Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Kings 20:4-7

"And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Jehovah came to him, saying, Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of Jehovah. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David`s sake. And Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered." — 2 Kings 20:4-7 (ASV)

This, of course, was not a sufficient means to cure the boil, but God made the means efficacious. Why were the means used? Why, to teach us that we are to expect God's blessing, not in neglecting means, but in using them. See how simple was the remedy—just a thick poultice of figs laid on the wound! Perhaps the physicians had tried expensive medicines to no avail.

What a mercy it is for us that the good medicine of the gospel is as cheap as it is good, and that it can be obtained for nothing. While some ransack the world for expensive ceremonies and for gaudy shows, we have Christ, like the lump of figs, ready to heal the wound and make us strong again.

Again I say, Hezekiah was a man of like passions with us. He prayed earnestly that his life might be spared, and God delivered him from the jaws of death. Let us, therefore, not be afraid to pray.