Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at 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.”
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “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. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”
Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.
Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord on the third day from now?”
Isaiah answered, “This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?”
“It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.”
Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”
“From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came from Babylon.”
The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
“The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?”
As for the other events of Hezekiah’s reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Hezekiah rested with his ancestors. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.

• 2 Kings 20:1-21

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” In the two courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.
He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them.” But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.
The Lord said through his servants the prophets: “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”
Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.
Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. He forsook the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to him.
Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.
As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.

• 2 Kings 21:1-26

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord—the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”
Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”
So they took her answer back to the king.

• 2 Kings 22:1-20

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

2 Kings 20:1-19 ‘King Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery’: “The biblical history of the next few years appears not only in 2 Kin. 18:13–20:21 but also in Is. 36–39. The order of events in the biblical text is not strictly chronological. Hezekiah’s illness (Is. 38) and the visit by ambassadors from the Babylonian ruler Merodach-Baladan (Is. 39) are described at the end of this section but must have come before Sennacherib withdrew from Jerusalem (Is. 37:37; see 2 Kin. 20:6).
“The name ‘Berodach-Baladan’ in 2 Kin. 20:12 appears to be a corrupted spelling of Merodach-Baladan. He was the Babylonian ruler at two separate times (721–710 and 703–702 B.C.), and specialized in forming alliances to support his fight against Assyrian control. He may still have been known by the title ‘king of Babylon’ at the time of Hezekiah’s sickness, although he might then have been in exile. Hezekiah died in 686’B.C.; his illness 15 years earlier would have been approximately 701 B.C. (2 Kin. 20:6).”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Kings 20:1-11 ‘Hezekiah Given an Extension of Life’: “Isaiah informs the gravely ill King Hezekiah of the Lord’s directive to set his affairs in order, for the king would not recover from his illness (20:1). In response, Hezekiah cries our co the Lord for an extension of mercy (20:2-3). Before Isaiah departs from the palace, the Lord, referencing the Davidic Covenant, tells his prophet that Hezekiah would indeed receive divine mercy, and would be healed from his disease. Indeed, an extension of 15 years is granted to Hezekiah (20:4-6). God grants the king miraculous confirmation by reversing a shadow that is cast along a palace stairway (20:8-11). Second Chronicles 32:24 briefly summarizes these events.”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Kings 20:4-6 ‘Answer to Hezekiah’s heartfelt prayer’: “God was moved by Hezekiah’s heartfelt prayer. Isaiah was still in the inner courtyard of the palace when God sent him back to tell Hezekiah, I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you (20:4-5). He also promised to deliver Jerusalem from the king of Assyria (20:6).
“God does not lie (see Num 23:19), and he does not change (see Mal 3:6). Yet, he is relational; he personally relates to his people. His declaration of death for Hezekiah was real. But, God is free to change-not in his character or in his ultimate purposes-but with regard to his actions within his purposes. This is a principle articulated repeatedly in Scripture. When God threatens judgment on sin, he is free to show mercy and grace in response to repentance (see Jonah 3:4-10). When he proclaims his intent to do something-sometimes as a test of faith-he is free to alter his actions in response to prayer (see Exod 32:11-14) or obedience (see Gen 22: 1-18) because people have adjusted their relationship to him.”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 20:13 ‘Showing off is not God’s Way – Doing so with spies is dangerous’: “Was it not the most natural thing in the entire world to do? Who among us would not have shown the strangers over our house, our garden, and our library, and have pointed out to them any little treasures and curiosities that we might happen to possess? And what if Hezekiah was somewhat proud of his wealth? Was it not a most natural pride that he who was a monarch of so small a territory should nevertheless be able, by economy and good government, to accumulate so large and varied a treasure? Exactly so; this is just as man sees, but God sees after another sort. He looks at the heart. Things are not to God as they seem to us. Our lilies may be the Lord’s nettles, and our gardens nothing better than a wilderness in his sight. We remark, then, that the act of Hezekiah here recorded is not on the surface a sinful one, but that the sin is to be found not so much in the action itself as in his motives of which we can­ not be judges, but which God accurately judged and strictly condemned. Babylon, a province of Assyria, had thrown off the Assyrian yoke, and Merodach-baladan was naturally anxious to obtain allies in order that his little kingdom might grow strong enough to preserve itself from the Assyrians. He had seen with great pleasure that the Assyrian army had been destroyed in Hezekiah’s country. Probably not recognizing the miracle, he thought Hezekiah had defeated the host, and so he sent his ambassadors with a view to make a treaty of alliance with so great a prince. Hezekiah’s duty was clear. He ought to have received the ambassadors with due courtesy as becomes their office, and he should have regarded their coming as an opportunity to bear testimony to the idolatrous Babylonians of the true God of Israel. He should have explained to them that the wonders which had been worked were worked by the only living and true God, and then he might have said, in answer to Isaiah’s question, ‘What have they seen in your palace?’ (20:15), ‘I have told them of the mighty acts of Jehovah, I have published abroad his great fame, and I have sent them back to their country to tell abroad that the Lord God omnipotent reigns.’ “

