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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D K I N G S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. Hezekiah's sickness, and his recovery from that, in answer to
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prayer, in performance of a promise, in the use of means, and confirmed
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with a sign,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:1-11">ver. 1-11</A>.
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II. Hezekiah's sin, and his recovery from that,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:12-19">ver. 12-19</A>.
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In both of these, Isaiah was God's messenger to him.
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III. The conclusion of his reign,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:20,21">ver. 20, 21</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ki20_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 713.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet
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Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not
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live.
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2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, saying,
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3 I beseech thee, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, remember now how I have walked before
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thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done <I>that which
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is</I> good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
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4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the
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middle court, that the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came to him, saying,
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5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus
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saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy
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prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the
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third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will
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deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of
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Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for
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my servant David's sake.
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7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid
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<I>it</I> on the boil, and he recovered.
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8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What <I>shall be</I> the sign that
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> the third day?
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9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow
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go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
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10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to
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go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten
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degrees.
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11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and he brought
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the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the
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dial of Ahaz.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The historian, having shown us blaspheming Sennacherib destroyed in the
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midst of the prospects of life, here shows us praying Hezekiah
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delivered in the midst of the prospects of death--the days of the former
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shortened, of the latter prolonged.</P>
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<P>
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I. Here is Hezekiah's sickness. <I>In those days,</I> that is, in the
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same year in which the king of Assyria besieged Jerusalem; for he
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reigning <I>reigned?</I> in all twenty-nine years, and surviving this
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fifteen years, this must be in his fourteenth year, and so was that,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+18:13"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 13</A>.
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Some think it was at the time that the Assyrian army was besieging the
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city or preparing for it, because God promises
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>I will defend the city,</I> which promise was afterwards repeated,
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when the danger came to be most imminent,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+19:34"><I>ch.</I> xix. 34</A>.
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Others think it was soon after the defeat of Sennacherib; and then it
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shows us the uncertainty of all our comforts in this world. Hezekiah,
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in the midst of his triumphs in the favour of God, and over the forces
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of his enemies, is seized with sickness, and under the arrest of death.
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We must therefore always rejoice with trembling. It should seem he was
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sick of the plague, for we read of the boil or plague-sore,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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The same disease which was killing to the Assyrians was trying to him;
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God took it from him, and put it upon his enemies. Neither greatness
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nor goodness can exempt us from sickness, from sore and mortal
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sicknesses. Hezekiah, lately favoured of heaven above most men, yet is
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sick unto death--in the midst of his days (under forty) and yet sick
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and dying; and perhaps he was the more apprehensive of its being fatal
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to him because his father died when he was about his age, two or three
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years younger. "In the midst of life we are in death."</P>
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<P>
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II. Warning brought him to prepare for death. It is brought by Isaiah,
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who had been twice, as stated in the former chapter, a messenger of
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good tidings to him. We cannot expect to receive from God's prophets
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any other than what they have received from the Lord, and we must
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welcome that, be it pleasing or unpleasing. The prophet tells him,
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1. That his disease is mortal, and, if he be not recovered by a
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miracle of mercy, will certainly be fatal: <I>Thou shalt die, and not
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live.</I>
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2. That therefore he must, with all speed, get ready for death: <I>Set
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thy house in order.</I> This we should feel highly concerned to do when
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we are in health, but are most loudly called to do when we come to be
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sick. Set the heart in order by renewed acts of repentance, and faith,
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and resignation to God, with cheerful farewells to this world and
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welcomes to another; and, if not done before (which is the best and
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wisest course), set the house in order, make thy will, settle thy
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estate, put thy affairs in the best posture thou canst, for the ease of
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those that shall come after thee. Isaiah speaks not to Hezekiah of his
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<I>kingdom,</I> only of his <I>house.</I> David, being a prophet, had
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authority to appoint who should reign after him, but other kings did
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not pretend to bequeath their crowns as part of their goods and
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chattels.</P>
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<P>
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III. His prayer hereupon: <I>He prayed unto the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Is any sick? Let him be prayed for, let him be prayed with, and let him
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pray. Hezekiah had found, as recorded in the foregoing chapter, that
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it was not in vain to wait upon God, but that the prayers of faith
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bring in answers of peace; therefore will he <I>call upon God as long
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as he lives.</I> Happy experiences of the prevalency of prayer are
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engagements and encouragements to continue instant in prayer. He had
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now received the sentence of death within himself, and, if it was
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reversible, it must be reversed by prayer. When God purposes mercy he
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will, <I>for this, be enquired of,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+36:37">Ezek. xxxvi. 37</A>.
