Hezekiah then prayed to the Lord. What You Need to Know about Hezekiah in the Bible The actual petition is quite brief: "Deliver us from his He wanted to help the country to be better. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. His prayer mainly reminds God of how good and faithful Hezekiah had been (as if God needed to be told!). The Assyrians had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. Click here for downloadable presentation. You have made heaven and earth. (1 John 4:4). Abraham To be alone with God that he might pray with some privacy and without interruption, he turns to the wall. The LORD tells Isaiah according to II Kings 20:5-6, "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. Isaiah Imagine the scene. He is considered a very righteous king by the author of the Books of Kings. his reign. But his righteousness is not only his own judgment, but the judgment of the inspired This is one of the most troubling mysteries of our faith. 2. What situations are you dealing with today that you know you are helpless to do on your own and you desperately desire Gods answer? 6I will add fifteen years to your life. 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. To go along with that, fear of death was greater in those days. Wrapped Up, Tied Up and Zentangled Up in Jesus, Colouring Pages: Christian (Bible) Colouring Pages, Maps and Kids' Resources: bible-history.com, Visual Aids: Free Christian Illustrations, Mission Bible Class Copyrights and Permissions Page, When King Hezekiah got sick, what did Isaiah say would happen? Quoted from the Prism of Sennacherib, in James B. Pritchard (ed.). God gave specific instructions for healing. As Hezekiah restored Temple worship and reformed Judah, revival came to Gods people. Article Images Copyright , What You Need to Know about Hezekiah in the Bible. Sheand her husband Bob live in Southern California. Be careful what you pray for! Hezekiah recognized it was not his own reputation that was at stake; it was Gods. Hezekiah did not forget the Lord or blame him because of his sickness. A saint of God prays and immediately God both changes his mind and sends alternate instructions to his prophet. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. For the most part, King Hezekiah faithfully walked with God (2 Chronicles 31:20), and there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him (2 Kings 18:5). God's answer is both amazing and wonderful. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Upgrade with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of theLord. 3. He said, Lord, please remember that I have always obeyed You. Privacy, 7 Lessons from the Prayer Life of Hezekiah. You have made heaven and earth. Hundreds of thousands of This is God's insult and demand's God's response. "Real men don't cry," is the way we train our sons. Prior to this, Hezekiah was about to die and no figs would have helped. All rights reserved. They talked frequently; probably throughout the day. You need to understand that faith is always based on the promises of God. The children could collect packets of crayons and pictures to colour. born. The Lord Heals Hezekiah | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at King Hezekiah was a very good king. Sometimes God answers the prayers of rank sinners and backslidden Christians. He has redeemed you by the blood of Jesus, which cannot be valued because it is so costly. Sennacherib told the people Hezekiah was lying to them about being able to deliver them from his hand (2 Kings 18:29-36). He wanted a sign to be sure that he should go to the temple in three days. Aug 22, 2021 22:50. "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. God can use the following methods or any combination to heal. Hezekiah knew his place as kingand he knew God's place in the Kingdom. It is likely that he had no clear successor at that point. The Lord kept His promise to protect Jerusalem. Hezekiah needed to name a successor so leadership would pass to another at his death without palace intrigues and unnecessary disruption to the kingdom. Hezekiah knew God had promised to save His people. My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon. Hezekiah was regarded as a good king. The prophet Isaiah came and pronounced his sickness was unto death. The sickness of the blind man was not attributed to sin. When Sennacherib, the Assyrian general, sent a letter full of threats to Hezekiah, the king immediately ran to the temple where he spread the letter out . When Hezekiah prayed for a longer life, what answer did the Lord give him? 