This is the Holy Spirit’s recording of Hezekiah’s faithfulness and integrity 

2 Kings 18:1 – He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD….”
2 Kings 18:5-7 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.

Hezekiah came to the throne as King of Judah at age 25, reigning 29 years until his death.  He was one of Judah’s only “righteous and just” kings, and led his people by example to be faithful to Father God. He was known as the King who “trusted in the Lord”, held fast and followed Him, and as a result the Lord was with him and gave him victory. We pick up Hezekiah’s story 14 years into his reign, at age 39.

2 Kings 20:1 Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death…This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.

Father God directs Isaiah tell Hezekiah to …

“Put your house in order,
because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

The Lord had promised David concerning his son Solomon and Solomon’s offspring.

2 Samuel 7:14-16 – When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever”.

If Hezekiah died at that point, he would not have fulfilled the promise.

God did not ‘try’ Hezekiah. He was stating a fact to Isaiah.
If there was an affliction which was threatening Hezekiah’s life, there must have been a legal right for Satan to take it.

In this situation, what was most likely a cursing from a member of his kingdom, or that such a member was a part of his kingdom at all, provided an open door for Sennacherib’s witchcraft and the Satanic influence of the ruling principalites of Babylon or Tyre & Sidon, which Sennacherib the King of Assyria had recently conquered.

Father God was letting Hezekiah know that unless he had the express permission from Hezekiah through free will to deal with the affliction, he would not live.

2 Kings 20:1-7 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
“Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.”
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:
“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’ “
Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.

So, what did Hezekiah do?

Hezekiah prayed!

The word is described in the Hebrew as a verb, and the noun for prayer and is most accurately termed “intercessory prayer” .

The Word records that he used our Lord God’s name in full (the translation “LORD” in all caps denotes this, and it was unusual). It showed that he had a real relationship with Father God, as the habit or custom was not to use Father God’s full name Yah-weh

He turned to the wall – he was most likely surrounded by courtiers – for privacy with Father God.

He wept openly, loudly and profusely. He re-stated His allegiance to Father God and that he was faithful and had trusted in Father God, and had led his people in the ways of the Lord.

The response from Father God was immediate.

Hezekiah was healed from systemic failure: a deliverance from a terminal illness. He went from his deathbed to being able to go to the temple in 3 days. The fig poultice is only significant,  because the Holy Spirit records it. The power was Father God’s.

 In Chapter 1 of Job, he is described as “the greatest of all the men of the east.” In Father God’s own words, in verse 8, “there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil”

We see Father God point Job out to Satan.

Satan identifies that Job has things ‘sweet’ that he has special consideration from Father God – and claims that if his family and possessions were otherwise, even he would curse Father God. Satan asks to prove his point.

We know that there has to be a sin for the consequence of a cursing – oppression from Satan, to alight. We are told that:

Job 1:4-5 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

This passage identifies that:

• Job’s sons were in their own homes, and therefore not under Job’s federal headship
• The daughters  were unrighteous in their activities
• Job would not have “continually” sacrifice on their behalf if they had been righteous .

Therefore, Satan had the legal right to oppress them. God’s response to Satan’s challenge was:

Job 1:12  And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

It is generally believed that the affliction lasted 6-8 months. During this time, Job spends 30 odd chapters declaring to his friends how righteous he has been and is – “Pride of life”.   

Finally in Chapters 32 to 36  Elihu, a young man who had been listening to this, rebukes Job and his friends and calls them on their Pride, Self-righteousness, error; and then exhorts the Glory of Father God. 

Then Chapters 37 to 41 Lord God Almighty answers Job – and His sarcasam is evident.

Chapter 42 records Job’s Repentance confession, intercession for his friends, and the Lord’s forgiveness and His restoration of Job.

Father God restored him with double blessing.

One would suggest that almost 6000 years on, with the satanic systems so deeply entrenched in the world today and the generations of ancestral baggage that we move forward with, that the likelihood of any of us meeting the sinless nature of Job that would stand up to Satan’s pedantic scrutiny is unlikely.

So, how could we possibly think that we would be ‘special’ enough to be singled out as an object lesson in righteousness by Father God, to Satan?

The last person that happened to was the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah 53:5 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24  – Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

 

 

So, are we calling Father God a liar?

Read Job 40 for a sobering comment, that should put this crippling false humility to bed.

