Figgy Pudding
One Year Bible (July 2)
2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Figgy Pudding
Yesterday’s victories can’t fight today’s battles!
Hezekiah has been Delivered from death at the hand of the Assyrians, but now he faces a Diagnosis of imminent Death! (This is no FAKE NEWS!)
“In those days, Hezekiah became mortally ill. 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 and not live’.” (20:1)
Talk about an abrupt bedside manner! “Informative Isaiah” has gotten straight to the point! Can we please get a second opinion here??? Isaiah 38: 21 lets us know that it was a very serious "boil" or malignant skin ulcer.
Hezekiah had just changed out of his sackcloth, and now he needs to use that old sack again. This ol' sackcloth was so 700 B.C. in fashion...
Have you ever noticed how “when it rains it pours”? It is now pouring!!
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” (2 Kings 20: 2-3)
Remember the second opinion? Well, it’s time because God is now weighing in on the matter of his request...
“Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, ‘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. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake. Then Isaiah said, ‘Take a cake of figs. And they laid it on the boil, and he recovered.” ( 2 Kings 20: 7)
Other translations say, “Make an ointment from figs” (NLT) or “Make a ‘poultice’ of figs”. (NIV) A ‘Poultice” is a soft, moist piece of material typically made of plant material to draw out infection.”
I warned you in the past that I always hear songs in my head. It is one of the hazards of being musical. Can you guess what I am singing right now?
“Oh, bring us some figgy pudding… And bring it right here!” This is like Christmas! Figgy Pudding and 15 YEARS???
Figgy Pudding? Did you know they actually use plants such as this to apply with a wet bandage to bring out the toxins? Fig Newtons for me from now on!
Who would have ever thought of something like that? I am thinking that would be the very same God who healed a leper by having him dip seven times in dirty water… Is there anything too hard for HIM?
I am in such a festive mood right now that I really wish we could just conclude this story right here with this happy carol. But, we must go on to look at the “gifts and treasures”...
The King of Babylon sent letters and a present to Hezekiah through his messengers as he had heard of his sickness. Hezekiah “showed them all the treasures of his palace including the silver and gold…(He was definitely into the wrappings!) There was NOTHING in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.” (2 Kings 20: 12-15)
The short story is that Hezekiah, out of his pride, “gave away the farm”... I mean, the Palace! Once again he would hear the words of God through Isaiah (only it would not be good news this time), “Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left.”, said the Lord.
Hezekiah showed foolishness and pride by showing off his wealth to the Babylonian king’s envoys. The book of Chronicles tells us an important insight into what really happened.
“About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the LORD, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So, the LORD”s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So, the LORD’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime..” (2 Chronicles 32: 24-26)
“However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.” (2 Chronicles 32:31)
The man who was given Life over Death took pride in the gifts instead of showing gratitude to the GIVER of all GIFTS!
J.D. Greear wrote these words, “Hezekiah had passed the test of adversity… but he failed the test of prosperity.”
Remember, the Giver of all Gifts… especially for Figgy Pudding!
