I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears

....; surely I will heal you (2 Kings 20:5). Hezekiah was one of the few kings in that day who “Did right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Kings 18:3). It was time for him to die,  and the Lord had sent Isaiah the prophet to tell him to put his ouse in order. Hezekiah had petitioned the Lord  reminding Him “how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.”  And the Lord had sent Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah the title verse (2 Kings 20:1-5). There are two Scriptures that come to mind as I meditate on these things. The first, speaking of Jesus is “He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15).

It is interesting to ponder in what sense the fear of death subjects us to bondage. What is clear, is that the fact of death,  which applies to all mankind, this subject is avoided like the plague. It's called denial!  And this brings the second Scripture to mind “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgement” (Hebrews 9:27). So unless the Lord comes back first (1 Thessalonians 4:15) we must all face death.  The appointed time had come for Hezekiah, and it is interesting that his prayers, petitions and tears change the Lord's mind, and he was granted another fifteen years (20:6).  It is interesting that we can change the Lord's mind by our prayers and tears, but it is not always for the best. This good king Hezekiah made a mistake in his extra fifteen years,  that would cost his descendants dearly (20:16-18). Sometimes the Lord will grant our requests  heart, but bring leanness to our soul (Psalm 106:15 NKJV).

The title verse, or rather an extract from its parallel, is one of many applications of His Word, that the Lord has given to me as a  promise.  “I have heard your pryer, I have seen your tears, I will deliver you (Isaiah 38:5, 6).  Such a promise functions as a prophetic word to oneself.   His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27), and when we follow Him (that is what sheep do) we will hear His voice, He will lead us into green pastures, He will restore our soul etc. (Psalm 23), and He gives exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter  1:4).  The fulfillment may be delayed, as it is with me, but He is not a man that He should lie and He will fulfill what He promised  (Numbers 23:19; 1 Kings 8:4). And He has a refining process going on in the waiting!

Father, I want to thank You this morning that Your promises are true, and that You are not slack concerning Your promises (2 Peter 3:9), and You will fulfill what You say You will do. So I pray for myself and all those reading this blog, that You will show us what You want to do as we press in to You, and that You will give us the strength and the patience to wait patiently for You. We want to soar with You Lord (Isaiah 40:31) in Jesus Name Amen