In response, he does a most remarkable thing - "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD." (verse 2) When he "turned his face to the wall," he was actually "turning away" from all his accomplishments, supposed merit, and the things that he held so dear and was "turning" toward the temple which was a type of Christ.
Stop and reflect on this for a moment. Isn't this what is required of all who come to the LORD in repentance? Shouldn't this be your response when you sin? Shouldn't this be the Church's response or the nation of America's response at this late hour in time?
To many (and you may heartily agree), the Church is presently "sick unto death" due to her sin and pride. America and several of the nations of the world are "sick unto death" due to their own sin and pride.
What God is looking for is a response as that which came from Hezekiah - "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall," and in doing so, the Church, America, and the nations of the world will have "turned away" from all their accomplishments, supposed merit, and the things they hold so dear and "turned" toward the only solution for sin - Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
This is the response that God is looking for!
God heard Hezekiah's prayer and - in answer - added fifteen (15) more years to his life. He was thirty-nine (39) years old when this promise was given and lived fifteen (15) more years until the age of fifty-four (54) when he died.
He actually knew that he had only fifteen (15) more years to live on this earth. (Obviously not everyone has that privilege.)
What did he do as a result? And what can we learn from him at this point?
Isaiah 38 tells us that he wrote a Psalm concerning the Great Miracle the Lord performed for him. Verse 9 verifies this in saying - "The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness."
But, for the purpose of this message, we want to especially call your attention to his words in verses 18-19 where he says - "For the grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known Thy truth."
In these two verses alone, King Hezekiah - a man who was given a "second chance" from the Lord - is exhorting you as to how you should view "life" on this earth.
He is telling you that "life" is a privilege. To "live" on this earth is a special right...benefit...and opportunity given to you by God. In the grave, you cannot "hope for God's truth."
What did he mean by that?
That word "truth" means God's faithfulness to His promises. In the grave, you cannot experience the performance of His promises in which His truth and faithfulness appear. In the grave, you cannot exercise faith and hope in regard to His promises and then see them fulfilled.
He mentioned - "the living, the living." The repetition of this word is intentional. He used an emphatic or intensive form of expression to get his point across.
"The living, the living" - Who are they?
They are the ones who still enjoy the light of day. They are the corporeally and spiritually alive who know their purpose for living. They are also the ones who have "tasted and seen that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8) - being His true worshippers.
Hezekiah lets you know that you are here on this earth to "praise" Jesus...to "celebrate" Him...to "hope for His Truth"...and to "make known His truth" to the next generation.
He was glad to live - not so much to continue to enjoy his royal dignity and the honor and pleasure of his successes - but to continue to praise God. As a man supposedly brought back from the dead, he made this his business.
What did "praising God" entail for him?
It was the acknowledging and declaring of the glorious excellencies of God - as manifested in His Word and Works.
Hezekiah is saying to you today - "God has given you 'life.' He expects the best you can offer. As a part of the "living," make it your business, pleasure, and end in "life" - even as I have done ("as I do this day") - to praise and glorify Him in this world and to celebrate His goodness. This is what will make your "life" valuable and desirable."
Read Matthew Henry's comment on this - "The living must praise God; they live in vain if they do not."
Hezekiah knew that he had fifteen (15) years left to his life on this earth. You are not guaranteed the same. Your life span may be shorter than that. Only God knows!
The Biblical Illustrator said - "The consideration of the shortness of life ought to induce us to spend our time in praising God."
Are you among the "living"? Then let me ask you - "Have you made it your business, pleasure, and end in life to praise and glorify Jesus and to celebrate His goodness?"
In Psalm 38:19, we find that Hezekiah - the man who was given a "second chance" from the LORD - did not stop with the business of "praising God." He added - "the father to the children shall make known Thy truth." In other words, he knew that he was given more years not only to "praise God," but also to propagate and perpetrate His name, praise, and glory to all succeeding generations - one generation of the "living" to another.
Because God gave him the privilege of "life," he felt obligated to make it his special business to see that His name would be glorified in the world after he was dead. He felt that it was his special business to make Him known to the younger generation as an object worthy of their faith.
In closing, read what several had to say on this subject -
Matthew Henry said - "Life and health are given that we may glorify God and do good."
The Sermon Commentary said - "Every life is wasted and misspent which is not led to the glory and praise of God."
And, The Biblical Illustrator said - "It is a lost life that is not lived to the honour of God."
Hezekiah has a message for you today. Can you hear what he is saying?
He is telling you that "life" is a privilege. It is a privilege to live on this earth. It is a special right... benefit...and opportunity given to you by God.
Your life span is uncertain to you. Only God knows it. Hezekiah was promised fifteen (15) more years. You may have more years than that, or you may have less.
One thing is certain - your life is special...it has meaning...and it has a purpose.
God gave you this privilege or opportunity called - "life."
What are you doing with it?
Do you feel as though your "life" has been wasted and misspent?
The dead cannot "praise" God..."celebrate" Him... "hope for His truth" (experience the performance of His promises)...or "make known His truth" (faithfulness) to the next generation. Only the "living, the living" can!
It is when you understand that you are here on this earth to "celebrate" Jesus...proclaim His perfections and favors...and invite others to His service - that you really begin to "live!"
Take it from Hezekiah! He knows!
We at Walking In Truth Ministry understand Hezekiah's message. "Life" is a privilege. It is a gift from God - not to be wasted or misspent. Hence, more than ever, we are making it our "business" to "praise" or glorify Jesus in this world and to propagate His name to the next generation - especially through our Bible Messages and evangelism.
To all those who faithfully support us every month with your financial gift, we want to say - "Thank You" - from the bottom of our hearts. We could never have accomplished all that we are doing without your help! May the Lord reward you richly in this life and in the life to come! We know that He will!
At this time, if you would like to be a blessing to this ministry, you can make your check out to - Walking In Truth Ministry - and mail it to the following address -
Walking In Truth Ministry
P.O. Box 383016
Duncanville, TX 75138-3016
Or, if you prefer to use Paypal, you can send your financial gift to - [email protected]
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We are a nonprofit organization with a tax exemption status.
Thank you ahead of time for your gracious gift,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved