Peter Barnes | 2 Kings 20:1-11
SERMON NOTES
PRAYER FOR HEALING
2 Kings 20:1-11; Acts 12:1-17
– must be dated just before 701 B.C. (note vv.1, 6)
1. The mystery of prayer.
– 20:1, 2-3; at first glance this seems self-righteous, but it is there in 2 Sam.22:21-25 (cf. Ps.18)
– compare 1 Tim.1:15 and 2 Tim.1:3; goodness or righteousness in Scripture does not always mean absolute righteousness as in Rom.3:10
– 20:4-6; God appears to change His mind as in Ex.32:9-14, but He only appears to us to change His mind (Num.23:19; Mal.3:6)
2. God often uses means.
– 20:7; Christ had no need of means in healing people but He often used means e.g. the blind man in John 9
3. God assures a weak believer.
– 20:8-11; like Joshua 10:12-14 in the miracle
– like Gideon in Judges 6:36-40 in asking for a sign.
– God is gracious to Hezekiah