The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 57

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-8.-The dangers of prosperity. I. 'l'HE OSTENTATION OF HEZEKIAH. The Chronicler passes a censure upon Lim. After his recovery he "rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore was there wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem" (2 Chron. xxxii. 25). He gives a picture of his treasuries, and store-hous,·s, his cities, his flocks and herds. An embassy comes from Babylon, partly to congratulate him on his recovery, prt.Iy to inquire con- cerning the portent of the sun-dial or step-clock. Under these pretexts political views were doubtless concealed. And Hezekiah delighted to receive the embassy, and dis- played to them the whole of his treasures and the resources of his armoury, his palaces e.nd his kingdom. II. 'l'HE REDUKE OF THE PROPHET. The prophet, in virtue of his Divine call and.his insight into the bee.rt of things, assumes an authority over the monarch, and, coming to him, inquires, " What have these men said? and whence came they to thee?" "He challenges the kiug to explain his conduct. Jehovah's will is opposed to all coquetting with foreign powers." It is "weaving a web without his Spirit" (eh. xxx. 1). The answer of the king is indirect, perhaps evasive: "They he.ve come from a far country, from Babylon "-as if hinting that hospit:i.lity to them was a duty. A second s1crn question follows: "What he.ve they seeu in the house of the king?" And the kiug replies that he he.a shown thorn all his treasure~. 'l'here i~ that in the very manner e.nd questions of the prophet which implies censure. What ho sees in the act of the king is an upliCting of tho heart; not merely pride iu his resources and wealth as such, but reliance on worldly resources-a. desire to match himself with the great Eastrrn power 011 its own ground. And this is an affront to the Divine King in Zion, who had foLu1,\c,l it that the affiicted of his people might find refuge therein (eh. xiv. 32). "Nut by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts" is over the word, the principle, on which the ltingdom must stand. If Hezekiah has violated this, there must be retribu- tion, either in his person or in the persons of those he represents. III. 'I'm: PUNISHMENT. It was to correspond to his sin. "He thought to subscribe his qu.,ta to e. profane coalition, e.nd Lis treasures should ho violently laid holcl of by wolves in sheep's clothing." De.by Ion had solicited friendsl,ip; she would end by enforcin" slavery. Calm and dispnssionate is the tone in which tho prophet speaks. Charles the Greut could not help weeping at the sight of tho Northrneu's vessels, think- ing of the calamities which those fell pirates would bring on the flonrish(n~ coasts of the Franks. Jeremiah weeps at the thought of the cruelty of the Dauylumans. In bamh contentment with tho po.tent will of God overcomes his emotional susceptibility. All tho boasted treasures Gf the king arc to be carried away to Dabylon, e.nd hiij desccnde.nts  60 'l'IIE DOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET ISA.IA.II. [on. xxxll, 1-S,