...cuz they're phunny!
In Isaiah 38, Hezekiah was experiencing something that wasn't funny -- deathly sickness. Isaiah the prophet came to him with a "Refrigerator Magnet / Feel Good" prophetic word (hardly):
"This is what the Lord says:
'Put your house in order,
because you are going to die;
you will not recover.'"
Wow. Not the kind of thing I'd like to "receive" from a prophet. I'd probably quote the title of the new White Stripes album to that person: Get Behind Me, Satan. But Hezekiah (who has the most wonderful imaginary/funny trick to pull book of the Bible named after him...), he turned his face to the wall and prayed.
Isn't it awesome when people pray? One thing I loved about those Frank Perreti novels (This Present Darkness, Piercing The Darkness) is how the angels loved to hear and watch God's people pray. "Hold on a second, I want to hear this before we go," an angel said to another in those novels, as they listened to one of God's people say, "Let's pray." Looking back on my life (and this could be a prideful sin), some of the highlights or most important words I've probably ever uttered (and I'd like to think I said a few cool things, most of which mirrored God's Word) were the words, "Let's pray." That is as good a step as any. Repentence, specifically, probably comes first, but this is part of that scenerio, too.
Anyway, Hezekiah prayed,
"'Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotiona and have done what is good in Your eyes.'" And Hezekiah wept bitterly."
"Then the Word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 'Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; 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.''"
Those are powerful and wonderful words to hear (all of them). And 15 years is a great addition to someone's life. They could watch a 5-year old grow up, for instance. That 15 years would pass by quickly, but how long it might seem to the person on his deathbed!
Some of Hezekiah's grateful response was:
"But what can I say?
He has spoken to me,
and He Himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years
because of this anguish of my soul.
Lord, by such things men live;
and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
and let me live.
Surely it was for my benefit
that I suffered such anguish.
In Your love You kept me
from the pit of destruction;
You have put all my sins
behind Your back..."
(...Another wonderful promise that God forgets our sins as well as forgiving them. He doesn't dwell on our failures. Only we foolishly do that...)
"...fathers tell their children
about Your faithfulness..."
This is a great heritage to leave.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at July 20, 2005 08:34 AM