2 Kings 20:2-3

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, “Remember, O 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.

As “clouds return after rain,” so do troubles follow each other frequently in rapid succession. Great was the affliction of Hezekiah at the time of Sennacherib’s invasion; and no sooner was he delivered from that, than he was attacked with a deadly malady, and had a message from the Lord that he must die!

Under this new trouble he betook himself, as he had done also on the former occasion, to fervent prayer; and in this prayer he made a most solemn appeal to God, an appeal which needs to be well considered.

We will notice,

I. The occasion of Hezekiah’s prayer.

A message had been sent him from the Lord to set his house in order, and to prepare for speedy death.

Now this would be a solemn warning to any man: “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die! You will not recover.”

There is in every man an instinctive dread of death; and more especially to those who regard it in its true light. Who can think of going to the tribunal of a just and holy God to give an account of all that he has done in the body, whether good or evil, and to receive from God a sentence of everlasting happiness or misery—and not tremble at such a prospect?

This thought is as crucial to the prince as the peasant; and though many people treat it as fit only to be regarded by the poor, or by the sick and aged—yet, when the hour of death draws near, all feel its momentous importance! Or, if any are hardened enough to disregard it then, their delusion ceases the very instant that death has executed on them its commission!

But it was peculiarly distressing to Hezekiah.

He had begun a great and glorious reformation, and had fondly hoped to see it completed in the land. Besides, he had many plans for the temporal prosperity of his subjects; which now he had no prospect of carrying into execution. To relinquish all these projects was painful in the extreme. It evidently was not the mere fear of death that stimulated him to pray; nor does he appear to have entertained any doubt about the safety of his own soul. It was for God, and for the Jewish nation, that he felt concerned; and doubtless, in proportion to his zeal for God, and the love he bore to man, would be his grief at the tidings of such a premature and unseasonable termination of his life; nor do we wonder that under such circumstances he should “make supplication to his God with strong crying and tears.”

Yet, until it is explained, we shall not easily account for,

II. The appeal of Hezekiah’s prayer.

It does at first sight appear like the Pharisaic boast, “I thank you, O God, that I am not as other men.” But, in truth, it was a plea, with which his prayer was enforced; a plea, like that of David, “Preserve my soul, for I am holy, Psalm 86:2.” In this appeal he humbly declared before God.

1. The use which he had hitherto made of life.

From the first moment of his coming to the throne, he had set himself to suppress idolatry, and to reform the nation. Of this he had the testimony of his own conscience; and this gave him much comfort in his soul, 2 Corinthians 1:12; together with confidence in urging his petitions before God, 1 John 3:21-22.

But there was in this plea a reference to an express promise made to David—a promise, the accomplishment of which Hezekiah was now particularly authorized to ask, and to expect God had assured David that “if his children should walk before him in truth, there should not fail to be one of them to sit upon the throne of Israel, 1 Kings 2:4.” But Hezekiah had walked before God in truth, and yet was about to die without leaving any child to succeed him in his throne. Manasseh was not born until three years afterwards. Compare 2 Kings 20:6 with 21:1. This under any circumstances would have been a great affliction; but it was peculiarly afflictive, now that Hezekiah was in the midst of all his plans for the welfare of the nation, and had no prospect of a successor who would carry them on.

Hence there was a propriety in this appeal, far beyond what has been generally supposed; for if we have complied with any conditions on which a promise is suspended, we may justly urge it with God as a plea for the accomplishment of his promise.

2. The end for which he desired a continuance of life.

His desire was, not that he might have a protracted enjoyment of earthly things, but that he might have further opportunities of serving God. This appears from the thanksgiving which he uttered on his recovery, Isaiah 38:18-19. This was a legitimate ground of desiring life. Paul, though he “desired to depart and to be with Christ, which was far better,” yet was willing to stay a longer time here below, because it was “needful for the Church of Christ.”

What better plea then could be urged than this? ‘O my God, you have put me into a situation wherein I can serve you to great advantage; and you know I have no desire but to advance your glory in the world. O do not take me away, until I have been enabled to render you all the service of which you have made me capable!’ Such was David’s plea, Psalm 30:8-9; and it may well be urged by all who desire to fulfill the true ends of life.

Address:

1. To those who are in health and strength.

Who can tell, how soon the message may be sent to you, “Put your house in order, because you are going to die! You will not recover.” You may be in the prime of life as Hezekiah was, for he was only forty years of age. Or, like him, you may possess great wealth and honor; or may be engaged in pursuits of vast utility to the world. But death will not spare us on any of these accounts, if it has received its commission to cut us down.

What if the message were now delivered unto you: “You are going to die! You will not recover!” Are you ready to face the final judgement? Can you appeal to the heart-searching God that you have walked as in his presence, and endeavored with sincerity of heart to approve yourselves to him? Has the doing of his will in all things been the one object of your life? Above all, inquire whether Christ has been precious to you? And whether you have lived by faith in him? And whether you have truly devoted yourselves to him?

2. Those who have recovered from sickness, or have escaped any particular danger.

Why has God spared or restored you, but that you might live henceforth to his glory? Perhaps under the apprehension of death, you determined with yourselves that you would give yourselves up to God. Now then remember the vows that are upon you. God heard your prayer, and the prayers of others for you, that it might be seen whether you would serve him or not. O beware how you abuse his patience towards you; beware how you make use of life only to “add sin to sin,” and to “treasure up wrath against the day of wrath.”

There is a great work lying before you, and but little time to do it in. To have the text realized in you, to have it realized in all its parts; and to have such an evidence of it in your heart and life, as to be able to appeal to God respecting it—this is no easy matter; nor is it a work that ought to be deferred one single moment.

Consider that you are still as much exposed to death as ever. Though restored, you have no promise of life for fifteen years to come—no, nor for fifteen days or hours. Improve then the present hour, “Walk not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time,” that at whatever hour the heavenly Bridegroom may arrive, you may be found ready, and be counted worthy to sit down with him at his marriage-feast in Heaven!

Charles Simeon