Job 40:6-8 – Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

The circumstances of the “Thorn” have had people musing over the centuries with all sorts of explanations. From, preaching not to Jews but to the Gentiles, the Lack of defferential treatment that he is given as an elder,  to contempory times where Paul is murmured to be homosexual … But, none the less, bought into submission  2 Corinthians 12:6-9

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In the preceding chapters Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, defending his previous visit, iterating his reluctance to censure them, and declaring his love for them. From chapters 10 to 13 Paul is defending his apostleship and pastoral leadership of the Church. This is to an audience who have little regard for him and his position as apostle, and are continuing to fornicate and boast of the supernatural extravagance of their fellowship and ministry. In light of this, the introduction to visions is a wistful establishment of Chapter 12. This passage, written in the third person, is recounting his own experience of being taken up into the third heaven, which he has kept relatively quiet about.

2 Corinthians 12:1(a) Paul opens with “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory” and then goes on to describe the scant details of the vision.

This chapter provides an illustration of his heart’s position of humility.

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

 A thorn in the flesh was GIVEN to Paul.
“He does not say, ‘There was inflicted upon me a thorn in the flesh,’ but ‘There was given to me.’” (Spurgeon)

A messenger of Satan was used for divine purpose
Imagine Satan gleefully dispatching troops with God’s permission to afflict Paul. You can imagine the lengths he would go to maximise the damage.

There are 3 aspects to the “Thorn.”

• Physical – the thorn in the flesh, which is obviously visible
• Mental – the messenger of Satan (i.e. the battle is in the mind)
• Spiritual – the three prayerful petitions for relief, for which the prayer is granted – but not in the manner in which Paul had asked. This thorn is used as a bridle to keep Paul meek. The Lord declares to Paul that he is furnished with His grace to withstand the oppression of the “Thorn”.

This is important because it references the 3 types of healing, and their reflection in the body of Christ, the Church

• Physical healing is a blessing, a mercy and a sign and testimony to God’s glory and sovereignty
• Emotional healing, which supports unity within the Body of Christ
• Spiritual healing, which is the deliverance from Satan’s leaseholding at will and the foundation of our righteous and Holy walk with Father God.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

As per Romans 8:28, we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Paul uses this experience to humble himself more than ever, and if you continue with the rest of the chapters you will see the extent of this in context.

What does this mean for us?

If we take the example of Paul in context  and completeness, considering our own life-event/conversion-event/thorn-receiving-and-church-ministry-events … are we equivalent? Is our position of maintaining the thorn in our flesh one of pridefulness or humility?

Interesting point to note:

In Job, pride, specifically its representation in leviathan, is described:

Job 41:1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

Job was another illustration of prideful self-righteousness bought into submission

Amen

‘Timothy 5:23 – Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

This scripture seems to polarise people in two ways – it either affirms for them that infirmities are the lot of a Christian, or gives Spirit-filled Christians the “scriptural largess” to “socially” drink alcohol.

That Timothy was ill because it was Father God’s will is a spurious argument on several levels. Paul is quite clearly making a recommendation to Timothy to guard against being unwell. If it was God’s will for Timothy to be unwell, why was Paul contradicting Father God?

Timothy is being advised here to use wine for its antiseptic qualities, quite possibly to guard against drinking contaminated water.

On the second point , when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, Revelation 1:6 tells us that we are Priests and Kings.  Priests and Kings are to remain drink free and sober.

In addition, the Holy Spirit is the new wine, and we are told not to put new wine into old skins. ‘Old skins’ refers to our ‘old man’ (Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22 and Luke 5:33-39.)

Proverbs 31 indicates that strong drink should be given to a person on the dying, while wine to the heavy of heart. But in the same passage it says that neither Kings nor Princes should drink.

In 1 Timothy 3, Deacons are “…not given to much wine…”

There are over 40 verses in both the Old and the New Testaments either commanding or advising not to drink, and identifying the consequences of drinking.

Leviticus 10:8 – And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

Ezekiel 44:21 Nor shall any of the priests drink wine when they enter the inner court.

Numbers 6:1-4  – Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the LORD, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes.

Proverbs 31:4-5  – It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Isaiah 5:22 –  Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink,

Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.

Habakkuk 2:15  – Woe to you who make your neighbors drink, Who mix in your venom even to make them drunk So as to look on their nakedness!

Luke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

Romans 13:13 – Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 11:20-21 – Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:18 – And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

1 Thessalonians 5:7-8 – For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Titus 2:3 – Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,

1 Timothy 3:2-3 – An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

1 Timothy 3:8 – Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

Titus 1:7 – For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,