II Kings 20:5

"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."

One of the most beautiful answer to prayers in the Bible. Hezekiah has served the Lord. He has been faithful through all the difficulities. But now he is sick and has just received the word from Isaiah, the prophet, that he was to get his house in order because this sickness was unto death. And instead of excepting that word from the prophet, he turned his face to the wall and wept and cried out to God for mercy. And as Isaiah the prophet is leaving the Lord speaks to him in this verse. Turn again - he had performed his command from the Lord, but now there was unfinished business; The Lord in His providence waited for Hezekiah to cry out to Him for healing. And as soon as the Lord heard and saw the tears and prayers of the king He gave command for the prophet to turn again unto him. How often would we seek for these words to be uttered to us. For in being sent to the people, the message is given, "You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting". And after delivering that message, and returning home, to hear from the Lord, 'Turn again'. Jonah heard it, for the people of Nineveh repented. "Turn again", says the Lord, "for I have granted deliverance from the My wrath." And tell Hezekiah the captian of my people - the ordained leader of God's people; The Lord has established an order to honored among His people. For the Lord places who He will in the offices to accomplish His set desire. "He removeth kings and setteth up kings", Daniel declares. He is the captain of Judah, leading them in the right way. We have seen so often the kings and leaders leading in the wrong way. Judgement is great upon them and all their decisions to turn away from the Lord. Just as we are accoutnable for everysoul within our reach, so leaders are given a fuller responsiblity fo the people. Yet, we read in Revelation that there will be no more man as captain, but the Lord Jesus shall ride upon His white horse, for He is the captian of the redeemed. I have heard thy prayer - God declares of His ability to hear the cries of His children; Then put away the doubts and fears of whether the Lord has heard you or not. He has heard the prayers of His people. I would be quick to remind you, it is not the Lord's inability to hear, but our neglect of not praying. The Lord would gladly hear His children, but they are silent. 'I sought for a man to make up the hedge but I could not find one.' Have we not be silent for so long? He has stood patiently waiting for us to cry out in prayer to Him, and yet we have failed. Glory that there is a remnant stirring up prayers to be heard. There is faith and hope, becuase the God Who hears prayers is attentive to our cries. But let us not fail in praying! I have seen thy tears - word study, to see; Just as He is able to hear all things of prayer, so He is able to see all the tears of His children. Again, is there any tears to be seen. Keith Green sings the son, 'My Eyes are Dry', and I wonder if that is not the dominate trait of the Lord's house? Far too often the compassion, care and brokeness of the Lord's people is shallow and selfish. We do not blush, nor come broken hearted that leads to tears of desperation for the lost and the hurting. Hezekiah was crying for himself, and the Lord had compassion on him. There are legitmate needs of the Lord's people and cares that rest sore upon us that moves us to tears. Are your eyes dry? Are you moved at the lost persihing into eternal hell forever? Too long there has not been godly sorrow that leads to repentance by tears and contrition. Behold, I will heal thee - the Lord grants him his petition; Many a child of God afflicted has cried out for healing, and it is has not been granted. It was not the Lord's will. This work of grace and healing was a harmonized miracle between man and God. God waited for His captain to cry out to Him, so that He might show Himself mighty to heal. Hezekiah prevail in prayer. Too often prayers are weak, and not given place to prevail with God. If we don't receive an answer, we simply give up and move on. Dear beleiver, pray until your breath leaves your body or until the Lord returns. Never give up on such things, unless the Lord has revealed His Divine will, for who knoweth if He will return and leave a blessing behind Him?'The Lord is the God that heals and He is able to do all things and nothing is beyond Him. Is our faith strong enough and persisitent enough to achieve glory unto Him? On the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord - word study, go; Here is specific instructions on the healing and a time frame. The Lord knew Hezekiahs place of worship and that he would be allowed to return to that in three days. The Lord is faithful and merciful, let us adore His greatness and celebrate that He hears, sees, heals and answers in mighty ways. And as true believers He knows that we shall also go up unto the house of the Lord to worship and glorify His Name. May this verse accomplish that which the Lord desires in us and through us, in Christ Name, Amen!