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. Isn't it interesting how we To access and start using your account today, go to iDisciple.org and click login. We get discouraged. The prophet Isaiah came and pronounced his sickness was unto death. Ecclesiastes: Wisdom for Living Well An In-depth Bible Study. When Hezekiah receives the letter, he brings it before the Lord and spreads it out for God to read. Everything Hezekiah had shown the Babylonians would be taken from himcarried off to Babylon. who brought about great reforms. I get this visual image of Hezekiah, and this letterlaying it there on the table, and saying, Okay, God, what now? The king of Assyria, which was a much more powerful nation, decided to attempt a take over of Hezekiahs kingdom. Hezekiah's Prayer for Healing | Words of Hope King Ahaz was an evil, idolatrous king. He was compared to King David in 2 Kings 18:3. Young discusses the various problems of dating and reconciling accounts in a long and detailed appendix (Edward J. Background Information on the Divided Kingdom. Hezekiah knew his place as kingand he knew Gods place in the Kingdom. Hezekiah appealed to God's promises for an heir and for long life for those who live a righteous life. Can you pray Hezekiah's simple prayer? Hezekiah's attitude toward a terrible curse pronounced upon his family and nation for Hezekiah's own sin was, essentially: "So what. what is bad for us (Matthew 7:7-11). He could rightly point to how he had served God and done exploits for His glory. 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. These additional years did not end up being a season of blessing for Hezekiah. When God slaughtered an army of 185,00 Assyrians, it was a miracle. Early Church: Acts1-12 This isn't a works-righteousness mentality. He is Risen . E-mail Bible Study Hezekiah's Praise to God before His Healing Apparently Hezekiah praised God before he had recovered his health. What a difficult time 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. was a godly man who hoped in God. Make cards or gift baskets to send to someone who is sick. Healing and Prayer - Lesson 3 - Some Examples Hezekiah focuses on praise. The Bible says, This is the Lords sign to you that the Lord will do what has promised. Use save ready lesson plant at instruction . The Assyrian army, the most powerful God answered the kings prayer swiftly! Background Information on the Divided Kingdom. Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jeroboam and Hezekiah. This led to Hezekiah pleading for his life. 2 Peter, Jude westerners tend to see tears as a sign of weakness in a man? A Lesson from Hezekiah: 7 Steps to More Effective Prayers - ChurchLeaders It happened just as he requested. of this time period are confusing,1here is the gist of what Heres a website with some patterns: Bring a fig to class and let the children have a taste. Say the verse together with the class a few times. You have made heaven and earth. In the face of these threats, Hezekiah grieved, but he knew where to turn. He told him he would live for fifteen more years. He said, Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD Hezekiah had the kind of relationship with God where it wasnt a surprise when Hezekiah showed up to pray. 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. To recap King Hezekiah's reign: Accomplishments of King Hezekiah It helps you remember to pray for them. Experience. All God's gifts are by grace -- his own favor towards us, which is neither earned He turns to God now in earnest and heartfelt prayer. 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. Before copying or reproducing any portion of this website please carefully read the Mission Bible Class Copyrights and Permissions Page. It helps you to watch as God answers. Thank you for signing up. Stories Of Prayer In The Bible - CHURCHGISTS.COM 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). Even though Isaiah had gone, he had not gotten very far. They kept taunting and taunting, throwing threats towards Hezekiah. King Hezekiah Prays for Health - Mission Bible Class b. He took the letter, went to the house of the Lord, and spread it out before Him. His prayer mainly reminds God of how good and faithful Hezekiah had been (as if God needed to be told!). Neither God nor the prophet was angry when Hezekiah asked for a sign. 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. HEZEKIAH'S PRAYER FOR HEALING BY NG WAH LOK Text : 2 Kings 20: 1-11 Introduction. Hezekiah was a very good king. 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 Lord had a special message for King Hezekiah and he wanted Isaiah to give the king the message. 