Isaiah 39

Isaiah 39:1-4

The story of this chapter likewise we had before, 2 Kings xx. 12, &c. We have here, 1. Hezekiah’s pride in showing for treasures to the king of Babylon’s ambassadors that were sent to congratulate his memory, ver. 1, 2. 2. Isaiah’s impiety, and Hezekiah’s acknowledgment what he had done, ver. 3, 4. 3. The features passed upon him for it, ver. 5-7. 4. Hezekiah’s penitent and patient jubnaifism to it, ver. 8.

a Kings xx. 14, &c. b a Cor. vii. 7. c a Chron. xxiii. 6.1. 7. 8 Or. Spon. 9. 10. Vol. xx, or indrummen. 11. Exiuf. vii. xx. 1. John i. 8. a Joh. vii. 10. Job xxxi. 33.

1. A That time Meroach-baladan, the son of Baladan king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been said, and was recovered. 2. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his 2 precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the bonds of his 2 armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them out. 3. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, now from Babylon. 4. Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, “All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

Though nothing could appear more promising than Hezekiah’s late professions, and in general he did approve himself faithful, yet in some things he failed, as in the story here recorded, where his pride and vanity induced him; so that, as it is observed by the sacred hitherian, 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. He rendered not again according to the benefit done to him.

This history we have had before, 2 Kings xx. 12. and may just add to what was there observed, (1.) How hard it is to be kept humble under distinguished mercies and this world’s wealth. (2.) They will be courted in prosperity, who in adversity would be despised. (3.) When it becomes their interest, the enemies of religion will caress God’s people; but their kills are commonly deceitful. (4.) An affectation of displaying our improvements, wealth, buildings, &c. to strangers, and taking a secret pleasure in doing so, evidences the vanity of the heart, and that often most, when we affect to call them trifles. (5.) God will not for his children pushed up without sending them the needful rebuke: it is well if, as Hezekiah, we take shame to ourselves, and confess our folly.

5. Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts. 6. Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7. And of thy sons that shall sift from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 8. Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken: he said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Isaiah 39:5-8

It was a mortifying message the prophet brought him, but a blessed symptom of Hezekiah’s gracious spirit, that so humbly he acquiesced in the divine decree. It may teach us, (1.) That it is just in God to take from us the gifts we abuse. (2.) Not to be desirous of, or value ourselves upon, the respect paid us by the children of this world: our intimacy and connections with them usually in their issue prove our plague. (3.) True prophets of God must not spare the faithful depend; and true penitents will, so far from being offended, receive it with thankfulness. (4.) When God is pleased to reform his gifts we have abused, or to punish us by afflictions in this world the evil fate, it becomes us to heal the red with quiescent, and justify him in his judgments. Whilst we are out of hell, all our sufferings are infinitely less than we deserve. (5.) Though we cannot but be concerned about the evils which we foresee, yet every moment’s respite is a mercy to be acknowledged.

Vol. II.