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes

2 Kings 20:16-19 ‘Babylonian Captivity to Come’: “The Lord, furious with King Hezekiah for exhibiting Jerusalem’s treasure to a Babylonian prince, sends Isaiah to the king to proclaim a devastating message. In a period following Hezekiah’s death, both Judah’s treasure and citizens, including members of Hezekiah’s own dynasty, would be carried away into Babylonian captivity (20:16-19). The Babylonian conquest and activity is depicted in 2 Kings 24:10-25:21 and 2 Chronicles 36:1-21.”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Kings 20:16 ‘Death – not the worst thing’: “Long ago, Hezekiah, king of Judah, became ill and God told him he would die. The king turned his face to the wall and sulked. Then he asked the Lord, in effect, ‘Why me? I have cleansed the temple, and we have had a revival. Because of me, the nation has come closer to You.’
“As you will recall from 2 Kings 20, the Lord gave Hezekiah a fifteen-year extension of life. Restored to health and vigor, Hezekiah disgraced himself and dishonored God before he died and was buried.
“I would not want an extra fifteen years in which to backslide and dishonor my Lord. I would rather go home right now than to live on-if living on was to be a waste of God’s time and my own!
“We look at the deteriorating condition of our world. We consider the godless lifestyles of so many millions of the world’s people. Then we reflect on the devastating future judgments prophesied in the Revelation and elsewhere in God’s Word. Harry M. Shuman was right: For the sincere followers of the Lamb, death is not the worst thing that can happen to them.”

• A. W. Tozer, Jesus is Victor!

2 Kings 20:20-21 ‘A Second Invasion’: “Hezekiah survived his rebellion of 701 B.C., but some 12 or 13 years later he tried again. Maybe around 688 B.C. Sennacherib again invaded and laid siege to Jerusalem (Is. 36:2–37:7). This time Tirhakah, the Ethiopian king of Egypt, interrupted the siege briefly but was driven back. This time there was no tribute paid; Jerusalem was spared by a miraculous plague that swept the Assyrian camp (Is. 37:8–38). A second invasion by Sennacherib is not recorded in Assyrian annals, but it has been suggested by scholars to account for the appearance of Pharaoh Tirhakah, who was not yet in power when Sennacherib invaded Judah in 701 B.C.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Kings 20:20 ‘A Pool in Siloam’: “In the 8th century B.C. King Hezekiah constructed a tunnel to bring water from the Gihon spring for storage in a reservoir within the city. The project was done in anticipation of a siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians (2 Kin. 20:20); thus, the water supply of the city would be secure during the siege, which finally occurred in 701 B.C. Water from the southern end of Hezekiah’s tunnel is still used today by Jerusalem’s inhabitants.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Kings 21:1-18 ‘The Long, Dark Years of Manasseh’: “Manasseh’s reign (697–642 B.C.) was the longest in the history of the Judean kingdom. In his first 11 or 12 years he ruled as a minor, serving as a coregent with his father Hezekiah. His 55-year rule must have seemed even longer to some. The writer of Kings gives Manasseh very low marks as a monarch, cataloging the king’s many sins (2 Kin. 21:1–18).
“Assyrian sources from the 7th century B.C. mention Manasseh. Judah had become a vassal state of Assyria after Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah in 701 B.C. The annals of Sennacherib’s son, Esarhaddon (680–669 B.C.) name Manasseh among 22 vassal kings who were obligated to transport materials to Nineveh. The records of Ashurbanipal (668–627 B.C.) also list Manasseh in an account of vassal kings who presented gifts to Assyria and helped to defeat Egypt.
“Among the criticisms leveled at Manasseh was that he worshiped the stars–the ‘host of heaven’ (2 Kin. 21:3). Some scholars assume that Manasseh’s religious practices were due to the direction of Assyria. Vassal states were obligated to pay tribute and take loyalty oaths, demonstrating Assyrian rulership. But there is no evidence that the Assyrians imposed their religion upon these states. Possibly Manasseh willingly incorporated Assyrian cultic practices in the temple to show his loyalty to Assyria.
“The writer of Chronicles reports that Manasseh was taken prisoner by the Assyrians to Babylon (2 Chr. 33:11). The city of Babylon did not gain power until after about 625 B.C., several years after Manasseh’s reign. After the death of Esarhaddon, however, the Assyrians had corulers at Nineveh and Babylon for 16 years (668–652 B.C.), so it is plausible that Manasseh could have been sent to Babylon.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Kings 21:1-2 ‘Manasseh – the worst of Judah’s kings’: “The end of Hezekiah’s reign brought his son Manasseh to the throne; he had served for a time as co-regent with his father. The son was the worst of Judah’s kings, ruling for a total of fifty-five years in Jerusalem (21:1). Manasseh imitated the detestable practices of the nations that the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites (21:2), meaning that, while he was an Israelite physically, he was a Canaanite spiritually.”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 21:1-18 ‘Manasseh repented (2 Chr.33)’: ”In 2 Kings 21:1-18, we only see the wickedness of Manasseh. But comparing this account with 2 Chronicles 33:11-13 and 18-19, we find that after being defeated in battle and taken captive in Babylon, Manasseh repented, sought God’s forgiveness, and was restored to the throne of Judah, where he reigned wisely for the rest of his days.“

