2 KINGS 20 - 22

Wow! What drama we read today! We see a father who is a tremendously Godly man who has a son that becomes one of the most wicked kings of Judah! We also see God do a miracle unlike anything else recorded in Scripture! Let's take a closer look at what we can learn from today's reading...

What do you do when you’re faced with a desperate situation that can easily turn into a life crisis? Every day people have to deal with unexpected financial challenges that they cannot handle due to job terminations, failing health issues, divorce, and mounting consumer debt. Hezekiah, king of Judah, had to deal with three situations that put him in a desperate position: terminal illness, foreign invasion, and no heir to succeed his throne in his pending death.

The good news in the midst of your desperate situations is that "God can turn your desperate situations around for your good." Therefore, the question remains “What do you do when you find yourself in a desperate situation?”

Today, I want to make three observations from our selected passage of study (Isaiah 38:1-8) concerning this issue.

1) The first observation is that Believers will sometimes face desperate situations in life!

In some Christian circles, there is the misplaced belief that nothing terrible should befall a believer. Nothing can be as far from the truth than this faulty notion. Christians are not exempt from the perils of life. The apostle Paul had to deal with many trials and challenges (2 Corinthians 12:22-28). Additionally, when our country faced one of the most tragic events in our history on September 11, 2001, and over three thousand Americans died as a result of terrorist attacks from hijacked airliners, many who died on that tragic day were Christians.

Hezekiah was told by God through the prophet Isaiah to get his family affairs in order, for his sickness was terminal. To make matters even worse, Hezekiah did not have an heir who would ascend to the throne at his untimely death. Further, Hezekiah is being threatened by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, with invasion. Hezekiah was faced with a desperate situation: he was terminally ill, without an heir to his throne, and on the brink of invasion by Assyria. The question that is now on the floor is how does Hezekiah handle his personal crisis (desperate situation)?

Our second observation gives us the answer.

2) Believers must face desperate situations with earnest PRAYER!

Hezekiah dealt with his desperate situation through earnest prayer! James informs us through his book that “the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16d KJV). Our forefathers coined the expression “Prayer changes things.” What do we know about Hezekiah’s prayer? Isaiah cites several features to Hezekiah’s prayer that is most interesting. First, Hezekiah reminded God of his obedience to the truth of His Word; second, Hezekiah possessed a whole-hearted devotion to the things of God; and finally, Hezekiah was a faithful servant.

God spoke to Isaiah before he could leave the court of the king and gave him a word for Hezekiah. Isaiah told Hezekiah that the Lord had heard his prayer and had seen his tears God extended his life by 15 years. If we find ourselves in a desperate situation, what will we say to God in prayer? Can we call Him into remembrance of our service and heart’s spiritual disposition before Him? We can’t demand God to move on behalf of our service, but we sure can remind Him of it.

Prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of the saints. One of the most powerful prayers ever prayed by a saint is recorded in Scripture, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30) uttered by Peter. Three simple words spoken (prayed) in earnest in a desperate situation saved Peter’s life. What’s the point? Pray, Saints, pray! Pray until God moves on your behalf. Jesus told the story of a very harsh judge who would not address a widow’s complaint for justice. However, she kept worrying him. The judge decided to respond to her need because of her persistence (Luke 18:1-8). The moral of the parable is that Christ encourages us to stay before the Lord in prayer. Don’t abandon your petitioning of God. He’ll answer. Therefore, cultivate a lifestyle of consistent prayer.

Now, let’s take a look at our final observation.

3) Believers must never lose HOPE in desperate situations while they trust in God for deliverance!

Our God is a miracle worker! After Isaiah gave Hezekiah a word from the Lord concerning his pending healing from his terminal illness, he informed him of the sign that God would perform to validate his promise of deliverance for him and the nation. Isaiah told him that the shadow on Ahaz’s sundial would reverse itself, moving backwards ten steps. This prophetic word to Hezekiah is astonishing. For a shadow to move backwards ten steps possibly implies that the Earth’s rotation was reversed or that God caused some type of refraction of the rays from the sun. According to scoffers, the former would be catastrophic for the earth to reverse its rotation; however, that’s why it’s a miracle and God is not limited to the natural laws of the universe that He created and controls. He can suspend those laws because He is omnipotent.

That’s the whole point of the miracle that God is in control and that there is nothing that He can do that contradicts His Divine nature. Therefore, if God can do this, He can certainly turn your situation around. What is it that needs turning around in your life? A terminal illness, a wayward child, a marriage that is on the rocks, a financial collapse you name it and He can turn it around! God specializes in performing miracles on behalf of His people. Can I get a witness? In the Old Testaments we see Daniel in the lion’s den; the deliverance of the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; Jonah in the belly of a great fish and more. Therefore, stand firm in your faith in God’s ability to deliver you, and you don’t need a sign. As New Testament believers, we have been called to walk in faith, which means we trust in God’s power and ability to bring His promises to pass, quiet assurance!

God bless!