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We have not if we ask not, or ask amiss. If the sentence was
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irreversible, yet prayer is one of the best preparations for death,
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because by it we fetch in strength and grace from God to enable us to
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finish well. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. The circumstances of this prayer.
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(1.) He <I>turned his face to the wall,</I> probably as he lay in his
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bed. This he did perhaps for privacy; he could not retire to his closet
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as he used to do, but he retired as well as he could, turned from the
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company that were about him, to converse with God. When we cannot be so
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private as we would be in our devotions, nor perform them with the
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usual outward expressions of reverence and solemnity, yet we must not
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therefore omit them, but compose ourselves to them as well as we can.
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Or, as some think, he turned his face towards the temple, to show how
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willingly he would have gone up thither, to pray this prayer (as he
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did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+19:1,14"><I>ch.</I> xix. 1, 14</A>),
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if he had been able, and remembering what encouragements were given to
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all the prayers that should be made in or towards that house. Christ is
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our temple; to him we must have an eye in all our prayers, for no man,
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no service, <I>comes to the Father but by him.</I>
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(2.) He <I>wept sorely.</I> Some gather from this that he was unwilling
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to die. It is in the nature of man to have some dread of the separation
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of soul and body, and it was not strange if the Old-Testament saints,
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to whom another world was but darkly revealed, were not so willing to
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leave this as Paul and other New-Testament saints were. There was also
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something peculiar in Hezekiah's case: he was now in the midst of his
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usefulness, had begun a good work of reformation, which he feared
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would, through the corruption of the people, fall to the ground, if he
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should die. If this was before the defeat of the Assyrian army, as
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some think, he might therefore be loth to die, because his kingdom was
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in imminent danger of being ruined. However, it does not appear that he
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had now any son: Manasseh, that succeeded him, was not born till three
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years after; and, if he should die childless, both the peace of his
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kingdom and the promise to David would be in danger. But perhaps these
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were only tears of importunity, and expressions of a lively affection
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in prayer. Jacob wept and made supplication; and our blessed Saviour,
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though most willing to die, yet offered up strong cries, with tears, to
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him whom he knew to be <I>able to save him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:7">Heb. v. 7</A>.
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Let Hezekiah's prayer interpret his tears, and in <I>that</I> we find
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nothing that intimates him to have been under any of that fear of death
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which has either bondage or torment.</P>
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<P>
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2. The prayer itself: "<I>Remember now, O Lord! how I have walked
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before thee in truth;</I> and either spare me to live, that I may
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continue thus to walk, if, if my work be done, receive me to that glory
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which thou hast prepared for those that have thus walked." Observe
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here,
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(1.) The description of Hezekiah's piety. He had had his conversation
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in the world with right intentions ("I have walked before thee, as
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under thy eye and with an eye ever towards thee"), from a right
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principle ("<I>in truth, and with an upright heart</I>"), and by a
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right rule--"<I>I have done that which is good in thy sight.</I>"
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(2.) The comfort he now had in reflecting upon it; it made his sick-bed
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easy. Note, The testimony of conscience for us that we have walked with
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God in our integrity will be much our support and rejoicing when we
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come to look death in the face,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:12">2 Cor. i. 12</A>.
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(3.) The humble mention he makes of it to God. <I>Lord, remember it
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now;</I> not as if God needed to be put in mind of any thing by us (he
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is greater than our hearts, and knows all things), or as if the reward
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were of debt, and might be demanded as due (it is Christ's
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righteousness only that is the purchase of mercy and grace); but our
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own sincerity may be pleaded as the condition of the covenant which God
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has wrought in us: "It is the work of thy own hands. Lord, own it."
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Hezekiah does not pray, "Lord, spare me," or, "Lord, take me; God's
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will be done;" but, <I>Lord, remember me; whether I live or die, let me
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be thine.</I></P>
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<P>
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IV. The answer which God immediately gave to this prayer of Hezekiah.
