King Hezekiah was very ill, in fact he was dying. The LORD sent Isaiah to him to tell him that he would not recover from his illness. Hezekiah was heartbroken and he wept and prayed to the Lord. Verse 3 records his prayer.
“… “Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.”
And God was moved by Hezekiah’s prayer and by his faith. So He added another fifteen years to the king’s life, promised him Jerusalem would be delivered, and gave him a miracle to prove His word. Wow, God didn’t have to do any of that. But He did it, because of the relationship He had with the king. He loved Hezekiah and gave him much more than he asked for. Not only did he heal him, add years to his life, and deliver his city, but He saved Hezekiah as well. Hezekiah wrote a poem after He recovered from his illness and verse 17 reads,
“Behold, it was for my welfare
that I had great bitterness;
but in love you have delivered my life
from the pit of destruction,
for you have cast all my sins
behind your back.”
God didn’t do what He did for Himself. Hezekiah could do nothing for God. He did it out of love and with His beautiful grace.
He doesn’t save you or me because He needs us. He doesn’t save us because He requires us to evangelize or heal, or fight injustice. He saves us because He loves us. He wants to do good things for us. He wants to have a relationship with us. He is not lonely. He is all He needs. He has perfect communion with Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He doesn’t need us at all. He loves us, He wants us, and He enjoys us. Yep! He takes deep pleasure in you. You make Him smile.
You couldn’t praise God when you were one of the walking dead, but now you can. You can praise Him, fellowship with Him and delight in Him. He gave you life, live it. He saved you, thank Him praise Him. Glorify Him.
Verses 18-20 say it this way,
“For Sheol does not thank you;
death does not praise you;
those who go down to the pit do not hope
for your faithfulness.
19 The living, the living, he thanks you,
as I do this day;
the father makes known to the children
your faithfulness.
20 The Lord will save me,
and we will play my music on stringed instruments
all the days of our lives,
at the house of the Lord.”