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Visitors from Babylon See the Wrong Things
In the midst of his prosperous reign King Hezekiah was suddenly
stricken with an illness beyond human power to help. When Isaiah
appeared with the message, “Thus says the Lord:‘Set your house
in order, for you shall die and not live’” (
Isaiah 38:1
), his last hope
seemed removed.
The outlook was dark, yet the king could still pray. So Hezekiah
“turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,
‘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.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.”
2 Kings 20:2, 3
.
The dying ruler had served God faithfully and strengthened the
confidence of the people in their Supreme Ruler. Like David, he
could now plead:
Let my prayer come before You;
Incline Your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles.
Psalm 88:2, 3
Do not forsake me when my strength fails.
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come.
Psalm 71:9, 18
“Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, ... the word of
the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Return and tell Hezekiah the leader
of My people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father:
‘I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal
you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And
I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city
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