Hezekiah was a good king for Israel. He was sick to the point of dying. The Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to let him know he would die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed for deliverance. Isaiah was leaving the palace while Hezekiah prayed. God told him to return to the king with the message that he would live for 15 more years.
We can identify with Hezekiah speaking about failing to keep looking up. We all fail. Here is one thing we should never fail to do—keep looking up.
Isaiah 38: 13 I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. 14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. 15 What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly 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 wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.
Hezekiah was a wise king. He framed the feelings of his heart in ways that teach us how to respond to our problems. He was under a heavy load. Israel’s enemies were relentless. He tried to follow the Word and will of God. He had troubles within the nation and his family. Then he got sick. In verse 14 he said I am oppressed. He was pressed down upon.
We don’t have to look for trouble; it finds us. Hezekiah determined to do right in the sight of the Lord. He had trouble from every direction. The devil doesn’t like us to trust God. He has set the world system against us. That’s a lot to press down upon us. When pressure eases in one direction, it comes new from another. No matter how oppressed we get, be like Hezekiah. We may feel pain. Hezekiah felt his knees would break. His pain was relentless night and day. People look to us to live for the Lord in spite of conflicts we have. Can we do it? Of course we can. We are not alone. Hezekiah directed his heart toward the Lord.
That’s a necessity for every day. There is so much to discourage and dishearten us. To keep on believing and serving can be hard when we quit looking up. God allows troubles and trials. We don’t understand it. It’s not our place to question, but it is our place to look up. Psalm 121:1-2 say I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. There is a God above us. If we focus on battles of life, we’ll fail to look up. We’ll look down and feel sorry for ourselves. Our Lord dwells above it all and wants us to look up above the things that come our way. Don’t get so distressed that you fail to look up. You may have been there. You may let things get to you. Remember that things that trouble us do not trouble God. Jesus told us to be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. This is the victory overcomes the world, even our faith.
When we are weak, HE is strong. Paul was told that God’s grace was sufficient for him to deal with the trouble he had in his flesh. If we had never suffered, we would never know what it’s like to be delivered. There is plenty to look up to. All these things of earth will pass away, but God is forever. When we look up, we see the Lord. Isaiah saw him high and lifted up. King Uzziah had died. Guess whose throne was above Uzziah’s. Guess whose was above Hezekiah’s. Guess whose is above the devil’s. God and his Son our Savior are high above it all. If we look up, we’ll see them on the throne. You can’t remove the devil from your life. On your own you can’t do a thing. There is a Savior to call on. What you cannot do, He can accomplish.
Let’s never let our eyes fail to look up. Whosoever calls on the Lord shall be saved. We will be delivered. Hezekiah asked the Lord to undertake for me. He’s a different type of undertaker. Hezekiah was saying Lord, ease my load. When we’re oppressed, we have one who gets under us and lifts the load too heavy for us to bear. He lifted Hezekiah’s load and gave him 15 more years to live.
Don’t think you’re at the end of your rope. God is there to call on and undergird you. When we read verse 15 it seems that God heard Hezekiah. What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it. Will he do it today? Yes! Tomorrow? Yes! No matter how rough life gets, the Lord will give us a path through it.
Verse 16 says O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. By calling on the Lord and letting him ease the load, we’ll be able to live. We may be half dead outside, but we’re 100% alive inside if we’re saved.
This is a good prayer for each of us. Lord, lift up my chin. Help me look up and look to you. Undertake me. Help me with my load to live for you.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 