The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 369

and ble~Ring to those who acted thus. A good conRcience ls a great encouragement in p_rayer t.o Goo, thou~h, _with the dee~r views of sin which the gospel gives, there is 11gh_tly R greater shrmkmg from pleadmg anything that might seem like one's own ment (see Perowne's 'Introduction to the Book of Psalms,' eh. iii. seot. 3 "Asser- tions of innocence in the Psalms"). ' III. HEOOVERY FROM ~ICKID:Ss. 1. 'l'he promptitude of Goa:'s answer. Scarcely ha<l the pr.1yer left Hezek1ah's lips than the answer was communicated to Isaiah. The prophrt ha<l not yet left the pa.lace, but was still within its precincts "in the middlo court," when word came to him to return to Hezekiah, and assure him of recovery. God in lhis case, as always, was" waiting to be gracious" (Isa. xxx. 18). The answer was given (1) oat of regard to Hezekiah himself, "Tell Hezekiah the captain of my people; " (2) in ~nswer to his supplication, "I have heard thy prayer;'' (3) for the snkc of David, "The Lord, the God of !David thy father" (and cf. ver. 6). This recovery was one of" the sure mercies of David" (Isa. lv. 3). For similar examples of prompt answer to prayer, see on eh. xix. 20. 2. The promise of lengthened life. The message which Isaiah was to carry to Hezekiah contained three parts: (1) a promise that he would be hPaled, and able to go up to the house of the Lord on the third day, "A striking in5fa.nce of the conditionalness of prophecy" (Cheyne). Hezekiah's :first use of his rec.overed health is assumed to be a visit to God's house. (2) A promise of fifteen years mor~ added to his life. God thus exceeds his servants' askings. The king sought only healmg; God assures him of a prolonged term of life (cf. Eph. iii. 20). (3) A promise that the city would be defended against the Assyrians. This was another word to Hezekiah through which God caused him to hope (Ps. cxix. 49). Yet he nearly forfeited it by his subsequent worldly policy (see previous chapters). 3. The king's recovery. Isaiah's word was fulfilled, and the king recovered. Whether" the lump of :figs" was a simple remedy or a mere sign need not be discussed. In our case the duty of using means in connection with prayer is plain. IV. THE SIGN oF THE SUN-DIAL. 1. The request for a sign. When Isaiah com- municated his message to Hezekiah, the king said, "What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me," etc. ? One wonders that to so good a man the prophet's word should not have been sufficient, and that he should have naked for this additional confirmation, But (1) It was an age of signs (Isa. vii. 10-12; viii. 18; eh. xix. 29). (2) The thing promised was very wonderful and hard to believe, especially after the announcement, "Thou shalt die, and not live," made a few minutes before. '£here is no doubt a greater blessing on those that have not seeu, and yet have believed (John xx. 29); but weak faith t.oo has its rights, and God shows his condescension in stooping to give it the needed supports. 2. The sign given. Isaiah had offered Ahaz a sign, either "in the 'depth, or in the hei.c!ht above" (Isa. vii. 11). Hezekiah had now proposed to him a sign in the height. The shadow on the steps of Abaz's snn--dial would be made eiLher to go forward ten degrees or go back ten degrees, according as Hezekiah should desire, As the more wonderful phenomenon ol' the two, Hezekiah asked that it might go back ten degrees, and at Isaiah's prayer it was done. We inquire in vain as to how the wonder was produced. The fact that it seems to have been a local sign, though widely noised abroad, suggests a miracle connected with the laws of refraction.-J. 0. Vers. 12-19.-The Babylonian embassy. Berodach-Baladan, or as he is more correctly termed in Isaiah, Merodach-Baladan (Isa. xxxix. 1), at this time held possession of the throne of Babylon, and was everywhere casting a.bout for alliances w strengthen him against Assyria. We have here the account of his embassy to Hezekiah. I. RECEPTION OF THE BABYLONIAN MESSENGERS. 1. Hezekiah's visitors. In the streets of Jerusalem were seen strange men, in princely robes, with servants bearing costly presents. They were the envoys of the King of Babylon, ostensibly come to oongratulate Hezekiah on his recovery from sickness, and to inquire into the wonder that had been done in the land (2 Chron. xxxii. 31). '!'his, however, was, it is probable, only a pretext to cover their real object, which was to establish an offensive and defensiye alliance with Hezekiah against Assyria. Professions of friendship veiled the designs of a merely selfish policy. Does not much of what is called diplomacy consist of deceit, insincere profession, intrigue, aubtle designs,covered by fair appea1ances? 2. Hezekiah', OR, XX, 1-21.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 41\)