HEZEKIAh's deliverance from SENNACHERIB.
2 Kings xix. 30, 31. The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root dowmoard, and hear fruit 7ijnvard. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, a7id they that escape out of Mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.
GREAT and mighty conquerors have at all times been ready to ascribe their success to their own wisdom and prowess: but in no case have they been any thing more than the sword which God has used for the effecting of his own purposes'": and when he has accomplished by them his own designs, he not unfrequently punishes their pride and cruelty by some signal judgments. Thus he acted towards the boasting and blasphemous Sennacherib, He raised up that monarch to subdue mighty kingdoms, to lead into captivity the ten tribes of Israel, and to inflict a heavy chastisement on the two remammg tribes
^ Isai. X. 5, 15.
377.] hezekiah's deliverance. 545
of Judah and Benjamin. But, when the victorious monarch arrogated to himself all the glory of his con- quests, and poured contempt upon Jehovah, whose instrument he was, God " put a hook in his nose and a bridle in his jaws," and turned him back with shame and ignominy; assuring at the same time his oppressed people, that, notwithstanding their present weakness, they should speedily be delivered from their insulting foe, and again be raised to stability and honour.
The words which we have now read are a part of the answer given from the Lord to the supplications of Hezekiah : and we shall find it not unprofitable to consider,
I. The promise contained in them —
[The tribes of Judah and Benjamin were reduced to the lowest state of desperation. But God had yet mercy in store for them ; and promised, that he would once more establish them in peace and prosperity, so that, instead of being shut up, as now they were, they should be at liberty to return to their own possessions ; and, instead of being reduced in number, they should multiply and fill the land.
This seems to be the primary meaning of the words: but they undoubtedly contain a promise of spiritual prosperity to that nation in the Apostolic age.
The terms in which the promise is expressed, are taken from the preceding verse ; wherein it is declared, for their comfort, that the desolation which Sennacherib's army had occasioned, should not issue in a famine ; but that sufficient corn should spring up, from what had been spilled in the fields, to support them this year, and the year following (which was the sabbatic year) ; and that in the third year they should be supported by the labours of husbandry, as in former times. From thence God takes occasion to say, that the remnant which should escape the present desolations, should at a future period be a source of comfort and benefit to the whole world.
That this is the true meaning of the words, appears from similar expressions used by the Prophet Isaiah, and quoted by St. Paul in the very sense here affixed to them''. In pre- serving a remnant, it was God's intention that they should be witnesses for him to every nation under heaven ; and that by the ministration of his Gospel they should " blossom, and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruits"
^ Compare Isai. x. 21, 22. with Rom. ix. 27. *■ Isai. xxvii. 6. VOL. III. N N