• Ray C. Stedman, Adventuring Through the Bible

2 Kings 21:7 ‘set …put’: ”Manasseh provoked the Lord by ‘setting’ an idol of a Canaanite goddess in the temple where the Lord had ‘set’ His name (see 1 Kin. 8:29; 9:3; 2 Chr. 7:12, 16). Asherah (cf. 23:4; 2 Chr. 15:16) was believed to be the mother of 70 deities, including Baal.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 21:10-15 ‘Prediction of Manasseh’s Downfall’: “So severe is the Lord’s judgment against the wicked king Manasseh that it takes multiple prophets to deliver the warning. The Lord condemns the king’s unparalleled idolatry and promises unprecedented judgment upon both king and citizenry (21:10-15). Choosing to ignore the prophecy, Manasseh is captured by the Assyrian army and led off in chains to Babylon (2 Chronicles 33:10-11).”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Kings 21:13 ‘the plummet’: “These were weighted lines dropped from walls to see whether they were structurally straight (cf. Is. 28:17; Amos 7:7, 8). Walls out of line were torn down. The Lord had measured Jerusalem by the standard of His Word and had determined that the fate of Samaria (Israel) was also to befall Jerusalem. wipe Jerusalem. As one would wipe food off a dish, the Lord would wipe Jerusalem clean off the earth, i.e., obliterate her, and leave her turned upside down, empty, and useless.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 21:16 ‘very much innocent blood’: “The reference here is ambiguous and several interpretations have been offered: 1) child sacrifice (cf. v. 6); 2) oppression and persecution of the weak (Jer. 7:6; 22:3, 17; Ezek. 22:6–31); or 3) the martyrdom of God’s prophets (cf. v. 10). A combination of all 3 is most likely. Jewish and Christian tradition alike report that Manasseh had Isaiah sawn in two inside a hollow log (cf. Heb. 11:37).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 21:19-26 ‘Assassination in the Palace’: “Manasseh was followed to the throne by his son Amon, who was assassinated after only 2 years as king (642–640 B.C.). The conspiracy against Amon was probably a palace intrigue rather than a popular revolt (2 Kin. 21:23, 24). He was assassinated in the royal palace, and ‘the people of the land’ quickly enacted vengeance upon the conspirators.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Kings 22:2 ‘did not turn aside’: “Josiah had complete devotion to God’s approved course of conduct for his life (cf. 23:25). He obeyed the Mosaic stipulations as he came to know them, following the example of David, who set the pattern for the rulers of God’s people (Deut. 17:11, 20, Josh. 1:7).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 22:3 ‘Josiah – The Religious Reformer’: “A discovery in 622 B.C. Josiah’s 18th year, 2 Kin. 22:3, as the young king began to repair and renovate the temple, greatly affected him. His reforms gained their greatest impetus from the Book of the Law that Hilkiah the priest found in the temple. From the kinds of reforms that Josiah put into effect, it seems likely that this book was part or all of the Book of Deuteronomy. No religious reforms in Israel’s history were so comprehensive.”