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The prophet had got but to the middle court when he was sent back with
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another message to Hezekiah
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>),
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to tell him that he should recover; not that there is with God yea and
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nay, or that he ever says and unsays; but upon Hezekiah's prayer, which
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he foresaw and which his Spirit inclined him to, God did that for him
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which otherwise he would not have done. God here calls Hezekiah <I>the
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captain of his people,</I> to intimate that he would reprieve him for
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his people's sake, because, in this time of war, they could ill spare
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such a captain: he calls himself <I>the God of David,</I> to intimate
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that he would reprieve him out of a regard to the covenant made with
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David and the promise that he would always ordain a lamp for him. In
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this answer,
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1. God honours his prayers by the notice he takes of them and the
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reference he has to them in this message: <I>I have heard thy prayers,
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I have seen thy tears.</I> Prayers that have much life and affection in
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them are in a special manner pleasing to God.
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2. God exceeds his prayers; he only begged that God would remember his
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integrity, but God here promises
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(1.) To restore him from his illness: <I>I will heal thee.</I> Diseases
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are his servants; as they go where he sends them, so they come when he
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remands them.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+8:8,9">Matt. viii. 8, 9</A>.
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<I>I am the Lord that healeth thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+15:26">Exod. xv. 26</A>.
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(2.) To restore him to such a degree of health that <I>on the third day
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he should go up to the house of the Lord,</I> to return thanks. God
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knew Hezekiah's heart, how dearly he loved the habitation of God's
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house and the place where his honour dwelt, and that as soon as he was
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well he would go to attend on public ordinances; thitherward he turned
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his face when he was sick, and thitherward he would turn his feet when
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he was recovered; and therefore, because nothing would please him
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better, he promises him this, <I>Let my soul live, and it shall praise
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thee.</I> The man whom Christ healed was soon after <I>found in the
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temple,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+5:14">John v. 14</A>.
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(3.) To add fifteen years to his life. This would not bring him to be
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an old man; it would reach but to fifty-four or fifty-five; yet that
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was longer than he had lately expected to live. His lease was renewed,
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which he thought was expiring. We have not the instance of any other
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that was told before-hand just how long he should live; that good man
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no doubt made a good use of it; but God has wisely kept us at
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uncertainties, that we may be always ready.
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(4.) To deliver Jerusalem from the king of Assyria,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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This was the thing which Hezekiah's heart was upon a much as his own
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recovery, and therefore the promise of this is here repeated. If this
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was after the raising of the siege, yet there was cause to fear
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Sennacherib's rallying again. "No," says God, "<I>I will defend this
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city.</I>"</P>
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<P>
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V. The means which were to be used for his recovery,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Isaiah was his physician. He ordered an outward application, a very
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cheap and common thing: "Lay a <I>lump of figs to the boil,</I> to
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ripen it and bring it to a head, that the matter of the disease may be
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discharged that way." This might contribute something to the cure, and
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yet, considering to what a height the disease had come, and how
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suddenly it was checked, the cure was no less than miraculous. Note,
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1. It is our duty, when we are sick, to make use of such means as are
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proper to help nature, else we do not trust God, but tempt him.
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2. Plain and ordinary medicines must not be despised, for many such
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God has graciously made serviceable to man, in consideration of the
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poor.
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3. What God appoints he will bless and make effectual.</P>
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<P>
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VI. The sign which was given for the encouragement of his faith.
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1. He begged it, not in any distrust of the power or promise of God, or
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as if he staggered at that, but because he looked upon the things
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promised to be very great things and worthy to be so confirmed, and
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because it had been usual with God thus to glorify himself and favour
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his people; and he remembered how much God was displeased with his
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father for refusing to ask a sign,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+7:10-12">Isa. vii. 10-12</A>.
