Warriors Arise: March 31, 2022
Isaiah 38:1-6 (NKJV) In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. 6 I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ’
Was the word from Isaiah wrong? Or did the word from Isaiah have to be said so Hezekiah would turn to God to be his deliverer and healer etc. There are times in our sickness we can turn to other people, doctors, try everything everyone suggests. But to no avail. We get bitter in the depths of our soul. Read what Hezekiah recorded about his miserable situation. He did not think he would live through this. He got bitter and mad at God. So, why was Isaiah sent? Maybe God was honoring Hezekiah's wish to be dead. The children of Israel condemned themselves to die in the desert, that was not God's plan. They proclaimed that over themselves and it became a self fulfilling prophesy. Hezekiah seems to be prophseying over himself doom, gloom and death.
Isaiah 38:9-20 (NKJV) This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: 10 I said, “In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.” 11 I said, “I shall not see Yah, The Lord in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world. 12 My life span is gone, Taken from me like a shepherd's tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me. 13 I have considered until morning— Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me.14 Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove;
My eyes fail from looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; Undertake for me! 15 “What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul. 16 O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these things is the life of my spirit; So You will restore me and make me live. 17 Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 18 For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children. 20 “The Lord was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments All the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.”
I think God sent Isaiah, the humble man of God that he was. A man who could listen to God and give the Word but his dignity was not in the fulfillment of the word. A prophetic word is potential. It is not final. There are too many variables that determine the fulfillment of a prophetic word. It is generally given to encourage someone to agree with God's plans for their life and then set their course to follow God to get them to the fulfillment of the prophetic word.
Some may say that Isaiah was a false prophet. He told Hezekiah one thing and then returned and told him the exact opposite. This is where I say that Isaiah is a humble man. Most people would tell God to send someone else. They would not want to return to reverse a word. But Isaiah knew God's voice. He was obedient even in this, to go to Hezekiah and tell him God's new word.
So, what about Hezekiah? What did Isaiah's first word do? Isaiah told Hezekiah he would die soon and that seemed to be what he wanted. He had allowed his heart to get bitter. He revealed that he had no hope. He says there is no truth. He says God has broken all his bones. None of that is true. We want to blame God for the disastrous times in our lives but do we pray truly believing God will do the impossible and turn the situation around?
What is your current situation? Do you look to others to comfort, heal and deliver you? God does use other people, but He never intends to be left out. It is one of the reasons when I was in the hospital 13 days ago that I asked for prayers. I didn't want surgery if I didn't need it. I wanted this to be in God's timing, with the right surgeon and with the people of God praying. Some may not like that I let everyone know what was going on, but I would rather call those people of prayer to pray me through; because I know how the enemy can play with my emotions, my with my thoughts, and cause discouragement. I know I do not have to fight the battle alone. God doesn't call us to be Lone Rangers. Even the Lone Ranger had Tanto and the sheriff would ride in to take the crooks to jail.
Hezekiah got gangrene in the mouth by all the negative things he was saying. When Job started to do this, God stepped in and straighten him out as well. We are to believe God will. If we believe, we will pray for God results. When we don't believe, we fumble with speaking life to our bones, strength to our body, peace to our mind and renewed purpose in our heart.
What are you saying over you?
Father, forgive me for speaking death to my body. I was out of line with Your word, with who You are when I saturate myself with discouragement and despair. I listened to my body and the doubt came in like a flood because I didn't believe You would act on my behalf. I didn't believe You would come. I wanted to be done. I wanted the pain to be over. I wanted to be out of this misery, but I was so wrong to think less, speak less than Your healing over my body. I am thankful for the doctors and nurses who have learned how to take care of so many things. But I know I also need to keep my mind focused on You and proclaim Your healing over my body, mind, and heart. I ask for boldness to pray for my healing in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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