Tears

  1. Hezekiah is at the point of death and is told that he will die. Isaiah himself tells him the news.
  2. Hezekiah cries. He reminds the Lord of all the good he’s done.
  3. The Lord sends Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah he’s going to live for fifteen more years. There are some directions he will need to obey. Hezekiah was willing to do that.
  4. It wasn’t an instant healing. He has wait for the third day to go to the house of the Lord.
  5. Hezekiah asks for a sign that this new word from the Lord is true. He’s granted that.
  6. God says that he will heal Hezekiah because He has seen Hezekiah’s tears.
  7. God doesn’t say that He will heal Hezekiah because of how righteous he was or because of all his good deeds. We don’t earn our salvation. God is moved with compassion because of Hezekiah’s tears.
  8. It shows the heart of man and the heart of God. I do appreciate God’s heart for Hezekiah because I don’t find Hezekiah that impressive.
  9. I’ve often wondered, though, if the extra fifteen years were a good thing. I’ve watched two people in my life resuscitated from death, only to have a long, drawn-out end-of-life where they had to be put in a home because no one could take care of them any longer. And I’ve wondered if putting off heaven had really been such a good idea.
  10. In Hezekiah’s last fifteen years, we have an event recorded where ambassadors from Babylon come to view Jerusalem.
  11. Hezekiah shows them everything.
  12. Isaiah prophecies that everything that these men have seen will be taken away to Babylon. Some of his descendants will be taken away to Babylon as well and made to serve their king.
  13. Hezekiah doesn’t weep this time. He says that it’s a good word because he understands that it won’t affect him but a future generation.
  14. The quote from 2 Kings 20 is: “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”
  15. He’s cared for himself but not for the people of Israel, his sons, or God’s temple in the same way. I find that a little sad.
  16. I know I certainly pray over my problems more than those of others. I know I’m much more likely to cry for my own problems than those of others. I’m sure I’m not so different from Hezekiah, but I want to be.