Isaiah 39
The wonder of the shadows on the sun dial being changed for King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, and his cure, were told to a great king several hundred miles away. He and his people must also have felt the difference in the sunlight that day, and his son sent men with letters and a present to Hezekiah “to inquire of the wonder done in the land” (2 Chron. 32:31).
It must have been several months after the king’s illness, when they reached Jerusalem; as news and men did not travel fast then as now. King Hezekiah welcomed them, and was very friendly, and showed them all the fine things of his house and of the city.
God had given this king and his people great wealth, they had storehouses of grains and oil and spices, much gold, sier, and precious stories, besides many flocks and herds outside the city.
When the king had been made well, he had said that he would “go softly all his years”, (Is. 38:15), meaning he would be careful to do the right, but it is sad to know he became proud. He seemed to forget all had come from God, and boasted as though he had made all, and did not give God honor before those men who did not know God, who bowed to images they themselves made of gold; he should have told them of the living God; and of His, great goodness.
Isaiah knew that when the men reached their city, they would tell their king of the gold and wealth they saw in Jerusalem and he would want it for his city. Isaiah spoke to Hezekiah of his wrong boasting, and told him that men would one day come from their land, and take away the wealth of Jerusalem, and make the people captives; but he said it would not happen while Hezekiah lived. These words came true; the treasures and people of Jerusem were carried away to that land, but nut while Hezekiah lived. His son ruled after him, but would not listen to God’s words when young, as his father had, and few of the people remembered God’s goodness and power shown to Hezekiah.
We, too, forget that the Lord has given us all good we have. We know a greater wonder than they knew,—that God has sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to earth to save all who will believe Him. We are to tell those who do not know Him, of His work, not of what we have .
Was Hezekiah a good king? (2 Kings 18:5).
From what city did the men come? (Isa. 39:1,3).
Read also 2 Chronicles 32:24-32.
ML 12/14/1941