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Observe, Hezekiah asked <I>What is the sign,</I> not that I shall go up
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|
to the thrones of judgment or up to the gate, but <I>up to the house of
|
|
the Lord?</I> He desired to recover that he might glorify God <I>in the
|
|
gates of the daughter of Zion.</I> It is not worth while to live for
|
|
any other purpose than to serve God.
|
|
|
|
2. It was put to his choice whether the sun should go back or go
|
|
forward; for it was equal to Omnipotence, and it would be the more
|
|
likely to confirm his faith if he chose that which he thought the more
|
|
difficult of the two. Perhaps to this that of this prophet may refer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+45:11">Isa. xlv. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work
|
|
of my hands command you me.</I> It is supposed that the degrees were
|
|
half hours, and that it was just noon when the proposal was made, and
|
|
the question is, "Shall the sun go back to its place at seven in the
|
|
morning or forward to its place at five in the evening?"
|
|
|
|
3. He humbly desired the sun might go back ten degrees, because, though
|
|
either would be a great miracle, yet, it being the natural course of
|
|
the sun to go forward, its going back would seem more strange, and
|
|
would be more significant of Hezekiah's <I>returning to the days of his
|
|
youth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+33:25">Job xxxiii. 25</A>)
|
|
|
|
and the lengthening out of the day of his life. It was accordingly
|
|
done, upon the prayer of Isaiah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
He <I>cried unto the Lord</I> by special warrant and direction, and God
|
|
brought the sun back ten degrees, which appeared to Hezekiah (for the
|
|
sign was intended for him) by the going back of the shadow upon the
|
|
dial of Ahaz, which, it is likely, he could see through his
|
|
chamber-window; and the same was observed upon all other dials, even in
|
|
Babylon,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:31">2 Chron. xxxii. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Whether this retrograde motion of the sun was gradual or <I>per
|
|
saltum--suddenly</I>--whether it went back at the same pace that it
|
|
used to go forward, which would make the day ten hours longer than
|
|
usual--or whether it darted back on a sudden, and, after continuing a
|
|
little while, was restored again to its usual place, so that no change
|
|
was made in the state of the heavenly bodies (as the learned bishop
|
|
Patrick thinks)--we are not told; but this work of wonder shows the
|
|
power of God in heaven as well as on earth, the great notice he takes
|
|
of prayer, and the great favour he bears to his chosen. The most
|
|
plausible idolatry of the heathen was theirs that worshipped the sun;
|
|
yet that was hereby convicted of the most egregious folly and
|
|
absurdity, for by this it appeared that their god was under the check
|
|
of the God of Israel. Dr. Lightfoot suggests that the fifteen songs of
|
|
degrees
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:1-134:3">Ps. cxx.</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.) might perhaps be so called because selected by
|
|
Hezekiah to be sung to his stringed instruments
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+38:20">Isa. xxxviii. 20</A>)
|
|
|
|
in remembrance of the degrees on the dial which the sun went back and
|
|
the fifteen years added to his life; and he observes how much of these
|
|
psalms is applicable to Jerusalem's distress and deliverance and
|
|
Hezekiah's sickness and recovery.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ki20_21"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hezekiah's Piety and Death.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 713.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of
|
|
Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had
|
|
heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
|
|
13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the
|
|
house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the
|
|
spices, and the precious ointment, and <I>all</I> the house of his
|
|
armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was
|
|
nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah
|
|
showed them not.
|
|
14 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, <I>even</I>
|
|
from Babylon.
|
|
15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And
|
|
Hezekiah answered, All <I>the things</I> that <I>are</I> in mine house have
|
|
they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not
|
|
showed them.
|
|
16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
17 Behold, the days come, that all that <I>is</I> in thine house,
|
|
and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day,
|
|
shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt
|
|
beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the
|
|
palace of the king of Babylon.
|
|
19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good <I>is</I> the word of the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> which thou hast spoken. And he said, <I>Is it</I> not <I>good,</I> if
|
|
peace and truth be in my days?
|
|
20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and
|
|
how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the
|
|
city, <I>are</I> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
|
|
kings of Judah?
|
|
21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son
|
|
reigned in his stead.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. An embassy sent to Hezekiah by the king of Babylon, to congratulate
|
|
him on his recovery,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
The kings of Babylon had hitherto been only deputies and tributaries to
|
|
the kings of Assyria, and Nineveh was the royal city. We find Babylon
|
|
subject to the king of Assyria,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+17:24"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
But this king of Babylon began to set up for himself, and by degrees
|
|
things were so changed that Assyria became subject to the kings of
|
|
Babylon. This king of Babylon sent to compliment Hezekiah, and
|
|
ingratiate himself with him upon a double account.