3Remember,Lord, how I have walkedbefore you faithfullyand with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 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). Watercolors Hezekiah wasn't sinless (2 Chronicles 32:26). Incline . as far as Gaza that were allies of Assyria(18:8). You will not get well.. Sermon on the Mount You restored me to health and let me live. Perhaps Hezekiahs illness had something to do with boils. His tears are tears of emotion and struggle. When you pray, do you ever imagine God in heaven, on his throne? Was Hezekiah terrified of death? Stopping up springs around Jerusalem that could supply water to an attacking Assyrian army (2 Chronicles 32:1-4). military preparations he can, but now is the time to look to the a faithful, upright, righteous life. The story of Hannah is one of my favorites. Hezekiah's Prayer for Healing - Prayer Ideas First, the king's priorities were right though he lived in a wicked, immoral culture. Voices in the culture can confuse or misdirect us from Gods will, but His Word is wisdom for us, and we must seek the Lord in prayer to be grounded and built up in Him (Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; Colossians 2:7). The result of his prayer, this argument contends, is He stopped paying tribute and expanded Judah's influence by attacking Philistine cities Hezekiah has made all the It is vital to understand that Hezekiah is bringing God's problem to God, rather than trying to solve it himself. How do you pray in a time like this? The testimony of scripture is, There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him (2 Kings 18:5-7). 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. The New Testament contains specific instructions for healing in James 5:13-15. From the way I see that Hezekiah responded to life, however, I dont think it mattered the size of the battle Hezekiah was going to depend on God. His reign began in the third year of Hosheas reign over the northern kingdom of Israel in Samaria (2 Kings 18:1-3), and it coincided with the ministry of two of Gods prophets, Isaiah and Micah. Hezekiah cried desperately. Scriptures: Healing, Faith In God, Prayer General, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. God heard and answered quickly: Wow! Some of his religious reforms included: When Sargon II conquered the Philistine city of Ashdod in 711, Hezekiah avoided war. 12At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiahs illness. MANY DO NOT RECEIVE HEALING AS THEY IGNORE THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN IN GODS WORD. Hezekiah truly was a remarkable king. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. From what we study in the three lessons on Healing and Prayer, we conclude the following: 1. Hezekiahs prayer was CertainBecause it was based on his personal faith and trust in God. He hasnt promised to rid everyone of cancer or to heal every bad relationship. The King was very happy. He prayed to God often, and he always obeyed God. If possible, make arrangements with the childrens ward of the hospital to donate items that your class prepares. He prayed to desire Gods glory above all. Bible Lesson: King Hezekiah trusts God and asks for help (Begin with prayer) God's city Jerusalem did not look like a city where His people worshiped the One True God. Isaiah 38:1 says, In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. Finally, Jerusalem was besieged and Hezekiah was forced to admit his rebellion and pay a huge tribute to lift the siege. He prayed to God often, and he always obeyed God. Young. Why? He also would have wanted to produce an heir to the throne. Grace He also prayed for healing. 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. No one can see the future but God. Tell the story using a printed flip chart. Hezekiah Without Manasseh, we wouldn't have had Josiah the boy king Copyright 2023, Ralph F. Wilson. Hezekiah knew his place as kingand he knew God's place in the Kingdom. He destroyed Judahs idols, pagan temples, and altars (2 Chronicles 29:3-19; 31:1-2); and he re-established worship, reinstated the Levitical priesthood, and set up contributions for temple worship (2 Chronicles 29:5; 20-35; 31:2-21). (Thai) Who is the Creator? He just continued to pray and ask God to help him. The Lord shows his blessing upon Hezekiah by healing him, by raising him up, by uniting him in the fellowship of worship in his temple and by granting him 15 more years of life and by giving him a son, and by delivering Jerusalem from the hand of the Assyrians. Tell the story using a power point presentation. The Lord surely did glorify himself in answering Hezekiah's prayer. Glorious Kingdom, The God rewarded and prospered him personally too. At one point, the Assyrian king launched a huge smear campaign against Hezekiah with his own people. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. King Hezekiah was very ill. In the story Isaiah Helps King Hezekiah Pray the Lord took his time to answer Hezekiahs prayer. King Hezekiah began to reign over Judah when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. He saw God as He is, enthroned above the cherubim, as the one and only, King of heaven and earth. When God rolled back the sun dial and added 15 years to Hezekiah's life, it was a miracle. en Espaol 1 Peter (That doesnt mean we shouldnt pray for everything. ". God has been his help in crisis many times. Luke 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. the macho exterior that men try to project. Calling a national Passover (2 Chronicles 29:5-11). The Lord stopped Isaiah before he had even left Hezekiahs palace. THE COMMITMENT OF HEZEKIAH A LESSON TO BELIEVERS . this would have been to leave his country leaderless! at this time. