INTRODUCTION: Hezekiah was a great king; but, as with David, his greatness was marred by a time of failure. In this chapter, we see a great miracle performed on his behalf in giving him fifteen additional years of life. But this blessing led to his downfall as he was lifted up with pride. In his haughtiness he showed off his kingdom and its riches to the very people who would take Judah captive nearly a hundred years later.

1. HEZEKIAH’S PRAYER FOR LIFE (2 Kings 20:1-3 [1] In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. [2] Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, [3] I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
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1. Report of Impending Death (2 Kings 20:1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
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1. Hezekiah’s sickness unto death
2. Isaiah’s word from the Lord
1. Set thine house in order (compare with Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 17:23And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
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2. Thou shalt die and not live.
2. Prayer for Extended Life (2 Kings 20:2-3 [2] Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, [3] I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
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1. His actions (2 Kings 20:2Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
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1. He turned his face to the wall (contrast Ahab’s actions in 1 Kings 21:4And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
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2. He prayed unto the Lord.
2. His prayer (2 Kings 20:3I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
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1. He beseeched God to remember.
2. He spoke of how he had walked before God.
1. In truth
2. With a perfect heart
3. He spoke of how he had done good in the sight of the Lord.
4. He wept sore before the Lord (Psalm 6:6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
   See All...; Psalm 39:12Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
   See All...; Jeremiah 14:17Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
   See All...; Lamentations 2:19Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the LORD: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
   See All...; Lamentations 3:48-50 [48] Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. [49] Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission. [50] Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
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2. HEZEKIAH’S GIFT OF LIFE (2 Kings 20:4-7 [4] And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, [5] Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. [6] And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. [7] And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
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1. Response to Hezekiah’s Prayer (2 Kings 20:4-5 [4] And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, [5] Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
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1. The speed of God’s answer (2 Kings 20:4-5 [4] And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, [5] Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
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1. Before Isaiah had left the middle court (2 Kings 20:4And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
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2. The word of the Lord came to him (2 Kings 20:4-5 [4] And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, [5] Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
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1. Turn again (2 Kings 20:5Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
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2. Tell Hezekiah the captain of God’s people (2 Kings 20:5Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
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2. The answer to Hezekiah’s prayer (2 Kings 20:5Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
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1. I have heard thy prayer.
2. I have seen thy tears.
3. I will heal thee. Note: On the third day, Hezekiah will be well enough to go to the house of the Lord.
2. Promise of Additional Blessings (2 Kings 20:6And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
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1. Fifteen years added to his life
2. Deliverance from the king of Assyria
3. Defense of the city of Jerusalem by God
3. Provision of External Means of Healing (2 Kings 20:7And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
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1. Isaiah laid a lump of figs on the boil.
2. Hezekiah recovered.
3. HEZEKIAH’S SIGN OF CONFIRMATION (2 Kings 20:8-11 [8] And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? [9] And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? [10] And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. [11] And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
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1. Request for a Sign (2 Kings 20:8And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
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1. That the Lord will heal him
2. That he will go up to the temple on the third day
2. Offer of a Choice of Signs (2 Kings 20:9And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
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1. The shadow to go forward (or down) ten degrees
2. The shadow to go back ten degrees
3. Choice of the Harder Sign (2 Kings 20:10And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
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1. The shadow going down (or forward) was too easy.
2. Hezekiah chose the shadow going backward.
4. Granting of the Chosen Sign (2 Kings 20:11And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
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1. Isaiah prayed unto the Lord.
2. The shadow went back ten degrees.
3. On the sundial of Ahaz; Note: it is interesting that God would use the sundial of Ahaz to show this great sign when it was Ahaz who refused to ask for a sign when he was asked to do so (Isaiah 7:10-14 [10] Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, [11] Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. [12] But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. [13] And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? [14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
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4. HEZEKIAH’S VISIT FROM BABYLON (2 Kings 20:12-19 [12] At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. [13] And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. [14] Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. [15] And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. [16] And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. [17] Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. [18] And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. [19] Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
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1. Ambassadors from Babylon (2 Kings 20:12At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
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1. They brought letters and presents.
2. They had heard of Hezekiah’s sickness.
2. Total Revealing of Possessions (2 Kings 20:13And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
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1. Hezekiah hearkened unto them; Note: evidently, they asked to see the glories of Jerusalem.
2. Hezekiah showed them all things.
3. Inquiry from the Prophet Isaiah (2 Kings 20:14-15 [14] Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. [15] And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
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1. What did these men say? (2 Kings 20:14Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
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2. From where did these men come? (2 Kings 20:14Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
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3. What have these men seen? (2 Kings 20:15And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
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4. Word of the Lord from Isaiah (2 Kings 20:16-18 [16] And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. [17] Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. [18] And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
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1. All the things of Judah will be carried into Babylon (2 Kings 20:17Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
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2. Your descendents will be made eunuchs in Babylon (2 Kings 20:18And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
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5. Attitude of Resignation in Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:19Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
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1. The word of the Lord is good.
2. If there is peace and truth in my days (compare with the attitude of Eli when told of the destruction of his line in 1 Samuel 3:16-18 [16] Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. [17] And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. [18] And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
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3. The parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 32 makes some important points:
1. Concerning the Babylonian ambassadors, the Lord left Hezekiah to try him and see what was in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
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2. But Hezekiah humbled himself because of his pride of heart and God withheld His wrath during his days (2 Chronicles 32:26Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
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5. HEZEKIAH’S FURTHER ACTS AND DEATH (2 Kings 20:20-21 [20] And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? [21] And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
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1. The Acts of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:20And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 32:27-30 [27] And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; [28] Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. [29] Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. [30] This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
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1. His might
2. His building projects
2. The Death of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:21And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
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1. Hezekiah slept with his fathers.
2. Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

CONCLUSION: The blessing of answered prayer turns out to be the downfall of Hezekiah’s life. His life is extended, but the strength of his pride weakens the kingdom.