An Appeal to the Heart
Excerpt from 2 Kings 20: 1-6
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death . . . . 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. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I will heal you.'" (NIV)
Reflection by Kenneth L. Samuel
Many of us have been taught to believe that the word of God is utterly immutable and eternally unchangeable. According to Scripture, "The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of God stands forever." Consequently, when God speaks, we are only to submit and obey. Any other response to God's word would be sinful and sacrilegious. So we have been taught.
One dark day, Hezekiah received God's word from the prophet Isaiah as he lay at the point of death. It was a directive followed by an ominous declaration: "Prepare yourself to die, because you will not recover from your illness." But instead of submitting to this divine death summons, Hezekiah decided to make an appeal. It was an appeal that did not ignore the justice of God's word, but also did not ignore the mercy of God's heart.
It was an appeal that indicated Hezekiah's belief that the heart of God is even more steadfast than the word of God; that the heart of God is expressed more thoroughly in love and mercy than it is in commandments and dictates.
It was an appeal for God's eternal love to supersede the death sentence of God's temporal word. It was an appeal that lifted before the heart of God the faithful walk of a servant, the whole-hearted devotion of a believer and the noble acts of a leader.
In consideration of this dedicated life, the heart of God was moved. And the heart of God amended the word of God, and God spoke again to Hezekiah through the prophet, Isaiah: "I will heal you."
Prayer
Lord, we have heard your word, but please help us to keep petitioning and listening until we hear and see your heart. Amen.
Excerpt from 2 Kings 20: 1-6
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death . . . . 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. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I will heal you.'" (NIV)
Reflection by Kenneth L. Samuel
Many of us have been taught to believe that the word of God is utterly immutable and eternally unchangeable. According to Scripture, "The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of God stands forever." Consequently, when God speaks, we are only to submit and obey. Any other response to God's word would be sinful and sacrilegious. So we have been taught.
One dark day, Hezekiah received God's word from the prophet Isaiah as he lay at the point of death. It was a directive followed by an ominous declaration: "Prepare yourself to die, because you will not recover from your illness." But instead of submitting to this divine death summons, Hezekiah decided to make an appeal. It was an appeal that did not ignore the justice of God's word, but also did not ignore the mercy of God's heart.
It was an appeal that indicated Hezekiah's belief that the heart of God is even more steadfast than the word of God; that the heart of God is expressed more thoroughly in love and mercy than it is in commandments and dictates.
It was an appeal for God's eternal love to supersede the death sentence of God's temporal word. It was an appeal that lifted before the heart of God the faithful walk of a servant, the whole-hearted devotion of a believer and the noble acts of a leader.
In consideration of this dedicated life, the heart of God was moved. And the heart of God amended the word of God, and God spoke again to Hezekiah through the prophet, Isaiah: "I will heal you."
Prayer
Lord, we have heard your word, but please help us to keep petitioning and listening until we hear and see your heart. Amen.
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