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the day s of our lives in the temple of the Lord. Click here for visual aids and story-telling methods. But his ear is particularly open to his children who seek to be obedient to him. As soon as Isaiah left, Hezekiah began to pray to God. In pride, the king showed Marduk-Baladans ambassadors all the precious things in Jerusalemhis personal treasures, the riches of the city, and everything in the arsenal. Apr 30, 2023 26:40. His passion for God brought a restored Judah into a period of national revival. We find this account in 2 Kings 19:14-19. While the dating and order of events Here we see the mighty king reduced to a quivering, crying babe. 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. There are at least five lessons we can learn from Hezekiah's life and choices. You want to say yes. He would die. Speaking Fore he clave to the LORD and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. It is only after this litany of praise and thanksgiving to God Isaiah tells them to Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover. (Isaiah 38:21 NIV. We have collected Hezekiahs prayers to use in request to God. When he bragged about his possessions, he brought disaster to Judah, including the looting of Israels treasury and the nations eventual captivity. We too must guard against pridewhich can be our downfalland realize our sins often affect more than our own lives (Proverbs 11:2; 16:18; Jeremiah 9:23-24; James 4:6, 10). Young suggests: "Hezekiah could well be facing the same temptation that came to Abraham when he was commanded to offer up his son (Genesis 22:1)"9-- that is, the conflict of God's promise concerning his offspring with God's command that seemed to conflict with the promise. One time King Hezekiah became very ill. Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. (Ps 120-135) In the 15 years after his illness, Hezekiah fathered the heir to his throne, Manasseh. He was a good king who trusted in the Lord. Hezekiah led Judah through several crisis situations. Then, Isaiah had Hezekiahs servants boil some figs and make a paste. Hezekiah did not forget the Lord or blame him because of his sickness. We hope it is a blessing to you! Names of God Hezekiah ()was, according to theHebrew Bible, the son of Ahaz and the 13th king of Judah. In the New Testament, John writes: "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Times couldn't be more desperate, more bleak, more filled with violence. Yet you are a believer in Yahweh, the true God. will answer? For most of Hezekiahs years, he modeled godly character. Hezekiah got alone with God. You may think it cruel to tell Hezekiah to "Put your house in order," but it was really a kindness. You may not be a king, but you have influence important to the kingdom. 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. Hezekiah's prayer was Honoring, humble and respectful of who God is. We can't handle it. The Lord healed his illness and also performed an extraordinary phenomenon. Hezekiah ascended the throne as King of Judah and began his Throughout the stressful time in leadership, Hezekiah consistently used the same battle plan. First, the kings priorities were right though he lived in a wicked, immoral culture. Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books Leanne VanDyk. He knew God had placed him in the position of authority over them. 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.. But it is unfair to judge him more than God is. Personal Prayer Power emphasizes interactive prayer, including how to find an answer to every prayer and how prayer shapes your future. GOD GIVES INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEALING AND EXPECTS US. "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." enemy soldiers are within a two or three days march. We get more answers than we realize if we only ask. Why is it that some of our prayers for healing, prayed with humble earnestness and hope, are heard but not answered by God? Ask a few students to take turns reading aloud from 2 Kings 18:3-8. Hezekiah enacted sweeping religious reforms, including a strict mandate for the sole worship ofYahwehand a prohibition on venerating other deities within theTemple of Jerusalem. A single copy of this article is free. top. As parents, we will only pass on a wise and godly legacy with intentional, biblical training (Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Psalm 78:2-4; Proverbs 22:6). Though Hezekiah had led the nation in reform and revival, his indifference for the future had terrible consequences. The basis of Hezekiah's appeal is that God be seen by the 17"It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. hand!" John's Gospel Part 1 . Was he a faithless whiner? "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." I don't think so. I also encourage you to consider personal holiness. Such a short, simple prayer certainly had a remarkable result. Words of Hope 2022 All rights reserved. etc.). And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king. Isaiah the prophet told Hezekiah that the Lord would answer his prayer and, just as Isaiah prophesied, Sennacherib was defeated. A second answer came from Isaiah: Assyria would never enter Jerusalem. After his wicked fathers reign, Hezekiah committed himself to set things right again in Judah. 