Sharp as was the rebuke sent him by Isaiah, Hezekiah so received it
as to give a rare example of pious and cheerful resignation (text).
Both parts of his reply are remarkable. 1. _"Good is the word of the
Lord which thou hast spoken."_ None but a child of God could have
used this language in sincerity, under such trying circumstances. But
he has such faith in God, that although it is impossible for him to
foresee what wickedness his posterity would commit, he knows that the
decree will be found to be righteous (1 Sam. iii. 18). But doubtless
he meant something more than submission to God's sovereignty; he
meant to acknowledge the goodness of the Lord to himself, of which
this very rebuke was a new manifestation (H. E. I. 190-196, 162-165).
2. _"He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my
days."_ That is, God hath been pleased to inform me that my children
are to be carried into captivity and to suffer much affliction; but
in my grief for this, I must not forget to thank Him for His tender
mercies to myself. He has declared that I shall have peace, and this
is far more than I deserve.
APPLICATION.--1. We may learn what exceeding sinfulness and immense
danger there often is in sins which we are apt to pass over as
trifles, and hardly to notice in ourselves (H. E. I. 4897, 4898,
4516). 2. Remark an inestimable privilege of the children of God's
love: they may fall into the very same troubles as their naughty
neighbours, but in the one case calamity is the angry lash of the
law, in the other it is the faithful rebuke of an anxious Father.
3. For the history of God's dealings with Hezekiah we may infer what
must be the wisest wish for any man to make, viz., that God would
take us into His holy keeping and choose our inheritance for us. If
we were left to determine for ourselves, some would choose one thing,
and some another. Yet "sorrow is better than laughter;" and the
history of Hezekiah is proof of it (H. E. I. 211, 3986, 3998-4001).
4. If sin have brought rebuke unto you, search and try your ways,
that you may see what your transgression and weakness is; and then
accept the chastening of the Lord as a token of His love (H. E. I.
144-147). 5. Whatsoever may have befallen you, remember always that
the mercies which remain are far greater than you deserve; and that
in the day of prosperity, no less than in the evil, there is need for
perseverance and watchfulness (H. E. I. 4888-4890).--_Archdeacon
Bather: Sermons on Old Testament Histories,_ pp. 275-285.