|
|
|
|
1. Upon the account of religion. The Babylonians worshipped the sun,
|
|
and, perceiving what honour their god had done to Hezekiah, in going
|
|
back for his sake, they thought themselves obliged to do honour to him
|
|
likewise. It is good having those our friends whom we perceive to be
|
|
the favourites of heaven.
|
|
|
|
2. Upon the account of civil interest. If the king of Babylon was now
|
|
mediating a revolt from the king of Assyria, it was policy to get
|
|
Hezekiah into his interest, in answer to whose prayers, and for whose
|
|
protection, heaven had given that fatal blow to the king of Assyria. He
|
|
found himself obliged to Hezekiah, and his God, for the weakening of
|
|
the Assyrian forces, and had reason to think he could not have a more
|
|
powerful and valuable ally than one that had so good an interest in the
|
|
upper world. He therefore made his court to him with all possible
|
|
respect by ambassadors, letters, and a present.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The kind entertainment Hezekiah gave to these ambassadors,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was his duty to be civil to them, and receive them with the respect
|
|
due to ambassadors; but he exceeded, and was courteous to a fault.
|
|
|
|
1. He was too fond of them. He <I>hearkened unto them.</I> Though they
|
|
were idolaters, yet he became intimate with them, was forward to come
|
|
into a confederacy with the king their master, and granted them all
|
|
they came for. He was more open and free than he should have been, and
|
|
stood not so much upon his guard. What reason had he that was in
|
|
covenant with God so eagerly to catch at an alliance with a heathen
|
|
prince, or to value himself at all upon his respectful notice? What
|
|
honour could this embassy add to one whom God had so highly favoured,
|
|
that he should please himself so much with it?
|
|
|
|
2. He was too fond of showing them his palace, his treasures, and his
|
|
magazines, that they might see, and might report to their master, what
|
|
a great king he was, and how well worthy of the honour their master did
|
|
him. It is not said that he showed them the temple, the book of the
|
|
law, and the manner of his worship, that he might proselyte them to the
|
|
true religion, which he had now a fair opportunity of doing; but in
|
|
compliment to them, lest he should affront them, he waived that, and
|
|
showed them the rich furniture of his closet, that house of his
|
|
precious things, the wealth he had heaped up since the king of Assyria
|
|
had emptied his coffers, his <I>silver, and gold, and spices.</I> All
|
|
the valuable things he had he showed them, either himself or by his
|
|
officers. And what harm was there in this? What is more commonly, and
|
|
(as we think) more innocently, done, than to show strangers the riches
|
|
and rarities of a country--to show our friends our houses and their
|
|
furniture, our gardens, stables, and libraries? But if we do this in
|
|
the pride of our hearts, as Hezekiah did, to gain applause from men,
|
|
and not giving praise to God, it turns into sin to us, as it did to
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The examination of Hezekiah concerning this matter,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Isaiah, who had often been his comforter, is now his reprover. The
|
|
blessed Spirit is both,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:7,8">John xvi. 7, 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Ministers must be both, as there is occasion. Isaiah spoke in God's
|
|
name, and therefore called him to account as one having authority: "Who
|
|
are these? Whence come they? What is their business? What have they
|
|
seen?" Hezekiah not only submitted to the examination (did not ask him,
|
|
"Why should you concern yourself and question me about this affair?"),
|
|
but made an ingenuous confession: <I>There is nothing among my
|
|
treasures that I have not shown them.</I> Why then did he not bring
|
|
them to Isaiah, and show him to them who was without doubt the best
|
|
treasure he had in his dominions, and who by his prayers and prophecies
|
|
had been instrumental in all those wonders which these ambassadors came
|
|
to enquire into? I hope Hezekiah had the same value for Isaiah now that
|
|
he had in his distress; but it would have become him to show it by
|
|
bringing these ambassadors to him in the first place, which might have
|
|
prevented the false step he took.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The sentence passed upon him for his pride and vanity, and the too
|
|
great relish he had of the things of the world, after that intimate
|
|
acquaintance he had so lately been admitted into with divine things.
|
|
The sentence is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
1. That the treasures he was so proud of should hereafter become a
|
|
prey, and his family should be robbed of them all. It is just with God
|
|
to take that from us which we make the matter of our pride and in which
|
|
we put our confidence.