6I will add fifteen years to your life. for healing. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. 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. 14And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. We give up. Go outside and experiment with shadows and talk about how it was a miracle that God changed the shadow. Had a wonderfu, Its FridayThe Romans beat my JesusThey ro, SPRING SALE52 WEEKS IN THE WORD is available n, God does not say that we wont experience hardsh, Have you been stuck for years? Hearing of this, Isaiah went to Hezekiah and rebuked him for the foolish pride that endangered Jerusalem and Gods people. The prophet told Hezekiah, The Lord says you are going to die. When we pray, we must remember that God is sovereign and will answer us according to His eternal purposes. This doesn't mean you must be sinless to get your prayers answered. She is the tenth president of Columbia Theological Seminary. Make sure that the children in your class know how to pray. Hezekiah knew that there was still a lot of work to do in Judah. 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. reflect a weakness of faith. He is a model to all who desire to walk in close fellowship with God during times of trouble, and a reminder not to forget the Lord in times of blessing. Philippians 4) Learning from Hezekiah's Life 5 minutes Say: What did we learn today? 34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant. Hezekiah cried and he kept on praying and begging the Lord to make him well. was one of the chief ringleaders in a rebellion against Assyria. Karen Barber is the Founding Director of Prayer Igniters International, a Contributing Editor with Guideposts Magazine, the author of Surprised by Prayer and the creator of the Personal Prayer Power video/study series. This was not just for himself. Lesson 100: 2 Kings 18-20 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day You may just need to get you some note cards right down all the things you are struggling withlay them out on a tablethen say, Okay God, here are my strugglesI cant do anything about them. He almost died. Apostle Paul On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. and physicians who are concerned at the impending death of this strong and godly king. 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." Hezekiah experienced the miraculous on more than one occasion. Erase one word and have the class repeat it together again. Since God has less need for discipline, he has greater freedom to grant us answers to our prayers without hurting us. Hezekiahs prayer was Open and honest. "He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him" (1 Kings 18:7). 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Even the kings descendants would be taken to serve as eunuchs in the Babylonian palace. Hezekiah asked for an impossible sign and God answered his prayer. 32:2-8). He almost died. Charismatic. (How to choose the best learning activities for my teaching situation). (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 know. Hezekiah didn't know about eternal life in the presence of God; it was a later revelation. 7Then Isaiah said, Prepare a poultice of figs. They did so and applied it to the boil,and he recovered. What do you say to God? God has promised to always get glory for Himself and always work things for an ultimate good. No, you withhold everything except the necessities so your actions aren't construed as rewarding disobedience. When we considered Moses' intercession in Exodus 32, we discussed the interplay between God's judgment and human response. Ephesians Through a sad turn of circumstances, instigated by Hezekiahs foolish choice, God poured out His indignation on Hezekiahs kingdom. talked about a righteous life. Hezekiah He walked the walk! This thirteen lesson Bible category curriculum covers: The Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, the Tower of Babel, the Call of Abram, Abram and Lot, Abram the Promised a Son, Abraham is Visited by Angel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Hagar and Ishmael, and Abraham Offered Isaac (PDF rank large: 1.1 MB). It is God who turned Even good people fall sick. Also, in Old Testament times, people believed that long life was a reward for righteous living. Write the memory verse on a chalk/whiteboard. Without any change in the situation, God's word stands. It scared all Hezekiahs people to death. Let's examine Hezekiah's short prayer. 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. God's Purpose in Illness and Healing - Isaiah Commentary