ISAIAH 38:2-3

It must have been off-putting to say the least, to receive such a dreadful message from the prophet “. . . Thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order: for thou shalt die and not live” (Isaiah 38:1). I wonder what I would do if I received such a disheartening message. I know I am a child of God, saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost-filled, and fully committed to Jesus from my youth, but we just need to get real. Who really wants to die? Who wants to die in their prime? We know death is inevitable, but for most of us, the gift of life is beyond precious. As difficult as life may become, we all really still want to live and remain here for as long as we can in the land of the living.

Instead of coming with a positive, hopeful message of healing and deliverance, the prophet came with an unwelcome message of doom and gloom. There was no hope or cheer or encouragement in his message. It was dry, harsh, and cold. It was sudden and lacking in any type of solace. One can only hope that the prophet said other words to King Hezekiah before he spoke such a discomforting message to him, to prepare him for such distressing news – “Set your house in order – organize your affairs, resolve any personal conflicts, seriously prepare for the future – you are going to die and not live.”

However, instead of leaving his life and fate in the hands of the prophet, King Hezekiah decided to do his own praying and petitioning. He decided to plead his own case. Left alone, without prophetic consolation, he prayed alone! Sometimes, it’s better to pray alone! With all the odds stacked against him, he dramatically turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord (v.2). He turned off or turned away from every distraction and intensely, intently, fervently prayed. He hears the message of the prophet, but he goes to the God of the prophet for relief and resolution.

Sick and weakened, depressed and traumatized, instead of simply giving up, he purposefully positioned himself to pray and petition. Certainly, we need the prayers of those we love, but there come those times when none can present our cases to the Most High like we can. As Hezekiah prayed, the reader can feel the intensity of his prayer. This was certainly no dry, routined, casual prayer. Brethren, life can get serious! This was the prayer of an earnest soul in the very throes of death. The gravity of the situation was matched by a prayer that was just as serious. Hezekiah reminded God of his life of steadfast devotion and righteousness. The prayer was short and intense, but his prayer was heard. He was given 15 more precious years!

Brethren, let us so live that when we are confronted with the most unfavorable and distressing news, we can yet pray and petition the Almighty on our own behalf. He didn’t tell God what to do. He simply reminded God of how he walked before Him in truth and with a perfect heart did that which was good in His sight. He simply prayed and wept bitterly before the Lord, and God answered as He saw best. We can’t tell God what to do, but we simply pray and petition based on a life steeped in the worship and adoration of God. God answers as He wills. We can’t tell God what to do!