2 Kings 20

2Ki 20:1-3 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.' " (2) Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, (3) "Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

In our Jr. High class we have been talking about God’s intended ending for our lives. God, the Great Director, has laid out each one of lives with a unique and purposeful ending. We as humans simply do not like the idea of our lives coming to an end especially if one does not know the Lord. James tells us, “You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord…” God had an intended end to Hezekiah’s life, yet, because of Hezekiah’s failure to recognize this, his life was extended by the power of God and we find a very sad ending to Hezekiah’s life.

Hezekiah is healed and he has nothing to worry about because of the promises of the Lord. Hezekiah foolishly shows off his kingdom to a representative from Assyria. This rep would later tell Babylon of the great riches of Israel. This would lead to Israel’s downfall. This is just the first calamity that could have been avoided.

If you were to read the next chapter, we find a twelve year-old by the name of Manasseh becoming king. He was the son of Hezekiah, and he lived a very wicked life. The first few verses tells us all about him. Now think, if he is twelve and he is the son of Hezekiah, than had Hezekiah died this guy would of never been born. That is the second problem that could have been avoided.

2 Chronicles gives us a little more background concerning these last days of Hezekiah. 32:24-26 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. (25) But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. (26) Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Gang, remember the Lord knows what He is doing. Secondly, remember that when we mess things up, God has already established another plan to restore us. Romans 8:28 is so encouraging yet it comes with one catch, we must be in love with Jesus!