A LONGER LIFE FOR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT

PROCLAMATION

“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler 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. … I will add fifteen years to your life.  And I will deliver you …”  2 Kings 20:5-6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Hezekiah got sick and became ill to 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.”  After hearing this, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed, and wept. (2 Kings 20:2-3)  Isaiah left the presence of the king but before he could get completely out of the palace, The Lord spoke to him and told him to go back to King Hezekiah and tell him that He would heal him and extend his life for fifteen more years.

APPLICATION

Hezekiah walked faithfully before The Lord with wholehearted devotion and did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord and He extended his life.  The Bible says that the days of our lives will be threescore and ten, seventy years old, but that could be lengthen or shortened. (Psalm 90:10)  The Bible also says that we can lengthen our days on earth by honoring our father and mother. (Exodus 20:12)  By honoring them we need to give them affection, reverence, esteem, obedience, and to give them assistance with the things that they need.  Hezekiah showed us that a good Christian walk can also extend our lives on earth.  We do not know the hour or the day when we will transition from labor to reward, but we now know that it is possible to get an extended stay here before we go home to heaven.