• Timothy B. Cargal, et al., The Chronological Study Bible

2 Kings 22:8-11 ‘The book of the Law is found’: “It was during this process that the high priest Hilkiah … found the book of the law in the temple (22:8), which could have been a copy of the entire Pentateuch (that is, the first five books of the Bible). Evidently, Manasseh had made sure the Word of God would not be available to mess up his program of idolatry; and he may have destroyed any other copies. Josiah’s court secretary Shaphan read the book for himself, then took it to Josiah and read it to him (22:8-10). The immediate, earnest response of grief by the king suggests that the law had not been part of Judah’s life and worship for a long time (22:11). This is what it looks like when God’s Word delivers its convicting power.”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 22:14 ‘Huldah’: “This prophetess is otherwise unknown in the OT. She was held in some regard for her prophetic gift, though why she was consulted and not another prophet like Jeremiah or Zephaniah (see … 22:1) is unexplained. Rarely did God speak to the nation through a woman (cf. Miriam, Ex. 15; Deborah, Judg. 5), and never did a woman have an ongoing prophetic ministry identified in Scripture. No woman was inspired to author any of Scripture’s 66 books. the wardrobe. Likely, these were the royal garments or those used by the priests. the Second Quarter. This district of Jerusalem was called ‘second’ because it comprised the city’s first major expansion. It was probably located on the western hill of Jerusalem, an area enclosed by the city wall and built during the reign of Hezekiah. The expansion of the city during Hezekiah’s reign was perhaps to accommodate Jewish refugees who had escaped from the Assyrian invasion of Israel.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Kings 22:15-20 ‘Josiah not to Witness God’s Judgment’: “Following the rediscovery of the book of Deuteronomy during Josiah’s renovation of the temple, consultation is made with the prophetess Huldah (2 Kings 22:1-14; 2 Chronicles 34:1-22). Huldah prophesies to Josiah that Judah’s habitual idolatry would cause the divine retribution promised for covenant disloyalty, as described in Deuteronomy 28:15- 68, to be unleashed upon the nation (2 Kings 22:15-17; 2 Chronicles 34:23-25). This will not occur, however, until after Josiah’s death, due to his fidelity to the Mosaic Covenant (2 Kings 22:18-20; 2 Chronicles 34:26-28).”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Kings 22:18-20 ‘Ultimate Exile after death of Josiah’: “The Lord’s word to Josiah, however, was one of mercy. For his tender heart and humility; and his tears of repentance on behalf of himself and his people; Josiah would be spared the coming disaster that God would bring on Judah in the form of the Babylonian captivity (22:19-20). (Josiah would die in 609 BC, just four years before Nebuchadnezzar’s first invasion of Judah.)”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

My Thoughts

Hezekiah was visited by Isaiah, the prophet of God.  Isaiah said that Hezekiah was going to become ill and he would not recover from the illness.  Hezekiah turned to the wall, not wanting Isaiah to see his face.  He called out to God for God to remember him, a faithful servant.  Hezekiah was devoted to God wholeheartedly.  And then he wept bitterly.  I am sure he would not have minded Isaiah hearing him pray, but to see the king weep showed that Hezekiah at least had a kingly bearing to uphold.

At some point, Isaiah had left, but he had not gone through the middle court before God told him to return.  This time, Isaiah told Hezekiah that God had heard his prayer and saw his tears.  In three days, Hezekiah was to go to the temple.  Fifteen years would be added to his life and God would defend Jerusalem against one more attack by the Assyrians for Hezekiah’s sake and for the sake of David.  Isaiah turned to those attending the king and told them to apply a poultice of figs to the boil.

Hezekiah asked since God had instructed him to go to the temple, what would be the sign that he was healed?  Isaiah asked if Hezekiah wanted the shadow to go forward or back ten steps.  Hezekiah said that forward was no problem at all, but going back would not be easy to accomplish.

And when he went to the temple, he saw the shadow go backward ten steps along the Ahaz steps of the temple.

My wife knew she had a heart murmur, and something would eventually have to be done.  She had recently gone to the hospital for some disorder, and a young cardiologist took care of her heart during the stay.  She liked his manner, and she was getting uneasy with the cardiologist that we had been using.  Then, she had a gallstone that blocked everything, gall bladder, liver, and pancreas.  It was indeed a medical emergency.  They gave her medicine for the pain, ran a few tests, and started setting up a helicopter flight to an unknown hospital.  She felt better, so she checked herself out.  We saw our family doctor later that day, and he had her run one test over again.  They had misdiagnosed her at the ER, but she needed gall bladder surgery.  She told me that with recent problems that I had and this misdiagnosis, we would not go back to the two hospitals that we had used.  Other than our family doctor, we would change all our doctors, and she wanted the nice cardiologist.  He had to approve her to have gall bladder surgery, and he said that she needed open heart surgery first.  The doctor she had been seeing characterized her condition with medium stenosis, but he said it was severe.

All this to lead up to open heart surgery, and when she awoke, after several failed attempts, she turned to me and said, “I am like Hezekiah.  God has given me fifteen more years.”

