Hezekiah's Sickness

But what could I say? For he himself sent this sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years because of this anguish I have felt. Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live! Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins. [Isaiah 38.15-17]

Just because the Bible records that Judas hanged himself in the New Testament does not mean the Bible (and therefore God) ordains suicide.

So, just because Hezekiah wrote this poem that God Himself sent the sickness upon Hezekiah does not mean it was so.

However, in light of the fact that nothing takes place on the earth without God's knowledge of it, it could be interpreted that it is indeed God doing it. 

Even with these thoughts there is still yet a consideration that may easily be overlooked in this historical event. Hezekiah himself said the sickness was discipline and that "...it leads to life and health." Hezekiah goes on to declare that his trouble was good for him because ultimately he was rescued from death and was forgiven of all his sins!

So, fast forward to today and the opinion of the Church about sickness. How many times do we associate sickness with the need for repentance in our lives? There exists a widely-held doctrine that sickness is some kind of blessing from God instead of an indicator that there is something that needs to be repented of. What's more, if cancer is indeed discipline, how does it lead to "life and health" as Hezekiah said God's "good" discipline does?

I don't know that either "healing people" or those who don't necessarily believe in healing are right. But I do know that we need to know what we believe about our experiences in this life and, what we know needs to be based on solid Biblical facts and not on hyped-up emotion or watered-down doctrine. Most importantly, God's people don't need to be divided over the issue - instead, we need to have God's heart toward one another and pray for one another as Jesus made clear we are to do "as it is in heaven".

Father, help me to promote You and Your attitude toward people.