Page 80 - Isaiah Student Worktext

Illness is an outcome of the original sin, not necessarily our individual sin. Still all of us need to heed the
call to ‘set our house in order’ and also to seek to find what God is telling us through affliction.
Afflictions of all kinds can humble us and cause us to grow closer to God, or it can cause bitterness.

In addition, we should use our experiences in suffering to help others who are suffering as well. 2
Corinthians 1: 3-4

Chapter 39 - Main Idea: When Isaiah warned Hezekiah of the future
exile to Babylon, Hezekiah showed no concern because he knew it
wouldn’t happen in his lifetime, a tragic display of shortsighted faith.

Hezekiah, immediately after being granted additional years, now shows his lack
of faith and appreciation for the fact that all he had come from God. His time as king was a mixed bag.
He destroyed the ‘high places’ where pagan gods were worshiped, but then failed to trust in God for
protection, turning instead to an alliance with Egypt. He demonstrated wisdom in not paying tribute to
the Assyrian king, but when invasion was imminent, he tried to buy time with gifts of gold and silver.

Just as Hezekiah was humble in asking for more time (except for boasting about all he had done for the
Lord), he was prideful in all that he had, apparently without giving God any of the glory.

V. 1-2 News of the miraculous victory over the 185,000 Assyrians and the miraculous healing had
spread. People from far and wide desired to see Hezekiah, as well as the plunder gained from God’s
angel destroying the Assyrian army. Remember that the Assyrians had already defeated all the
surrounding nations, and had collected plunder that they no doubt had with them when the angel wiped
them all out.

Merodach-Baladan was the king of Babylon, which had also been conquered by Assyria. He had been
agitating for a rebellion against the Assyrians, but was defeated by Sennacherib. Now that Assyria has
been defeated Merodach is emboldened and reaches out to Hezekiah, probably to seek an alliance.

His letters and gifts came because ‘he had heard that’ Hezekiah had been sick and had recovered. The
emissaries who brought the gifts were shown all that Hezekiah had taken as plunder. At no point is it
recorded that Hezekiah lifted up praise to God, and appeared to seek praise for what he himself had
done.

Pride can quickly take us over. Pride goes before a fall Proverbs 16: 18 This was not only prideful, it was
also dishonoring to God.

In the account of the same story from 2 Chronicles 32: 31, we are told that God ‘left’ Hezekiah in order
to test him. Hezekiah failed the test.

V. 3-4 Isaiah shows up. As he was the messenger of God, no doubt God alerted him to what was going
on. Notice the end of V. 4 ‘They have seen all that is in in MY house; there is nothing among MY
treasures that I have not shown them.’

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