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Isaiah 39 Commentary

Hezekiah’s one-man Expo goes wrong

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KEY THOUGHT: “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.” [Isaiah 39:8b NKJV]

Kindly read your Bible before going through the commentary!

Isaiah 39 NKJV
The Babylonian Envoys

39 At that time [a]Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?”

So Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a far country, from Babylon.”

4 And he said, “What have they seen in your house?”

So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. 7 ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”

8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”

Footnotes

a. Isaiah 39:1 Berodach-Baladan, 2 Kin. 20:12

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Isaiah 39 Commentary

Chapter 39 concludes what many consider to be volume 1 of Isaiah. It is a logical partition that deals with pre-exilic Jerusalem. The last 4 chapters of this logical partition place Isaiah right in the mix of events during the reign of Hezekiah.

After the king’s recovery from a serious illness, envoys from Babylon show up on a diplomatic mission. Why not? Let them see what King Hezekiah is made of. He is a worthy partner! His weight is in gold. It’s not a mistake to befriend him. Hezekiah shows them everything he has – the storehouses, armory, and treasures.

But what fire Hezekiah brings on his head! We all feel for him – being like-minded. That’s how we structure our profiles. The world must see it. Pride is so natural to a man that you think it is second nature. But again, what fire this brings on our heads!

Hezekiah’s one-man expo damages his standing with the LORD. Pride and stupidity are different animals, but the latter could be made from the former.

Isaiah is back at the palace, but with a sharp rebuke from the LORD.

Judah will eventually be scattered, but it won’t happen because of Hezekiah’s indiscretion here. But the prophet seems to deliver a message that compares Hezekiah’s sin with Judah’s sin.

Judah’s pride has excluded the LORD God from her existence.

Chapter 39 announces Judah’s exile in no uncertain terms. But it won’t happen in Hezekiah’s time. The king is happy. Strange. We probably understand.

Pride is the sin of the successful, the powerful, and the blessed.

It’s not exactly the right place for it, but who wouldn’t think of Hezekiah’s son (Son), who eventually suffered for Hezekiah’s sin!

When the prophet visits, and when the LORD has opened your eyes to see your own uncleanliness, won’t you be happy that the Son suffered in your place?

Even for good people like Hezekiah, there is pride, there is uncleanliness, and there is sin. The LORD Jesus Christ came and died for such individuals who would otherwise still get punished just like hardcore sinners. Like pride makes one less sinful!

So the gospel remains valuable for such individuals – accepting the rule of Immanuel in their lives.

Isaiah has spoken to nations. The last 4 chapters seem to focus on individuals. Of course, high-profile individuals. It’s real history. King Sennacherib and his pride and his god, Nisroch. King Hezekiah. His sickness, prayer, recovery, and a moment of indiscretion.

Then we have Isaiah, who delivers God’s word to both “insiders” and outsiders. Both Israel and the nations. And so it remains. God’s word is for everyone: Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, Satanists… It’s for the nations!

Loving Scripture….

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25 thoughts on “Home”

  1. It has been exciting learning how God can make things happen to his choosen one, God workout something wonderful and fulfils the promises he made to the father of Joseph.

    God’s words remains true so are his promises and indeed it has been God working out the salvation of man Kind by Grace through Faith alone.

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  11. Profound. My life needs a new introduction to God. Not that I have been right, but because God desires to help me… I see an amazing Grace here. Having broken the first commandment, still God looks for me and helps me to build up with him… And live for him. A littles knowledge of the Lord will ignite my passion and desire to serve him. This morning I pledge to seek, live and serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His purposes everyday of my life.
    Beautiful lesson

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  12. The Lord reintroduces himself and shows Israel, He is all they need. Some boast in horses and others in chariots but we’ll boast in the Lord. He is able and the only one worthy of our trust. Lord teach me how to always look up to you at all times and not focus on my strength or capabilities. This is my prayer

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  14. This far too common today. Just do something that seems like true worship yet it’s intent and actual practice is not even close to the set standard by the Lord. I personally feel challenged of some things we do in our personal lives, the focus of many churches and ministries today. We’ll need to realize the Lord must be worship as he has personally guided. Provides a good start of my reflection today

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  15. In those days when there was no King everyone did as they pleased. This is a good reminder to us that we are on own when the King of Kings isn’t leading our lives we’ll be doing what is not right and the results will show clearly how life without Christ looks like. We thank God that even when it looks like he’s not there, he’s behind the scenes working. I have learnt to trust in the Lord always.

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  16. Iam seeing this being stressed… There was no King in Israel… So lawlessness is the order of the day. This shows how heartless and wicked man can be with out the right King in his life. He can do anything. May the Lord help us to allow Christ in our lives that every aspect of our lives is changed and we yield ourselves to him alone.

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  17. I’m sure as the two daughters in-law stayed in Naomi’s home they learned about the God of Israel and appreciated His works among his people. Ruth’s determination and what she says moves my heart. She’s convinced she must go with Naomi and wants to spend her life with her, this relationship was strong especially between a mother inlaw and a daughter in-law. Yet Ruth stays and how she puts it shows the depth of her heart, I’ll go with with you, your people will be my people, your God will be my God…

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