King Hezekiah did really well during most of his reign. His father King Ahaz forsook God and closed the temple, but Hezekiah reopened it and restored worship in Judah. He was devoted to God, humble and obedient for most of his life. It was only at the end that Hezekiah became proud and complacent, and made some sad mistakes.

Hezekiah’s Illness

Hezekiah developed a serious illness and God gave him the courtesy of letting him know through Isaiah that it was time to put his affairs in order. Hezekiah was deeply distressed by this. He turned his face to the wall and wept, then he asked the Lord to remember all the good he had done in his lifetime and spare him.

Isaiah was on his way out of the palace when God gave him a new message for Hezekiah.

“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. I will add fifteen years to your life. 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.” 2 Kings 20:5-6

Isaiah recommended that a poultice of figs be applied to Hezekiah’s boil and he recovered. It was a miracle of grace from God.

God Gives Hezekiah a Sign

For some reason Hezekiah needed more than a promise from God that he was going to live. He also asked for a miraculous sign. God chose the sign he was willing to give, reversing the movement of sunlight back up some steps that served as a sundial at the palace. He moved the direction of the light backward by tens steps, which probably represented ten hours in the day.

There has been a lot of speculation about how God reversed the course of sunlight for a span of ten hours that day. God can do anything, and the witnesses to this miracle saw it happen, but we don’t know how he did it. There is no good scientific explanation, nor has there been any detectable impact on the earth, time, or the universe as a result of this miracle. It was a particular act of God for a particular time.

However, people as far away as Babylon heard about it and they sent envoys to King Hezekiah to ask about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land. (2 Chronicles 32:31) God used that occasion to test what was in Hezekiah’s heart. Would he glorify God who had healed him, or glorify himself as the recipient of the miracle?

Hezekiah’s Pride

“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore God’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.” 2 Chronicles 32:24-26

Hezekiah struggled with self-centered pride the rest of his life. He wrote a poem, recorded in Isaiah 38:9-20, where he expressed his gratitude and humility toward God, but his actions betrayed a selfish and proud heart.

When Babylon sent envoys to inquire into Hezekiah’s illness and recovery, he used the occasion to show off his wealth and well-stocked armory. These were not the actions of a man who wanted God to get all the glory.

Isaiah confronted Hezekiah and the king freely admitted what he had done.

“The prophet asked, ‘What did they see in your palace?’

‘They saw everything in my palace,’ Hezekiah said. ‘There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.’ 2 kings 20:15

Isaiah had bad news for Hezekiah:

” ‘Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left.”  2 Kings 20:16-17

The wealth and the people of Judah were are all going to be captured and taken away. This should have been at least as upsetting to Hezekiah as the news of his own impending death had been, but he seemed not to care.

Hezekiah’s Heart Hardened

God sees the end from the beginning and that may have been why he scheduled Hezekiah’s death for an earlier date than Hezekiah wanted. Maybe God foresaw that Hezekiah would not improve with age. The king begged to be spared from death, and God gave him fifteen more years, but his character crumbled in the extra time God gave him. He became complacent and arrogant.

When Isaiah told Hezekiah that the people of Judah were going to be carried off into exile by the Babylonians after he died, his reply was,

“‘The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,’ . . . for he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’” Isaiah 39:8

Those last fifteen years revealed Hezekiah’s pride and self-centeredness. Perhaps he would have been better off dying at a younger age, when his reputation still sparkled and God was pleased with him.

Hezekiah’s life is a cautionary tale for us. We need to make the most of the years we have, and if we live a long time, we need to keep on living for the Lord.