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SERMON NOTES

I Will Add Fifteen Years to Your Life
2 Kings 20
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor

Overview: When King Hezekiah contracts an illness that has life-threatening implications, he receives word from the Lord that he will not recover. The reality of his impending death brings him to tears as he recollects a life lived unto the Lord. God graciously sends word to Hezekiah once more, this time noting that he will not die from this illness but rather his life will be extended by fifteen years. The promise of life in the face of death is so unexpected that Hezekiah asks for a sign, which he receives as the shadow of the sun recedes on the stairway. The future of Judah is not so bright, however, as Hezekiah vainly allows envoys from Babylon to see all the treasures of the king’s palace. Isaiah rightly prophecies that the Babylonians will invade Judah and return home with his treasures in hand and his descendants in tow. Hezekiah’s casual dismissal of these events reveals the shortsightedness he has toward the lives of others, even though his life has been spared.

01. The reality of death faces us all; therefore, let us be prepared to die any moment with a clean conscience before the Lord, knowing we have served Him well with the time we have been given.

02. The reality of death faces us all; therefore, let us invest in the generations to come with every confidence in the Lord, knowing that He has plans beyond our lifetime until time shall be no more.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY

1. What is Hezekiah’s reaction when he receives news about his impending death? How does his prayer and his tears underscore the fact that even kings will discover they are not all-powerful, but must face death and stand before the Lord?

2. Have you ever received life-threatening news like Hezekiah did? What was your reaction? Is it wrong for Christians to fear death even with the knowledge that Christ has promised eternal life for all who believe in Him? How can we help one another with our fears while comforting one another with God’s promises?

3. Does God’s promise to extend Hezekiah’s life by fifteen years contradict the words that the Lord says to him in verse 1? Consider this statement by Matthew Henry: “Such threatenings, absolutely expressed, have ofttimes secret conditions, which God reserves in His own breast.” How does God accomplish His purposes with these two messages to Hezekiah?

4. We would expect, after Hezekiah’s recovery, that the author of 1-2 Kings would focus on some great accomplishment that benefits the people of Judah. What does Hezekiah do instead? What are the implications of his actions? What is his response to Isaiah when confronted with these consequences?

5. If you only had fifteen more years to live, what would you do with the time remaining? How would you ensure that you have done all that God has given you to do? In what ways could you invest in the lives of generations to come? Pray that the Lord would help you to live for Him and others now, regardless of the time you have remaining.

For Further Reading: J. I. Packer, Finishing Our Course with Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging with our Aging (Crossway, 2014)