I have heard

"No matter what circumstances you experience,

your influence can be marvelously far reaching.

I Will Heal Thee

By Emily Freedom

2 Kings 14:6 – 2 Kings 18:22

Hezekiah’s story is one of my most favorite stories in the entire Bible.

I have loved it for years.

It brings me comfort.  It testifies of prayer.  It speaks of hope.

To fully understand the magnitude of Hezekiah’s experience, we first have to come to know Hezekiah.  The scriptures teach us that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.  He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.  He clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him.  He kept his commandments.  And the Lord was with him.

2 Kings 18

On one occasion it seemed that all was conspiring against Hezekiah.  I am intrigued by two of the questions that were asked of him by those who didn’t share his beliefs,   “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?  Now on whom dost thou trust?”  

2 Kings 18:19-20  

Eventually those questions led Hezekiah to receive a letter fill with threats and deceit.

In this moment I love what King Hezekiah did…

He went up into the house of the Lord and spread the letter before the Lord.

And he prayed.

He asked the Lord for a blessing…that his people would be saved…  ”that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.”  (2 Kings 19:19)

The Lord’s prophet, Isaiah, sent to Hezekiah saying,  ”Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed…I have heard.”  (2 Kings 19:20)

I believe this experience and conversation with the Lord prepared Hezekiah’s heart for a future trial.

The scriptures tell us,  ”In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death.”

The chapter explains that he had a wound, one that wouldn’t heal.  Isaiah came to Hezekiah and told him that he needed to set his house in order, for he was going to die.

And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall.  And he wept sore.  And he prayed.

“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…”

Before Isaiah had even left the middle court, the voice of the Lord came to him saying, “Turn again, and tell Hezekiah…Thus saith the Lord…I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee…”

“And I will add unto thy days…and I will deliver thee… and I will defend this city.”  (2 Kings 20:5-6)

My thoughts turn to healing, and to the power of prayer, in the darkest moments of life.

The moments that cause you to turn your face to the wall.  The moments that invoke you to weep sore.  Sometimes those moments even come after we have walked in truth, with a perfect heart…even when we are doing that which is good.

And sometimes they don’t end happy. Then we are left with a heart that is broken. In those moments we, like Hezekiah, are in need of healing. And because the wound is so deep, it is the kind of healing that can only come from the Lord.  Through prayer.

“O Lord, remember…” Remember me.

The story of Hezekiah teaches that we are not forgotten of the Lord.  Even in the moments when the trials of life seem to destroy us…especially in the moments when others might ask,   “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?  Now on whom dost thou trust?”  In those moments, weeping sore, we must turn to the Lord. 

And pray.

“Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.  The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.  Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them.  Prayer…is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.”

Sometimes healing means saving a life, or healing an illness.  Sometimes.  That wasn’t the case in our home.  Sometimes the illness lingers.  Sometimes the life isn’t saved.  

Even then, especially then, healing is required.

A healing of the heart. Because a wounded heart can cause us to turn our face to the wall.  To weep sore.

Hopefully, it will lead us to call on the Lord. Through prayer. Because the healing of life’s deepest wounds can only come through Him. It is that kind of healing that causes us to testify,

I know “that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.”

In moments of deepest hurt we must cleave to the Lord and remember the words the Lord’s prophet,

Isaiah, sent to Hezekiah saying,

Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou has prayed I have heard. 

I have heard thy prayer. I have seen thy tears, Behold, I will heal thee…

2 Kings 19:20 20:5-6