1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
5 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.
6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.
14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.
16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
Chapter 20 of the book of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible is a significant chapter that revolves around the life of King Hezekiah, who ruled over the kingdom of Judah. The chapter begins with Hezekiah falling ill and being informed by the prophet Isaiah that he will not recover from his illness and will die. However, Hezekiah prays to God and is granted fifteen more years of life. This chapter also includes the account of Hezekiah's interaction with the Babylonian envoys and his prideful display of his wealth, leading to a prophecy of the Babylonian captivity of Judah. The main themes of this chapter include trust in God, repentance, and consequences of pride and disobedience. This essay will provide a detailed summary of the events in chapter 20 and explore the underlying meaning and lessons that can be drawn from it.
The chapter opens with Hezekiah falling ill and being visited by the prophet Isaiah, who delivers a message from God that he will not recover from his illness and will die. This news greatly distresses Hezekiah, and he turns to God in prayer, pleading for mercy and healing. He weeps bitterly and reminds God of his faithfulness and devotion to Him, appealing to His covenant with David and the promises made to him. Moved by Hezekiah's prayer, God instructs Isaiah to return to Hezekiah and inform him that he will be healed and granted fifteen more years of life. As a sign of this promise, God causes the shadow on the sundial to move backward ten steps, indicating that He will reverse Hezekiah's illness and extend his life.
This event highlights the power of prayer and the importance of trusting in God. Hezekiah could have easily given in to despair and accepted Isaiah's initial prophecy of his death, but he chose to turn to God in faith and plead for His mercy. His prayer was not in vain, as God heard and answered him, showing that He is a God of compassion and grace. This serves as a reminder that no matter how dire our circumstances may seem, we should never lose faith in God and should always turn to Him in prayer.
After his recovery, Hezekiah is visited by envoys from Babylon, who come to congratulate him on his recovery and bring gifts from their king. Hezekiah proudly shows them all the treasures of his kingdom, including the silver, gold, spices, and precious ointment. This display of wealth and pride in his accomplishments greatly displeases God, and He sends Isaiah to deliver a message to Hezekiah. The message is a prophecy of the Babylonian captivity of Judah, where all the treasures that Hezekiah showed to the envoys will be taken away, along with his descendants, who will serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
This event serves as a warning against pride and disobedience. Hezekiah's pride in his wealth and achievements led him to boast and display his treasures to the Babylonian envoys, which ultimately resulted in the downfall of his kingdom. This reflects the consequences of disobedience to God's commands and the dangers of being self-reliant and boastful. It also highlights the importance of humility and acknowledging that all our blessings and successes come from God.
Upon hearing Isaiah's prophecy, Hezekiah responds with humility and acceptance, acknowledging that the word of the Lord is good and just. He expresses gratitude for the peace and security that will be present during his lifetime and is relieved that these events will not occur during his reign. This response shows that Hezekiah has learned from his previous prideful actions and has repented before God. It also demonstrates his trust in God's plan and acceptance of His will.
This event highlights the importance of repentance and the consequences of sin. Hezekiah's humble response to the prophecy shows that he has truly repented and turned back to God. This serves as a reminder that no matter how far we may have strayed, it is never too late to turn back to God and seek His forgiveness. Additionally, the prophecy of the Babylonian captivity serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and disobedience. It shows that God's judgment will eventually come, and it is important to repent and turn to Him before it is too late.
In conclusion, chapter 20 of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible is a significant chapter that highlights the themes of trust in God, repentance, and consequences of pride and disobedience. It begins with Hezekiah's illness and his prayer to God, which results in his healing and the reversal of his illness. This event serves as a reminder of the power of prayer and the importance of trusting in God. The chapter then moves on to Hezekiah's interaction with the Babylonian envoys, where his pride and display of wealth lead to a prophecy of the Babylonian captivity of Judah. This event serves as a warning against pride and disobedience, highlighting the importance of humility and obedience to God. Finally, Hezekiah's response to the prophecy demonstrates his repentance and trust in God's plan.
The underlying meaning of this chapter is to emphasize the importance of trust in God and obedience to His commands. It shows that no matter how dire our circumstances may seem, we should never lose faith in God and should always turn to Him in prayer. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of pride and disobedience, highlighting the importance of humility and repentance. Additionally, it shows that God's judgment will eventually come, and it is vital to turn back to Him before it is too late. Overall, chapter 20 of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible is a powerful lesson on faith, repentance, and the consequences of our actions.
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