He lay immobilized in his beautiful royal bed as recollections of his eventful 14 year old reign flashed like movie scenes in his mind. He remembered the day he was crowned, when he took an oath to defend the throne and follow the ways of his predecessor David who established the kingdom, an oath which he fulfilled with great zeal. His main mission was to restore the Southern Kingdom back to the original state King David had left it, a state which his fathers had seen fit to run down following the trends of their Northern Kingdom brothers. The people had burned incense to foreign gods whose names they couldn’t properly pronounce and every piece of unused real estate was gobbled up by totem poles and altars dedicated to alien idols. Children were sacrificed in fire and prostitution, which was part of pagan worship, was rife. Now since King Hezekiah stepped into authority, all that was history.
Another scene flashed in his mind, that of liberation from the 185,000 strong Assyrian army led by the proud King Sennacherib. He remembered the taunts of the Assyrian commanders being silenced by the catastrophe that the Lord God brought upon their camp, when they set out to invade Judah. The King of Kings had shown the uninvited guests from Nineveh who was in charge. King Hezekiah had seen the defeat of invincible looking enemies, but now the greatest enemy was creeping towards him, ready to pounce when the time came. The great king was about to face Death, an adversary whom he was ill prepared to meet.
As his custom, when he faced problems all the king’s men and all the king’s horses couldn’t solve, he turned to the One who gave him all authority, the Source of Life. He chronicled his faithful service to Him, and begged for more time on his earthly throne. His time was not up yet, he said, and pleaded for mercy from the King of Kings. The Lord’s mercy prevailed, resulting in 15 years of extra time. Enough time to put his house in order before He called him to his eternal home. God confirming his Word, sent a sign. He will cause the shadow on the magnificent staircase of Ahaz built by the wealthy King Solomon to go back 10 steps. Why? Because He can, as He’s Omnipotent.
Now in the second part we’ll see 2 reasons why this present miracle, was a thorn in the flesh. How this magnificent victory became his greatest undoing.
Adapted from 2nd Kings 19,20 and Isaiah 38
Dreams Haven 