|
|
|
|
2. That the king of Babylon, with whom he was so fond of an alliance,
|
|
should be the enemy that should make a prey of them. Not that it was
|
|
for this sin that that judgment should be brought upon them: the sins
|
|
of Manasseh, his idolatries and murders, were the cause of that
|
|
calamity; but it is now foretold to Hezekiah, to convince him of the
|
|
folly of his pride and of the value he had for the king of Babylon, and
|
|
to make him ashamed of it. Hezekiah was fond of assisting the king of
|
|
Babylon to rise, and to reduce the exorbitant power of the kings of
|
|
Assyria; but he is told that the snake he is cherishing will ere long
|
|
sting the bosom that cherishes it, and that his royal seed shall become
|
|
the king of Babylon's slave (which was fulfilled,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+1:1-7">Dan. i. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.), than which there could not be any thing more mortifying to
|
|
Hezekiah to think of. Babylon will be the ruin of those that are fond
|
|
of Babylon. Wise therefore and happy are those that <I>come out from
|
|
her,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+18:4">Rev. xviii. 4</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Hezekiah's humble and patient submission to this sentence,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe how he argues himself into this submission.
|
|
|
|
1. He lays it down for a truth that "<I>good is the word of the
|
|
Lord,</I> even this word, though a threatening; for every word of his
|
|
is so. It is not only just, but good; for, as he does no wrong to any,
|
|
so he means no hurt to good men. It is good; for he will bring good out
|
|
of it, and do me good by the foresight of it." We should believe this
|
|
concerning every providence, that it is good, is working for good.
|
|
|
|
2. He takes notice of that in this word which was good, that he should
|
|
not live to see this evil, much less to share in it. He makes the best
|
|
of the bad: "Is it not good? Yes, certainly it is, and better than I
|
|
deserve." Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) True penitents, when they are under divine rebukes, call them not
|
|
only just, but good; not only submit to the punishment of their
|
|
iniquity, but accept of it. So Hezekiah did, and by this it appeared
|
|
that he was indeed <I>humbled for the pride of his heart.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) When at any time we are under dark dispensations, or have dark
|
|
prospects, public or personal, we must take notice of what is
|
|
<I>for</I> us as well as what is <I>against</I> us, that we may by
|
|
thanksgiving honour God, and may in our patience possess our own souls.
|
|
|
|
(3.) As to public affairs, it is good, and we are bound to think it
|
|
<I>so, if peace and truth be in our days.</I> That is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Whatever else we want, it is good if we have peace and truth, if
|
|
we have the true religion professed and protected, Bibles and
|
|
ministers, and enjoy these in peace, not terrified with the alarms of
|
|
war or persecution.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Whatever trouble may come when we are gone, it is good if all be
|
|
well in our days. Not that we should be unconcerned for posterity; it
|
|
is a grief to foresee evils: but we should own that the deferring of
|
|
judgments is a great favour in general, and to have them deferred so
|
|
long as what we may die in peace is a particular favour to us, for
|
|
charity begins at home. We know not how we shall bear the trial, and
|
|
therefore have reason to think it well if we may but get safely to
|
|
heaven before it comes.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> Here is the conclusion of Hezekiah's life and story,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
In
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:1-32:33">2 Chron. <I>ch.</I> xxix.-xxxii.</A>
|
|
|
|
much more is recorded of Hezekiah's work of reformation than in this
|
|
book of Kings; and it seems that in the civil chronicles, not now
|
|
extant, there were many things recorded of his might and the good
|
|
offices he did for Jerusalem, particularly his bringing water by pipes
|
|
into the city. To have water in plenty, without striving for it and
|
|
without being terrified with the noise of archers in the drawing of it,
|
|
to have it at hand and convenient for us, is to be reckoned a great
|
|
mercy; for the want of water would be a great calamity. But here this
|
|
historian leaves him <I>asleep with his fathers,</I> and a son in his
|
|
throne that proved very untoward; for parents cannot give grace to
|
|
their children. Wicked Ahaz was the son of a godly father and the
|
|
father of a godly son; holy Hezekiah was the son of a wicked father and
|
|
the father of a wicked son. When the land was not reformed, as it
|
|
should have been, by a good reign, it was plagued and ripened for ruin
|
|
by a bad one; yet then tried again with a good one, that it might
|
|
appear how loth God was to cut off his people.</P>
|
|
|
|
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