Sermon Outline, Fifth Sunday of Easter

Peter J. Leithart, May 08, 2006

INTRODUCTION
Hezekiah is one of the great heroes of Kings. His response to his sickness shows his faith in Yahweh, and Yahweh's favor to him. But he shows his treasures to a Babylonian delegation, a prelude to Babylon's later invasion.

THE TEXT
"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 Kings 20:1-21).

SICK KING, PRAYING KING
By and large, sick kings in Kings die (1 Kings 14; 2 Kings 1), and their dynasties shortly follow. Consultation with a prophet is often part of the story (1 Kings 14; 2 Kings 8:7-15). This story is similar, but breaks the rhythm. Hezekiah doesn't have to send for a prophet; Isaiah comes without bidding. When Isaiah initially brings a message of death (v. 1), however, Hezekiah doesn't just roll over and die. He prays, something no other sick king has done (vv. 2-6; cf. 2 Kings 19).

Turns out, it's worth a try. Hezekiah has been accused of praying in a self-interested and even self-righteous fashion, but this kind of prayer is common in the Psalms. He calls on Yahweh to remember his faithfulness, and to deal kindly with him. This is not self-righteousness; Yahweh promises to guard, protect, and heal those who cling to Him in hope and faith. Hezekiah has done that, and it's simple faith to expect Yahweh to keep His side of the covenant. Hezekiah's prayer is not cold; he weeps, and Yahweh takes note.

The major reversal of the typical pattern, of course, is that Hezekiah is healed. Isaiah returns with a promise of 15 additional years, which matches the promise that the city will be saved. It is another "third day" resurrection (v. 8). Given that Hezekiah is facing death, it surprising to learn that he's only suffering from a boil (v. 7). Boils were among the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 9:8), and among the curses of Deuteronomy (28:28-29). The boil is a sign that Israel is threatened as Egypt was, and that her king is threatened with disfiguring skin disease. But he is healed, and Israel is delivered once again from "Egypt." Hezekiah is healed with a cake of figs, a sign that instead of pestilence and boils the land will be filled with vineyards and fig trees.

If Hezekiah is already healed, why does he need a sign? His skin blemish prevents him from entering the temple, and normally he would be able to enter only after an 8-day ritual (Leviticus 14). So he needs a sign that he can enter the temple early (on the third day). Isaiah promises a sign that represents what happens to Hezekiah: His life was moving toward evening, but the Lord reversed the lengthening shadow and gave him a new life. God is not bound by time, and can "speed" the clock of cleansing as readily as He can reverse the process of death. The steps of Ahaz probably refer to his altar, and the sign shows that the kingdom of Judah, on its deathbed because of Ahaz's idolatries, has another chance.

BABYLON
The chronology of the passage suggests that Hezekiah meets with the Babylonians to buy protection from Assyria. This reverses the situation of Solomon. When Sheba came to visit, she was impressed and reinforced Israel's preeminence. Now, Babylon's visit is a sign of Hezekiah's subordination to the rising Gentile empire. He "hears" the Babylonians (v. 13), a bad idea for a king who is supposed to listen instead to Yahweh's voice. Having listened to them, he makes them "see" his treasures.