A PRAYER FOR A LONGER LIFE IS GRANTED

PROCLAMATION

“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 … And I will add unto thy days fifteen years …’ ”  2 Kings 20:5-6 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  Hezekiah the king of Judah was sick unto death.  The prophet Isaiah went to him and told him to get his house in order for he would die.  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to The Lord.  He reminded The Lord that he had kept His commandments and walked in His way.  Then Hezekiah wept. (2 Kings 20:1-3)  The prophet Isaiah left King Hezekiah after telling him that he would die, but he had not gotten out of the courtyard before The Lord told him to turn around and go back to Hezekiah with a message.  Isaiah was told to tell Hezekiah that The Lord had heard his prayer, and had seen his tears, and He would heal him and add fifteen years to his life. (2 Kings 20:4-6)  The account of Hezekiah’s faithfulness was followed by an account of his foolishness.  Hearing that Hezekiah was sick, the king of Babylon sent letters and a present to him by messengers.  For whatever reason, probably pride, Hezekiah showed the messengers all of his house and all of his treasures.  Later the prophet Isaiah asked him what did the men want and what did they see.  Hezekiah told him that they brought him letters and a gift from the king of Babylon, and that he had shown them everything.  Then Isaiah said that the day would come when all of his treasures would be carried away into Babylon.  Isaiah also said that all of Hezekiah’s sons would be taken away and made to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. (2 Kings 20:12-18)

APPLICATION

No one knows the hour or the day when their life will end or when The Lord will come. (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32, and Revelation 3:3)  The Bible says that our lifetime shall be seventy years, “… threescore years and ten …” (Psalm 90:10) but our days on earth can be lengthened or shortened. (Exodus 20:12, 1 Kings 3:14, and Proverbs 10:27)  Our sinful behavior can shorten our life. (Proverbs 10:27)  Praying and asking The Lord God for a long life will not get us one if our walk is not in His ways, and we have not kept His statutes and His commandments. (1 Kings 3:14)