Tuesday 11/2
2 Kings 20:4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.
Reflection: Notice the descriptions in this passage:
Hezekiah is described as the “ruler of my people.”
The Lord is described as the “God of your father David.”
Healing is described as “being able to go to the house of the Lord.”
If you take out these descriptions, the passage becomes: Go back and tell Hezekiah, “This is what the Lord says: I have heard your prayers and seen your tears; I will heal you.”
Now read the passage with only the descriptions: Go back and tell the ruler of my people, “This is what the God of your father David says: On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.”
Hezekiah’s healing is intertwined with the greater message of salvation. God cares for his people. God remembers his promise of a Davidic king. God’s restoration is described as us dwelling with him.
2 Kings 20:6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”
7 Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.
Reflection: Another layer is added to Hezekiah’s deliverance. God will defend this city just as God has defended the king. The reason is clarified for us: this city is tied to God’s reputation and God’s promise to David.
Several hundred years later, God will do this again when he delivers Jesus and the city of God.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?