Isaiah 38:1-8 - 1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, `Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ “ 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Now how would you like to have Isaiah’s job here. He has to go to the King and tell him that God has told him that He is going to die. Now in this statement from Isaiah: Thus says the LORD, `Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ There seems to be no discussion here or bartering with God, he has sent the message and it is a flat out statement as to what is going to happen – Hezekiah is going to die.
God was remarkably kind to Hezekiah, telling him that his death was near. Not all people are given the time to set your house in order. Because not all are given warning about this we should be living our lives in a way always that our houses are in order. We need to always be ready because life is like a vapor that appears for a short time and vanishes away.
Again we see the reaction of Hezekiah. Before in the desperate situations we saw Hezekiah seek God in those times and again we see it here. Again we see that he turns his face to the wall and prays. Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall: This shows how earnest Hezekiah was in his prayer. He directed his prayer in privacy to God, and not to any man. He is deeply moved by this news as all of us would be but he reacts in a God honoring way – that God honoring way is prayer.
Again – we have seen in all types of situations that Hezekiah goes to God in prayer as his immediate reaction. We have seen it with things happening in his leadership and his country and now with health. What is going on in your life right now that you need to take to God in prayer? For me, I pray that in every situation in my life that I would take it directly to God right away – I am not there yet but it is getting better. How about you, are you taking everything directly to God right away? Are your reactions God honoring?
Share your thinking and thoughts on this?
In all honesty: there are times that I immediately take things to God but in other cases I hold off. Maybe thinking I can handle it. Maybe because of shame. Maybe because it doesn’t cross my mind right away. Good thoughts today Jim. thanks for “provoking” me.
Your maybe’s are the same as mine and why I think I am sometimes a little slow on the uptake to God. Any time I can “provoke” you – you just let me know.
I am really focusing in on this right now… too often I have been guilty of going to others first and then leaving God as a last resort. God needs to be my first resort.
Amen – He is where we need to go first. Thanks Dusty!
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Guilty of seeking others first.
Me too
Lately I’ve been doing a pretty good job at keeping my stuff in the light. I’ve had a tendency to be a loner and walk through trial and struggles alone but God is breaking me of that.
I’ve been pretty good as of late in bringing things to Him. He’s also brought some great men of God in my life to lift up my arms. It’s been pretty awesome!
It is an awesome thing to have those their hold up your arms!