The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 366

foolish Hezeki11.h's pride was, when we remember his recent sickness. It was not so long since Hezekiah, now so vain a.nd boastful, turned his face to the wall, and wept sore. The memory of that should have humbled him. Not only so, bnt when he was recovered of his sickness, he made special promises of praise to God and humility of spirit. "The living, the living, he sha.11 praise thee, as I do this day." Where wa.s Hezekiah's praise of God's goodness when these Babylonish ambassadors came to him? " I shall go softly a.11 my years in the bitterness of my soul" (Isa. xxxviii. 15). Where now is Hezekiah's humility? On the contrary, as it is said in 2 Chron. xxxii. 25, "Hezekiah rendered not again accordinu to the benefit done unto him· for his hea.rt -.ras lifted up." 3. We see here how w/;tc',ful we need to be over our o~n l1earts. We read in 2 Chron. xxxii. 31, "Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Bahylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God le.ft him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart." We cannot tell how we may act until the temptation comes. Such a crisis as this ma.y come to each of us. Let ns watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation. ".Above all treasure guard thy heart, for 011 t of it are the fountains of life." II. A FAITHFUL PROPHET. Isaiah did not delay in the path of duty. Hezekiah had humbled himself and his nation, and he had dishonoured God, berore thP.se heathen ambn.ssa<lors. Isaiah at once proceeds to the king's presence, and rebukes him for his folly and pride (vers. 14-18). Not only so, but he foretells that Babylon, whose avarice had thus been aroused, would one day take advantage of this act of weakness, and take posses$ion of the treasures or Jerusalem. Hezekiah's answer was wise anrl hnm ble. He was a God-fearing, if mistaken, man. "Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken." So let us receh·e God's jndgments, in humility, submission, and patience, and not in rebellion and defiance. What a blessing to a king to have a faith1ul and wise counsellor! What a blessing to a nation and to a Church to have faithful ministers! They who fear God need not fear the face of man.-C. H. I. Vers. 1-21.-Death. "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death," etc. A thoughtful man might raise ma.ny questions on this chapter-indeed, on all the chapters in this book. He might ask-Who was the writer of this chapter, ay, and or the entire Books of Kings? .A question this which has not been settled, and, perhaps, never will be. He might ask on what authority certain men, called prophets, such as Isaiah, speak as from heaven, and say, "'l'hus saith the Lord." Priests and leaders of all sects profess to speak in the name of the Lord, and say," Thus saith the Lord." Such qnestions might open up discussions of critical and speculative interest, but would be of no practical benefit whatever. Anyhow, I forego them. My purpose all along has been to turn whatever I find in this or any other book of the Old Testament to some practical use. Some years before the overwhelming destruction of Sennacherib and hie army, as recorded in the preceding chapter, Hezekiah was seized with some severe disease which threatened the extinction of his life: death was before him. The account leads.us to consider death in three aspects: as (1) consciously approaching; a.s (2) tempo- 1·aruy arrest,ed; and as (3) ultimately triumpl,ant. I. As OONBOIOUBLY APPROACHING. "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death . .And the Prophet Isaiah the son of .Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live." Mark here three things. 1. When he became conscious of its approach. "In those days." "By this expression," says Dr. Keil, "the illness of Hezekiah is merely assigned in a general manner to the same time as the events previously described. That it did not occur after the departure of the .Assyrians, . . . is evident from the sixth verse, both from the fact that, in answer to his prayer, fifteen years more of life were promised him, and that he, nevertheless, reigned only twenty-nine years (eh. xviii. 2); and also from the fact that God promiserl to deliver him out of the hand of the A..ssyrians, and to defend Jerusalem." 2. How he became conscious of its approach. "Thus saitb the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live." It needs no Isaiah, or any other prophet, to deliver thia message to man. It cornea to him frot.n all history, from every graveyard, from every funeral procession, as well as from the inexorable law of decay working ever in his constitution. Yes; a.nd not wercly the announcement, but the duty: "Set thine house in order," (1) Men have on. xx. 1-21.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 415