希西家的轉臉朝牆禱告（賽38章）

那時希西家病得要死、亞摩斯的兒子先知以賽亞去見他、對他說：「耶和華如此說：『你當留遺命與你的家、因為你必死不能活了。』」希西家就轉臉朝牆、禱告耶和華說：（賽 38：1-2）

這段歷史可以對照列王紀下20章，敘述更為詳盡。希西家被神預言將死，這段歷史應在前兩章亞述王來攻打耶路撒冷事件之前。希西家難怪很難接受自己將死，因為當時希西家才39歲左右，即使後來神增加他15年的生命，死時也才54歲。在他延長的15年生命裡，除了生了超級壞王瑪拿西，瑪拿西12歲接續他當王；另外就是希西家做了開府庫招搖的糊塗事，也導致下一章被神預言，整個南朝猶大國將因他亡於巴比倫國。

以時間序來看，神明明先預言他將亡於還不成氣候的巴比倫國，在這之前還必勝過眼前的亞述帝國，那他在後來面對亞述大軍來襲時，為何還驚慌失措？如此看來，先知說的話，他沒什麼在聽：

耶和華的話臨到以賽亞說：「你去告訴希西家說，耶和華你祖大衛的神如此說：『我聽見了你的禱告、看見了你的眼淚、我必加增你十五年的壽數．並且我要救你和這城脫離亞述王的手、也要保護這城。』」（賽 38：4-6）

但是39歲的希西家，他為生命延長的禱告，神真的聽了。他「轉臉朝牆」的禱告，其中有值得思考的真理：

「轉臉朝牆」，似乎可以看見他的禱告是「即刻的」。希西家在聽到先知以賽亞的預言，他立刻向神禱告，表現出他的懇切，使他刻不容緩地禱告。在我們的信仰生活中，當遭遇到任何事情時，都可以立刻「轉臉朝牆」禱告。神是無處不在的，神不會只在祂的聖所裡，只要我們當下心中默禱，神都必垂聽。

靠着聖靈、隨時多方禱告祈求、並要在此儆醒不倦、為眾聖徒祈求、（弗 6：18）。「隨時多方」是說我們的禱告不用拘泥形式，也不需等到什麼時機才能禱告。禱告是神兒女的權益，只要我們奉主的名呼求，祂必垂聽。

「轉臉朝牆」，也可以看出希西家並不刻意在人面前表現敬虔，而是朝向牆壁無人之處，選擇隱藏。禱告神的心態，不需刻意有招搖的動作，重點是要神垂聽，不是要得人的讚美。耶穌說：「你們禱告的時候、不可像那假冒為善的人、愛站在會堂裏、和十字路口上禱告、故意叫人看見．我實在告訴你們、他們已經得了他們的賞賜。你禱告的時候、要進你的內屋、關上門、禱告你在暗中的父、你父在暗中察看、必然報答你。」（太 6：5-6）。

所以禱告時不必刻意有誇張的動作、或誇張的聲量吸引人注意。例如：刻意高舉並揮舞著雙手、不正常的轉動與搖擺身體等。禱告時應該發自內心的虔誠，只向神禱告，不刻意吸引人的眼光，只要誠誠實實，以合適的動作、合適的音量禱告即可。

希西家他那即時、虔誠的禱告，蒙神垂聽了，即使後來的表現差強人意，但是神是看人「當下」內心的神，只要我們願意在神前自己謙卑，願意自卑誠心向神祈求，神都必垂聽。

他在急難的時候、就懇求耶和華他的神、且在他列祖的神面前極其自卑。他祈禱耶和華、耶和華就允准他的祈求、垂聽他的禱告、使他歸回耶路撒冷、仍坐國位．瑪拿西這纔知道惟獨耶和華是神。（代下 33：12-13）

By Isaiah Kao

Hezekiah Turned His Face to the Wall and Prayed (Isaiah 38)

May 30, 2026

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.’” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, (Isaiah 38:1–2, NASB 2020)

This historical account can be compared with 2 Kings 20, where the details are described more fully. Hezekiah was told by God that he would die. This event should have taken place before the Assyrian king attacked Jerusalem in the previous two chapters. It is not surprising that Hezekiah found it hard to accept his death, because he was only about thirty-nine years old at that time. Even after God added fifteen more years to his life, he died at only fifty-four years old. During those fifteen added years, he not only begot the extremely wicked king Manasseh, who became king at twelve years old after him, but Hezekiah also foolishly displayed all the treasures of his house. Because of this, in the next chapter God foretold that the whole kingdom of Judah would later fall to Babylon.

From the order of events, God had already foretold that Judah would fall to Babylon, which at that time was not yet a powerful nation. Before that happened, Judah would still be delivered from the Assyrian Empire before their eyes. If so, why was Hezekiah still so terrified when the Assyrian army later came? It seems that he was not really listening carefully to the words spoken by the prophet.

Then the word of the 

LORD came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will save you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.”’” (Isaiah 38:4–6, NASB 2020)

But when Hezekiah was thirty-nine years old, God truly heard his prayer for a longer life. In his act of “turning his face to the wall,” there are truths worthy of reflection.

“Turning his face to the wall” seems to show that his prayer was immediate. As soon as Hezekiah heard Isaiah’s prophecy, he immediately prayed to God. This showed his earnestness, causing him to pray without delay. In our spiritual life, whenever we encounter anything, we also may immediately “turn our face to the wall” and pray. God is everywhere. God is not present only in His sanctuary. As long as we silently pray in our hearts at that very moment, God will surely hear.

With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:18, NASB 2020) “At all times” means that our prayers do not need to be restricted by forms, nor do we need to wait for a certain occasion before praying. Prayer is the privilege of God’s children. As long as we call upon Him in the Lord’s name, He will hear.

“Turning his face to the wall” also shows that Hezekiah did not deliberately display his godliness before men. Instead, he faced toward the wall, toward a hidden place where no one was watching. He chose concealment. The attitude in prayer does not require outward display. The important thing is for God to hear, not to gain the praise of men. Jesus said:

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5–6, NASB 2020)

Therefore, there is no need to make exaggerated movements or use exaggerated volume in order to attract attention during prayer. For example, deliberately lifting and waving both hands, or making unnatural body movements and swaying. Prayer should come from sincere reverence within. We pray only to God, not to attract people’s attention. We only need to pray honestly and sincerely, with proper actions and a proper volume.

Hezekiah’s immediate and reverent prayer was heard by God. Even though his later conduct was far from ideal, God is the God who looks at a person’s heart “at that moment.” As long as we are willing to humble ourselves before God and sincerely seek Him with a lowly heart, God will surely hear.

When he was in distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his pleading, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD alone is God. (2 Chronicles 33:12–13, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao