Season 6, Podcast 94, Isaiah 39:1-8, “Good is the Word of the Lord.”

Season 6, Podcast 94, Isaiah 39:1-8, “Good is the Word of the Lord.”

Again, we meet Hezekiah. He is a very righteous king. He tears down the altars to the idols built by his father. He restores the temple his father pilfered and desecrated. He communicates with the Lord in the Temple often. He keeps the commandments of God, and he obeys the words of the prophet Isaiah. Yet, he does a rather foolish thing by showing all his treasures to the Prince of Babylon who will later destroy the temple and Jerusalem and carry the Jews into captivity.

Isaiah 39:1-2

At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Hezekiah is sandwiched between two very evil kings. His father Ahaz who used the sacred temple alters to sacrifice to idols. In addition, Ahaz had some of his own children walk through the fire, meaning he offered them as burnt offerings to the god Moloch. There were few greater sins than human sacrifice. Next was Hezekiah’s own son, Manassa. Manassa destroyed everything his father built and committed all the sins of his grandfather only on a bigger scale. Apparently he repented late in life. 

2 Chronicles 33:1-7

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

It is even recorded in secular history, including the Talmud and the writings of Josephus, that Manassa murdered Isaiah. The Talmud records that Isaiah was sawn in half. 

There is a curious parallel relating to Hezekiah, king of Judah, and Ahaziah, king of Ephraim. As recorded in the Isaiah Chapter 38, Hezekiah had a near-death experience.

Isaiah 38:1-5

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.