2 Kings 20

We live in a world of sickness and death, but then we do not entirely make our peace with them. We are looking for the fullness of the kingdom, when “death shall be no more.” (Revelation 21:4)

When King Hezekiah received the word from the Lord's messenger that his days were over, he did not passively submit to the Lord's determination. He called out to God in prayer and asked for deliverance. He “wept bitterly” because he wanted to live. God did not rebuke Hezekiah for his boldness. He gave him fifteen more years of life. On the third day he would rise up from his bed.

God even condescended to give Hezekiah a sign that the message of healing was true. It was as if the Lord moved the heavens and the earth in order to encourage the faith of His anointed one.

Closely connected with this divine reprieve from immediate death was an unusual account of visitors from Babylon. The king showed them all his treasures. The Lord's prophet then gave the king this very bad news: All his possessions would be carried off to Babylon along with some of his own sons. The deportation to Babylon would not take place immediately, but would come to pass after the king's death.

Hezekiah received this word with remarkable composure. “There will be peace and security in my days.” He would leave the next generation to their own troubles.

We are given no commentary in the passage regarding the king's strange response. He showed more concern about his own death than about the destruction of Judah. In fifteen years Hezekiah would sleep with his fathers and his son, Manasseh, would take his place.

Time would soon run out for the descendants of David, yet the Lord would never forget His promises to His people. Hundreds of years later, long after the descendants of Hezekiah went off to Babylon and long after God brought some of His beloved children back to Jerusalem, a new King would be born. This King would have to face the death that we deserved. There would be no other way for Him, even though He sought an alternative in great anguish. He died on the cross, but on the third day, He rose up from the grave.

This eternal King faced the sufferings that were appointed for us as our Sin-Bearer. He kept before His eyes a future day of blessing that only He could win for us. We are not left to guess regarding the divine verdict upon His life. He is the Lord of Glory forever and ever.