The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-07-06
HEZEKIAH'S
PRAYER
Sunday School lesson iOs July 3. 1905
Specially Prepared tor This Paper

| Bile Psalm t6l
TIME.-About 7Oi b. c.. just before SEN
| hAcherib's Invasion, and la the tourteeuth
year Of Herkiahs scign.
PLAcE.-riezekiah's palace at Jerusa-
| lem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. l. In those days" A vague ex-
preston, meaning in the time or
Hezekiah." In both accounts of Heze-
kiah's sickness. II is closely associated
with the visit OF Merodach baladau,
OF Babylon. Hezekiah had been reign
ing IA years. sick unto death"
lie was taken with an illness which.
according to the view of the times.
must prove fatal. IL seems probable
that he had a carbuncle, located per
haps ON the back Of his neck. Game
unto him: IA an interested friend
and a spiritual adviser. the prophet
came 10 visit the sick king. Thus
saith the Lord" IL was God who
guided the prophet In warning the
king 10 be ready for death. set thine
house Ia order" Arrange your world
ly affairs as you would do when about
TO leave them. Thou shalt die"
This was no fatalistlc decree. but a
statement that the disease from which
the king was suffering was very likely
10 cause death.
V. 2 Turned his face toward the
wall" That he might shut out all
else and be alone with God. Contrast
this with Ahab's sullen turning OF his
face TO the wall q Kings 2l:D.
Prayed unto the Lord" Tie expressed
himself In the words quoted ~. 81.
Hezekiah had learned long before this
time to take everything TO God In
prayer Though perhaps Isaiah had
left the room, We may believe that
now. as on another occasion. the king
and the prophet were praying To-
gether
v 3. Remember now. D Lord"
This prayer sounds TO US as II Heze-
kiah we're boasting OF his goodness.
but he did not 80 intend H. lie was
simply pleading Gods promises. To
the best OF his knowledge and ability
he had loved God and been loyal to
Him. and had lived uprightly People
as yet knew very little about future
rewards and punishments. and Heze-
kiah felt that II God we're just he
would reward him now by continu-
ance OF lie. "Hezekiah wept sore"
There was personal pain. as well a.
real for Gods honor and for his ma
lions good: and. like a true Oriental.
the king made no EFFORT to conceal his
emotions
V. T. Then came the word OF the
Lord 10 Isaiah" This was when the
prophet. after leaving the king. had
come TO "the middle court" or the
middle city (Sce Kings 20.t)
| Jerusalem vas built upon two hills,
and the prophet had just descended
one and was In the valley before as
cending the other when the message
came 10 him.
V s. Go. and say to Hezekiah:"
What 10 here given US Is an abbre-
Waited form OF the message recorded In
full In 2 Kings 20:5. 8. Il have heard
/ thy prayer" Cod was then, as he ~
to-day, the hearer and answerer OF
prayer. lie was eager then. as now.
10 do His children all possible good.
but. when they neglect TO pray 10 Him.
they. as Il were bind His hands 50
that the good cannot be granted. Il
will add rs years." Hezekiah Is
assured first OF rapid recovery. ''on
the third day thou shalt 30 up unto
the house of jehovah" then Of pro-
longed life. Subsequent history con-
firms belief that this promise was lit
orally fulnlled. Hezekiah lived to see
his son Maassseh reach the age OF
~ years We are told In another
account. and later. in this record OF
Isaiah (3s:2l), that. by the prophets
recommendation. a poultice OF fgs was
applied to Hezekiahs carbuncle with
benehcent effect In working out His
promise. God did not disdain the use
OF means but. by employing such. gave
help TO many a sufferer Of later times.
V. 6. II will deliver Assy-
ria" Finding this passage here indi-
Gates that Sennacherib's invasion mad
not yet taken place. The sentence may.
however. have dropped out OF place In
the many copylngs OF the original
manuscripts. OF Il may be regarded
merely as a promise that Assyrians
would not return to modest Hezekiah
OF threaten Jerusalem,
V. T. This shall be a sign" Ac-
cording to Kings 2O:s-1l. Hezekiah
asked for a sign. and Isaiah gave him
his choice. whether the shadow on the
dial should go forward ten degrees or
backward for the same space. II is
observed that, In the age when spirit
ual light was yet so dim. godly men
we're not reproached for seeking
'signs" to confirm the Lords will
V. 3. "The dial OF Ahaz:" This Is
the arst instrument for measuring
time that is mentioned in the Bible.
The sun-dial was In use by the Baby
lonians.
Practical Points.
v. l. Death is no respecter of per-
/ sons-Ps 99.4S