Chapter Summary

Hezekiah's illness and recovery.

Discussion Questions for 2 Kings, Chapter 20

1. As Hezekiah hears of his upcoming death, he turns to the Lord for prayer. Did the Lord change his mind because of the prayer? Why or Why not? How does God's attribute of immutability inform the way that we think of prayer?
2. Hezekiah was feeling as if he were dead. What is significant of the Lord's response in verse 5? How does Hezekiah's experience of receiving healing and an extension of life from the Lord serve as a testament to the power of prayer and God's willingness to intervene in the lives of His people in times of need?
3. Do you think that Hezekiah's healing was based off of the amount of faith that he had in God? How does verse 6 inform the way we should think about this? How does verse 6, which mentions the application of a lump of figs to Hezekiah's boil as part of the healing process, contribute to our understanding of the relationship between faith and healing? Additionally, what insights can we draw from this verse regarding the role of human actions or interventions in conjunction with divine healing, and how does this inform our perspective on the dynamic between faith and God's miraculous intervention in response to prayer?
4. Does God always answer prayers for healing? What should be our response when he does? What about when he doesn't?
5. Why is it easier for the Christian to look to God in the suffering rather than in the prosperity? Explain your answer.
6. Where do we see pride in Hezekiah's response to God? How does Hezekiah's prideful response to God's blessing serve as a cautionary tale for us today, and what can we learn from this about the dangers of allowing pride to cloud our gratitude and recognition of God's sovereignty in our lives?
7. Hezekiah did not bring restoration to Israel and Judah as king. How do you think this will play on in the narrative of 1 & 2 Kings?
8. Why was Hezekiah's response of seeking peace in his lifetime right or wrong? (20:19) What are some ways that we do the same thing?
9. What does it mean that Hezekiah slept with his fathers? Even though he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (18:3 ESV), why is it significant that Hezekiah died? How does Hezekiah's death remind us of the transient nature of human life and power, and what lessons can we draw from his passing regarding the importance of faithfulness and preparing for the eventual transition from this life to the next?
10. In what specific ways do the similarities and differences between Jesus and Hezekiah illuminate broader themes or principles about leadership, righteousness, and the nature of kingship in the context of biblical narratives, and how do these insights inform our understanding of Jesus as the ultimate and superior King?

Key Words/Phrase

Healed, v. 5.

Characters

God, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Berodach-baladan.

Strong Verse(s)

5