He gave her about four and a half years, but at that moment, she was feeling good.  I was hoping she would get more than 15 years, and heart valve replacements were generally only good for ten years.  But she warmed my heart by thinking of Scripture.

To the “Name and Claim it” folks out there, it only works if it is God’s will, and the more we think it has to be God’s will, it simply speaks to our hubris.  Hezekiah wept as he prayed that God would remember him.  He claimed nothing.  He did not dare ask God to change His mind.  Yes, there was tone of that in what Hezekiah said, but not spoken.

And before anyone says that I am bitter that my wife’s name and claim did not work…  No, she is no longer in pain.  She got the ultimate healing.  She fought the good fight, and she arrived in Heaven as a victor.  It was the right time.

But then, we have what I think is a lot of theologians barking up the wrong tree.  Hezekiah, filled with pride that God would give him fifteen more years, is greeted by an envoy from Babylon.  Babylon was one of those nations that was barely holding on against attacks by the Assyrians.  And Hezekiah showed the envoy everything.

When people came to our home, my wife showed them the trinkets she had accumulated when we lived in Germany.  She brought out the fine china and the crystal wine glasses.  Would you not do so?

Hezekiah has been reviled.  He was given fifteen more years only to waste them.  He gave Babylon reason to attack Jerusalem rather than wait for the next attack on them from Assyria.  The power shifted.

But Manasseh, even being the worst king of Judah ever in the thoughts of many theologians, was only twelve when he became king.  Sure, he was an evil king, but could the king have been worse, if Manasseh had not been born?  When Judah became a vassal state, Manasseh repented and reigned well in his latter years.  This fact is only recorded in 2 Chronicles.

And giving Hezekiah fifteen more years was within God’s will.  In spite of the king occasionally being good, the people had deserted from God.  There would only be one more good king, Josiah.

Hezekiah died.  Manasseh became king.  And Manasseh went off the rails.  The Valley of Ben Hinnom burned with the vile human sacrifices.  Every detestable practice known to mankind was performed by Manasseh.  Manasseh reigned 55 years.  He was replaced by his son Amon.  After Manasseh had cleaned up his act, Amon went back to all the practices Manasseh did in his youth.  Amon’s own officials killed him after a two-year reign.  And eight-year-old Josiah became king.

Josiah set up a system of cleaning up the temple.  In the process, they found the book of the Law.  Some think it was just Deuteronomy, but others think the entire five books.  Josiah had it read and he wept to find out he was not worshipping God correctly.

In hearing that the nation that strays from God will be sent into exile worried Josiah.  He asked for the prophetess Huldah.  Other prophets were available, like Jeremiah, but he went to her, and she said that the nation would not be taken away from him, but the nation would soon be sent into exile.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

2 Kings 20:1-11 Hezekiah’s Illness 1. What makes prayer more effective: Perseverance? Intense emotion? Irrefutable logic? High moral arguments? Other: ____?
“2. Can prayer change God’s mind? Is God weak if he does change his mind? What does it mean to say that God never changes?
“3. Is it weak to ask God to give miraculous signs? Should the word be enough to ease all doubts? Why or why not?
2 Kings 20:12-21 Envoys from Babylon 1. Should nations be hospitable and open or go big on “national security”? Where does true security lie?
“2. Is it hard be concerned about problems that don’t affect you now?
“3. If God revealed that you would not die for 15 years, would you live more confidently? Daringly? Selfishly?
2 Kings 21 1. What are ‘good people’ to do during evil times? What’s the key to surviving the reign of bad kings?
“2. What does this story tell you about the ultimate seat of power? The ultimate disposition of good and evil? What hints here at God’s patience and mercy? Which attribute of God­ power or mercy-has been most impressed on you recently?
“3. Do you believe in ‘power to the people’, as demonstrated here? What are the benefits and dangers of people power? How can it run amok?
“4. Should God’s people ever use violence to achieve justice, as did the run amok crowd? When and when not?
2 Kings 22 1. What book, apart from the Bible, has most profoundly changed you? How so? How does that book’s effect compare with the Bible’s effect on your life?
“2. How many times have you vowed to rediscover the Scriptures every morning? Will you keep trying or give up?
“3. What leadership roles do women play in your church? In the group? Who is your ‘Huldah’?
“4. Has the ultimate bad news of God’s judgment been postponed for you? Under what conditions? What does that give you time to do?
“5. How well do you know church history? Who are the ‘Josiahs’ that have rediscovered biblical truth in recent centuries? Which Josiah is your denomination indebted to?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Second Kings 20 has two sets of questions as noted.  Second Kings 21 and 22 each have one set of questions.

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

If you like these Thursday morning Bible studies, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Thursday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.