xxxix. 8. _Then said Hezekiah, &c._
In the narrative connected with the text we find much in Hezekiah to
be avoided and much worthy of imitation.
+I. We find Hezekiah in great affliction.+ He had recently escaped
from great public and national calamity; he is speedily involved in
private and personal suffering (ch. xxxviii. 1). "He was sick," and
Isaiah was sent to prepare him for death. He was greatly alarmed at
the approach of death (ch. xxxviii. 9-14) How different from St. Paul
(Phil. i. 23). He lived in a dark and imperfect dispensation; few
then had clear views of the world to come (2 Tim. i. 10). Hezekiah's
faith failed him greatly, and he clung to life with pertinacity.
+II. In his trouble he sought the Lord+ (ch. xxxviii. 2, 3). He made
solemn vows of what he would do if spared (ch. xxxviii. 15). When
partially restored, he renewed his vows (ch. xxxviii. 19). Thus
believers in every kind of trouble should seek comfort of God in
earnest prayer; nor is it improper then solemnly to give ourselves to
God, and renew our vows. We are encouraged to do this by the speed
with which a gracious answer was sent to Hezekiah (ch. xxxviii. 4,
5). Isaiah was hardly gone out from pronouncing the judgment when he
was sent back with a message of mercy (2 Kings xx. 4-5). How
wonderfully compassionate is God to His feeble people! Their poor,
trembling prayers, uttered in fear and doubting, are heard and
answered. He not only hears prayer, but answers directly (Dan.
ix. 20-23).
+III. We find him speedily forgetful of the mercy he had received.+
Ambassadors arrive at his court. Whence and for what purpose? (vers.
1, 2). What an opportunity for him to redeem his vows, and to
proclaim the power and goodness of God to these heathens! Alas! he
shows them all his riches, &c., but of God and His temple he says
nothing. Flattered and betrayed by the world (vers. 3, 4), what a
heart his and ours must be! _How could this be?_ We are told
(2 Chron. xxxii. 31) that such is man when left to himself! We are
never in greater danger than after seasons of great mercy and special
providences (H. E. I. 4902-4904).
+IV. He humbly received the rebuke that was sent to him+ (text).
Here the habit of his mind appeared: he had fallen into the sin of
vanity, but humility and resignation to the will of God, especially
to His afflicted dispensations, were his usual characteristics. A
clear evidence of true godliness, meekly and cheerfully to submit to
fatherly correctives. Aaron (Lev. x. 1-3), Eli (1 Sam. iii. 18), the
bereaved mother (2 Kings iv. 26), David (Ps. cxix. 75).
LESSONS.--1. _Let us cultivate humility, watchfulness, and jealously
of ourselves_ (H. E. I. 4883, 4901). 2. _Let us not be disconsolate
because we are conscious of weakness and unworthiness._ The errors
and failings of the best of men are left on record, not to extenuate
our sins, but to save us from despair. They were men of like passions
with ourselves--the same infirmities and corruptions--yet God bore
with them, and saved them out of all their distresses. Let us
therefore "hope to the end," and "patiently continue in well-doing,"
believing that we shall be "more than conquerors through Him who hath
loved us" (H. E. I. 1117, 2376).--_F. Close, A.M.: Fifty-two Sketches
of Sermons,_ pp. 52-55.