What is the meaning of 2 Kings 20:2? Then Hezekiah • The word “Then” links directly to Isaiah’s sobering message, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die; you will not recover’ ” (2 Kings 20:1). Hezekiah does not argue with the prophet; instead, he responds immediately. • Earlier Scripture paints Hezekiah as a man of steadfast trust: “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah either before him or after him was like him” (2 Kings 18:5). His character explains why his first instinct when crisis strikes is to seek God rather than human help. • This swift turn toward the LORD mirrors his earlier action during Assyria’s siege (2 Kings 19:1). Consistency in crisis reveals genuine faith. Turned his face to the wall • He physically shifts position, likely to avoid distraction and fix his thoughts solely on God. Privacy matters when pouring out the heart (see Matthew 6:6, where Jesus commends secret prayer). • Turning away from people—Isaiah, attendants, even the open room—symbolizes turning away from earthly resources. Like Ahab who “turned his face toward the wall” in sulking (1 Kings 21:4), Hezekiah turns, but with a godly purpose. • The gesture speaks of determination: “Search for Him with all your heart and all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). Concentrated attention signals earnestness to heaven. And prayed to the LORD • Prayer is Hezekiah’s reflex, not a last resort. The same king had already laid Sennacherib’s blasphemous letter before the LORD (2 Kings 19:14-19). He knows God hears. • He petitions the covenant Name—“the LORD” (YHWH)—reminding us that prayer rests on relationship, not ritual. Psalm 34:4 echoes his experience: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me.” • Scripture ties effective prayer to righteousness: “The prayer of a righteous person has great power to prevail” (James 5:16). Hezekiah approaches with a clear conscience, expecting real help. Saying • The verb introduces the specific words recorded in verse 3, but even here we glimpse a principle: articulate requests matter to God. Hezekiah will pray, “O LORD, please remember how I have walked before You faithfully...” (2 Kings 20:3). • By framing his plea around “remember,” he echoes saints like Nehemiah: “Remember me for this, O my God” (Nehemiah 13:14). He appeals to God’s covenant faithfulness and his own sincere walk. • The openness of “saying” affirms that God invites candid speech. No formula is required—just truth spoken from the heart (Psalm 62:8). summary Hezekiah’s response to impending death is swift, focused, and faith-filled. He deliberately turns from human distraction, fixes his gaze on the wall—and thereby on God alone—then pours out a direct, heartfelt petition. The verse showcases how a life rooted in trust reacts under pressure: by seeking the LORD immediately, privately, and confidently, expecting the living God to hear and act. |
    |