III. THAT DELIVERANCE IS ONLY IN THE LORD IS CONFIRMED BY THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF ASSYRIA'S INVASION AND HEZEKIAH'S RESPONSE (CONCLUDED) (36:1-39:8)
C. Hezekiah's Sickness And Promise Of Extended Life (38:1-22) - The events depicted in chapter 38 occurreed simultaneously or perhaps even before those in the previous two chapters (2 Ki. 20:1-11). By referring to the 2 Kings passage it can be shown that the Assyrian siege and Hezekiah's illness were concurrent.
1. Hezekiah is sick unto death, but promised fifteen more years (38:1-8)
(1) Hezekiah's illness was terminal. Isaiah's warning seems very blunt and curt, however, God's word is always to the point.
(2,3) Hezekiah pleads for his life to God. He based his plea on his faithful life, not a perfect life. His major mistake was seeking support from Egypt, but this was an error in judgment, not a sign of rebellion (like his father Ahaz). His plea was not altogether selfish because he had his country to be concerned about. There was at this time no heir to the Davidic line (Manasseh would be born three years later).
(4) It was only a short time between the delivery of the message by Isaiah and God's reversal of His decree. This is a positive example of the power of prayer and an illustration of (Ja. 5:16).
(5) Isaiah returns to Hezekiah to tell him his prayers have been heard by God and in answer to those prayers his life would be spared another 15 years.
(6) Additionally, God promises to deliver the city out of the hands of the Assyrians. Part of Jehovah's motivation for sparing Hezekiah and the city at this time was because of His promise to David (2 Ki. 20:6).
(7) (2 Ki. 20:7,8) sheds more light on how Hezekiah recovered from his illness and about the nature of the illness. The sign is described in the following verse.
(8) (2 Ki. 20:9-11) should be referred to here. For the sun to "back up ten degrees" is a miracle and therefore has no explanation. While Hezekiah's "boil" was providentially cured by the natural means prescribed by Isaiah, the sign given to the king that he would be healed was performed through supernatural intervention.
2. Hezekiah's song of thanksgiving (38:9-22)
a. lamentation (vv. 9-14)
(9) Some commentators refuse to believe that these are Hezekiah's actual words, but the text states that they are and there is no valid reason for rejecting that claim.
(10) Hezekiah felt that he was just now entering the prime of his life and his death would deprive him of these prime years.
(11) Hezekiah worries that his death will separate him from God and man; from life as he has known it.
(12) Two figures are used to illustrate the transitory nature of life here on earth. It is God who controlled his earth-life and it will be God who will control the end of it as well.
(13) Hezekiah had originally faced his death as we all do, thinking that there was some chance of recovery, but Isaiah's words destroyed that last bit of hope.
(14) Hezekiah moans incomprehensible noises of despair. In his despair he speaks to the Lord and confesses that his spirit is crushed and asks for Divine protection. Even in death, Hezekiah's faith holds on to God.
b. blessings of affliction (vv. 15-18)
(15) The king now begins to enumerate the blessings that have come out of his sufferings. He seems to be at a loss for words. He promises to live the rest of his life in a calm and solemn manner. Yet these promises will be forgotten when the Babylonian emissary arrives to congratulate him on his recovery.
(16) Hezekiah has come to understand that the true life of the spirit is realized through affliction and its blessings. True life on this earth will only be found through fellowship with God.
(17) Hezekiah's experience is somewhat like that of Job's (Job 42:5). Through the bitterness of his experience, he found peace and through Jehovah's love he had his sins forgiven and blotted out of God's memory.
(18) Death is the soul's departure from this life and entrance into the place of the departed spirits (Sheol). The "pit" is the place where the body sees corruption and must lie until the resurrection. Because the after-life concept of the Hebrew's was not as complete as the Christian concept, Hezekiah viewed Sheol as a place sealed off from praise, celebration of fellowship and truth.
c. rejoicing (vv. 19,20)
(19) The king calls on all who are living to join him in praise to Jehovah - for life itself. It is the responsibility of the father to pass the truth on to the children.
(20) Hezekiah comes to realize that Jehovah stands ready to save anyone at anytime from any situation. While his father Ahaz had shut up the temple and put up altars to idols (2 Chron. 28:24), Hezekiah had restored proper worship (2 Chron 29:25-28).
d. Hezekiah's healing (vv. 21,22)
(21,22) Many commentators believe these verses rightly belong between verses 6 and 7 as in 2 Kings. Refer back to thoughts on verses 6-8. [TOP OF THIS PAGE]
D. Hezekiah Shows His Treasures To Merodach-baladan And Judah's Future Captivity In Babylon Is Foretold (39:1-8) ­ This chapter serves as a transition from the Assyrian threat to preparation for the Babylonian captivity.
1. Prophet versus King (39:1-4)
(1) Merodach-baladan is remembered in history as clever, ambitious and the bitter enemy of Assyria. Why would the king of a world power bother to send get well wishes to the king of Judah? 1, To investigate the miracle of the sundial (2 Chron. 32:31) and 2, the king of Babylon was looking for all potential allies against Assyria.
(2) Hezekiah was flattered by this attention and seemed to forget that it was Jehovah who had spared his life and his city. Following in the errant footsteps of his fathers David and Solomon, Hezekiah yields to his own lusts, in his case: flattery and pride. It appears that he was trying to impress the Babylonian emissaries with his wealth to convince them he was worthy of their attention.
(3) Isaiah is God's spokesman, while Hezekiah is God's political vice-regent. The prophet comes and asks the king three questions: 1, What said these men? - Hezekiah does not answer; 2, and from whence came they unto thee? ­ to which Hezekiah replies in a somewhat prideful manner, they have come unto me.
(4) 3, What have they seen in thy house? - to which Hezekiah replies, All that is in my house have they seen. Here we have an example of the tragedy of acting irresponsibly on human intuition and fleshly motivation without asking guidance from Jehovah (Josh. 9:14) (Hailey).
2. The word of doom (39:5-8)
(5) Previously Isaiah had rightly denounced the alliances of Ahaz with Assyria and of Judah's politicians with Egypt. Now he is ready to denounce a similar alliance - Hezekiah with Babylon.
(6) The prophet unmistakably points to Babylon as the place of Judah's captivity. All will be lost, all will be carried away. Hezekiah has placed his faith in the vanity of earthly things instead of spiritual things and he and his heirs will pay the price for it (Ecc. 2:11; 1 Jn. 2:17).
(7) Hezekiah's descendants will indeed be taken away and some will serve as eunuchs in the king's house. It is possible that eunuchs refers to officials in the government and not necessarily to physical eunuchs.
(8) The king humbles himself before the prophet and the Lord.
At least, he realizes, there will be peace and truth in his days.
Under Hezekiah's son Manasseh, the kingdom degenerated to a point
where they were more evil than the heathens, Israel, and even
Sodom (2 Ki. 21:9-15; Jer. 3:11; Eze. 16:46,47). Consequently,
not only was the household of the king taken into captivity, but
the entire nation (Mic. 4:10). [TOP OF
THIS CHAPTER][TOP OF THIS PAGE]