II Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please 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. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.”
It is interesting that three times in a row our passages on God hearing have to do with the life and reign of King Hezekiah. The ultimate outcome of this account is highly debated: "Would it have been better for the kingdom if Hezekiah had died at that point?" That's one of those questions for heaven, but this was not all about Hezekiah. The prophesy of his healing is also tied into God's promise to deliver the nation from Assyria. By healing Hezekiah, God confirmed the greater promise, increasing the faith not only of him, but the whole nation. God's hearing and acting can be contagious. We need to ask, trust, and tell others when and how He has heard our cries.
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