Hezekiah’s prayerful turning to God shows that humility and sincere devotion remain powerful even in desperate situations.
King Hezekiah was one of the faithful rulers of the southern kingdom of Judah, reigning around 715-686 BC in Jerusalem. He finds himself in a precarious situation in 2 Kings 20 after the prophet Isaiah informs him that his illness will be fatal. Scripture says, “Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying,” (2 Kings 20:2). This immediate reaction reveals Hezekiah’s dependence on God for deliverance, rather than placing hope in human interventions or pagan practices. In the culture of his time, kings often turned to political alliances or idols in times of crisis, but Hezekiah himself turns resolutely to the LORD.
By literally turning his face to the wall, Hezekiah physically demonstrates his withdrawal from all external distractions in order to wholeheartedly seek the LORD. The mention of him praying to the Lord highlights how the act of prayer occupies a central role in biblical narratives. Throughout Scripture, prayer is consistently portrayed as a direct way to commune with God (Luke 18:1), and this instance underscores a faithful approach when one faces dire circumstances. Hezekiah, having spearheaded major religious reforms and restored true worship in Judah, now appeals to God with unfeigned sincerity.
Hezekiah’s choice to turn away from the festivities and focus solely on divine help ties beautifully to the New Testament invitation to rely on God’s mercy. In the Gospels, Jesus instructs believers to invest unwavering faith in God’s power to save (Matthew 21:22). Here we see King Hezekiah, centuries before the Messiah’s arrival, modeling that confidence in the LORD’s ability to intervene, which would be fully personified in Jesus.
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2 Kings 20:2 meaning
King Hezekiah was one of the faithful rulers of the southern kingdom of Judah, reigning around 715-686 BC in Jerusalem. He finds himself in a precarious situation in 2 Kings 20 after the prophet Isaiah informs him that his illness will be fatal. Scripture says, “Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying,” (2 Kings 20:2). This immediate reaction reveals Hezekiah’s dependence on God for deliverance, rather than placing hope in human interventions or pagan practices. In the culture of his time, kings often turned to political alliances or idols in times of crisis, but Hezekiah himself turns resolutely to the LORD.
By literally turning his face to the wall, Hezekiah physically demonstrates his withdrawal from all external distractions in order to wholeheartedly seek the LORD. The mention of him praying to the Lord highlights how the act of prayer occupies a central role in biblical narratives. Throughout Scripture, prayer is consistently portrayed as a direct way to commune with God (Luke 18:1), and this instance underscores a faithful approach when one faces dire circumstances. Hezekiah, having spearheaded major religious reforms and restored true worship in Judah, now appeals to God with unfeigned sincerity.
Hezekiah’s choice to turn away from the festivities and focus solely on divine help ties beautifully to the New Testament invitation to rely on God’s mercy. In the Gospels, Jesus instructs believers to invest unwavering faith in God’s power to save (Matthew 21:22). Here we see King Hezekiah, centuries before the Messiah’s arrival, modeling that confidence in the LORD’s ability to intervene, which would be fully personified in Jesus.