Isaiah’s Prophecy

Topic: Crisis
Passage: Isaiah 39:1–8

November 30, 2019

Commentary

Warren Wiersbe says that “a crisis does not make a person; it shows what a person is made of."  Hezekiah faced three crises during his reign as king. There was an international crisis, which was the invasion of the Assyrian army. There was a personal crisis, which was a sickness where he almost died.  Then there was a national crisis, which we see in today’s passage, where there is what appears to be an innocent visit from a Babylonian envoy. Hezekiah came through the first two victoriously, but the third one tripped him up.
The fact that Merodak-Baladan, a Babylonian prince, heard about Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery indicates the swiftness in which news traveled even in those ancient times (v. 1). Undoubtedly his friendly visit after Hezekiah’s illness was intended to persuade the king to bring Judah into an alliance against Syria. This visit was also a test of Hezekiah’s heart (2 Chron. 32:31). In pride, he showed the prince everything of value in his storehouse (v. 2).
When Isaiah heard about this, he gave Hezekiah a two party prophecy of judgment. First, he said the king’s wealth would be carried off to Babylon. Second, he prophesied that some of the king’s descendants would be forced to serve in the royal court of Babylon (vv 5-7). At that time Babylon was not a great world power, and few people would have thought that Assyria would one day collapse and be replaced by them.

Application

Isaiah reminded Hezekiah that, as king, he was only the steward of Judah’s wealth and not the owner. I need to be reminded that I am a mere steward of what God has given to me, and I have no right to boast about anything I may possess.

Isaiah 39:1– 8 (NET)

1 At that time Merodach Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered. 2 Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his storehouse with its silver, gold, spices, and high-quality olive oil, as well as his whole armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom. 3 Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did these men say? Where do they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They come from the distant land of Babylon.” 4 Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.” 5 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the message of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 6 ‘Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 7 ‘Some of your very own descendants whom you father will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 8 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s message that you have announced is appropriate.” Then he thought, “For there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”