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. 32:3131Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 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 .
Read also 2 Chronicles 32:24-3224In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 25But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 27And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; 28Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. 29Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. 30This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. (2 Chronicles 32:24‑32).
ML 12/14/1941