of His love - His deep compassion and eternal commitment to His people and a demonstration of His almighty sovereignty over His creation.  God lovingly responding to Hezekiah’s prayer.

Hold on to this:  God’s love and sovereignty do not change because of our circumstances - even circumstances when we question what God wills.

Thinking about your life and your relationship with God.  In the two worlds that exist intertwined - the obvious crud of this one - and life lived daily with the living loving sovereign God - do you know His love?  Will live trusting His sovereignty?    Will you continue to obey Him.  Each day - regardless of the circumstances - will you allow Him to draw you deeper and to make stronger your relationship with Him?

_____________________

1. cnn.com  08.28.09

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.