A%20New%20Lease%20On%20Life

1
A New Lease On Life

• Lessons from
• Hezekiahs Sickness and Recovery
• Isaiah 381-22

2
A New Lease on Life

• The story of Hezekiahs sickness and recovery
  reminds us of the value of limited time
  (2 Kings 201-11 2 Chron. 3224 Isa.
  381-22)
• This story reminds us that God is willing to give
  us a new lease on life. What are we doing with
  the second chances that God is giving us?
• Let us examine Hezekiahs (1) sickness,
  (2) song, and (3) second chance

3
Hezekiahs Sickness

• Hezekiah is 39 years old when he gets sick unto
  death (2 Kings 182,13) about half-way through
  life about half-way through his reign (381
  note v. 10)
• Isaiah tells him to set his affairs in order
  (381)
• Hezekiah prayed to God and wept (382-3)
• God hears and answers Hezekiahs prayer (384-8)

4
Hezekiahs Sickness

• English translations and commentators are divided
  between
• Dial (sundial) of Ahaz (ASV, KJV, NKJV, RSV,
  NRSV)
• Steps (stair steps) of Ahaz (NASV, NIV, HCSB,
  ESV)

5
Hezekiahs Sickness

• The Heb. maalah means steps (lit. elevate go
  up higher ascend degrees)
• The Heb. maalah is used 2x in verse 9 (steps),
  2x in verse 10 (steps), and 1x in verse 11
  (steps)
• The Heb. maalah is used in 2 Kings 913 (and
  several other places in the OT) for a regular set
  of steps or stairs

6
Hezekiahs Sickness
7
Hezekiahs Sickness
8
Hezekiahs Sickness
9
Hezekiahs Song

• I am going to die half-way through life in the
  noontide of my days (389-12)
• I am going through emotional trouble (moaning,
  bitterness) because of my dying (3813-15)
• I am going to ask God for recovery and
  deliverance (3816-17)
• I am going to praise in song God while I am
  living in death it will be too late (3818-20)

10
Hezekiahs Second Chance

• What did Hezekiah do with his new lease on life
  his extra 15 years?
• He lifted himself up with pride (2 Chron.
  3224-31)
• He showed the Babylonians his wealth
  (Isa. 391-8 2 Kings 2012-21)

11
A New Lease on Life

• Renewed health after a disease escape from a
  tragic accident or catastrophe
• A period of probation after a run-in with the law
• More time to change after a personal sin or
  confrontation with brethren
• Finding the truth after being misled by religious
  error for years

12
A New Lease on Life

• Raising another child after making mistakes with
  the first one
• Opportunities to get it right after making
  mistakes or poor judgments
• Opportunity to straighten up after brethren
  admonish you repeatedly

13
A New Lease on Life

• The living, the living, he shall praise thee
• ( Isaiah 3819)
• Behold, now is the acceptable time
• behold, now is the day of salvation
• (2 Corinthians 62)

14
A New Lease on Life

• But Hezekiah rendered not again
• according to the benefit done unto him
• ( 2 Chron. 3225)