2 Kings 20:1-21

Memory Verse: 13

Questions

Outline

I. The Shadow Goes Forward Ten Steps (20:1-11)

>1. What did the Lord tell Hezekiah about an illness he had? (1)

* 2 Kings 20:1 "In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. 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 Chronicles 32:24-33 and Isaiah 38 also records Hezekiah's illness.

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>What did he pray? (2-3)

* 2 Kings 20:2-3 "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." And Hezekiah wept bitterly."

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>How did this take faith?

* How many people does the Lord send a prophet to telling them that they are going to die? I assume that it was common in those day, for like today,, when Hezekiah got sick he wanted to know if he would die. He sent the question to a prophet. The Lord answered "Yes."

Hezekiah prayed and wept bitterly. He did not want to die. He enjoyed his life. He had reason to live. He was young and wanted to see and do more.

The Lord heard his prayer and saw his tears. He told him he would live. Hezekiah wanted a sign. The Lord gave a miracle. It is assumed that the Lord spun the world backwards, thus making the sun go back ten steps it had gone down. Someone once told me that China has historical records that record their ancient wiseman witnessing this.

My annual physical shows all is well, though one report is still being waited for. That does not mean that all is as it should be in my life. Debt and relationship problems cause sorrow similar to Hezekiah's illness. What to do but pray and look for signs.

>2. After delivering the initial word of the Lord what did Isaiah do? (4)

* 2 Kings 20:4 "Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:"

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>What new word did he deliver? (5)

* 2 Kings 20:5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD."

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>Why would the Lord deliver Jerusalem from Assyria? (6)

* 2 Kings 20:6 "I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.'"

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>What did they apply to Hezekiah's boil? (7)

* 2 Kings 20:7 "Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered."

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>How was Hezekiah's illness and healing similar to Jerusalem's situation?

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>3. What did Hezekiah ask from the Lord?

* 2 Kings 20:8 "Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?"

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>What option was given him?

* 2 Kings 20:9 "Isaiah answered, "This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?"

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>Which did he chose?

* 2 Kings 20:10 "It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps."

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>How are we similar to Hezekiah?

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>4. Who prayed for the sign to be fulfilled? (11)

* 2 Kings 20:11 "Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz."

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>Why didn't Hezekiah just pray for it?

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>What can be learned about the Lord through Hezekiah's illness?

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II. Babylon Saw Judah's Riches (20:12-21)

>5. Who sent a gift to Hezekiah?

* 2 Kings 20:12 "At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah's illness."

* Isaiah 39 and 2 Chronicles 32:21 also records this event.

* "Merodach-Baladan" -Merodach-Baladan II (aka Marduk-Baladan, Baladan and Berodach-Baladan) means, Marduk has given me an Heir. He reigned 722-710 B.C. and 703-702 B.C. He was a Chaldean prince who usurped the Babylonian throne in 721 B.C. He was one of the kings who maintained Babylonian independence in the face of Assyrian military supremacy.

* See a carving of Merodach-Baladan, Babylon King to the right.

* Hezekiah was a man of strong faith, love, and hope in the Lord. He not only turned away from his ancestors false religions and gods. He also destroyed their idols and places of worship. He restored the temple and Levitical service. He had the Bible taught throughout the land.

Hezekiah's faith had been tested with the threat of Assyria and a fatal illness. His faith did not waver.

Now when Babylon envoys came his pride caused him to do a bad thing. He showed them the riches of Judah. Hezekiah pride made him foolish. Beware of pride.

The Lord used Hezekiah's pride to tell Hezekiah the terrible future of Judah and his descendants. Strangely Hezekiah was happy because the remaining 15 years of his life that had been given him would be peaceful and secure. He didn't ask the Lord for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren's well beingand salvation.

After someone has experienced great troubles and stress we often become content and withdraw from others when the trouble is gone. I have decisions to make everyday of my life that affect more than just me. Make them wisely.

>What did Hezekiah show the messengers of the gift?

* 2 Kings 20:13 "Hezekiah received the messengers and showed them all that was in his storehouses--the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine oil--his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them."

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>Why might he do that?

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>6. What did Isaiah ask Hezekiah? (14)

* 2 Kings 20:14 "Then 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. "They came from Babylon."

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>Why might he be concerned about what they saw?

* 2 Kings 20:15 "The prophet asked, "What did they see in your palace?" "They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them."

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>Why would this be his business anyway?

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>7. What was revealed about Hezekiah's descendants? (16-18)

* 2 Kings 20:16-18 "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD: 17 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 18 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, that will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

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>How does this expose possible true reason Babylon's king sent an envoy to Hezekiah?

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>8. What did Hezekiah think to himself?

* 2 Kings 20:19 "The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?"

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>Why is it ironic that he was so concerned about his illness and not pray for the future of his children and grandchildren?

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>9. Who became king after Hezekiah?

* 2 Kings 20:20-21 "As for the other events of Hezekiah's reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Hezekiah rested with his fathers. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.

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>How does the fact that Hezekiah's son was an evil king show us about fact that faith is not inherited?

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