Scripture Reading: Isa. 36—39
Ⅰ
Hezekiah, one of the best kings, did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, clinging to Him, trusting in Him, and keeping His commandments—2 Kings 18:1-8:
A
Hezekiah removed the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent, to which the children of Israel had burned incense—v.
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B. Hezekiah restored the house of Jehovah and removed the things related to idol worship—2 Chron. 29:3-36.
C
Hezekiah recovered the Passover, which the people no longer kept—30:1—31:1.
D
Hezekiah set the services of the priests and the Levites in order—31:2-21.
E
Hezekiah built a defense against the invasion of the Assyrians—32:1-5.
F
Hezekiah trusted in God and encouraged his people to do so—vv. 6-8.
G
Jehovah was with Hezekiah, and everywhere he went, he prospered—2 Kings 18:7.
Ⅱ
Hezekiah sought after Jehovah concerning the enemy's attack—Isa. 36:1—37:38:
A
When Hezekiah heard about the situation, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah; this indicates that he was a godly person— 37:1.
B
Hezekiah went up to the house of Jehovah, spread before Jehovah the letter he had received, and prayed to Him concerning the enemy's further attack—vv. 14-20.
C
Hezekiah trusted in Jehovah according to His answer to him and won the victory in Jehovah's fulfillment of His answer—vv. 21-38.
D
Jehovah said that He would save Jerusalem not for Hezekiah's sake but for His own sake and for the sake of David; this word unveils that Hezekiah was not a weighty, valuable, or precious person in the sight of God—vv. 33-35.
Ⅲ
Hezekiah sought after Jehovah for his health—38:1-22:
A
In answering Hezekiah's prayer, the Lord referred to Himself as the "God of David your father" (v. 5); this indicates that Hezekiah had very little credit before Him.
B
In his prayer, Hezekiah said that he would walk "deliberately all my years" (v. 15); however, instead of walking in a deliberate way, he walked in a hasty way—39:1-8.
C
The fact that God extended Hezekiah's life by only fifteen years reveals that, in the sight of God, he was not a person who could be trusted to carry out God's purpose—38:5.
D
Hezekiah prayed a good prayer, but his prayer had the taste of selfishness—vv. 2-20.
E
Hezekiah was for God, but he was for God in a selfish way; this is what we taste in his prayer.
F
Hezekiah was a godly man, but he was not a man of God, a God-man.
Ⅳ
Isaiah 39 shows Hezekiah's failure in the enjoyment of the peaceful situation and sound health:
A
Instead of being a considerate and careful person, Hezekiah was hasty—vv. 1-2.
B
Hezekiah failed concerning receiving gifts and concerning self-glorification; he was full of self and was not able to restrict the self.
C
Although Hezekiah was a godly person who prayed and received miraculous answers from God, he eventually became a failure because of his self-glory and self-interest.
D
Hezekiah's selfishness is demonstrated by the way he responded to Isaiah's word to him in verses 5 through 7:
１
The kingdom of Judah was actually the kingdom of God on earth, and Hezekiah should not have regarded it as his own kingdom; for God to lose His kingdom was a great thing.
２
Hezekiah had no thought for God and for God's kingdom, and he did not even care for his own children.
３
Hezekiah was altogether for himself.
E
The factors of Hezekiah's failure include:
１
Making a show of what he had according to the flesh.
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Not being watchful.
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Not seeking after the Lord.
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Not praying.
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Not considering the issue.
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Caring only for himself and not for God's kingdom on earth.
Ⅴ
"In light of this pattern, we need to spend some time with the Lord and ask ourselves what kind of person we would be":
A
"Would we be like Hezekiah, who was hasty and was so much for himself?"
B
"As we consider this matter, we must learn to say, 'Lord, I would not be any kind of person; I would just be nothing. I would have You as my person and my life, as the One who lives in me that I may live You. If I want to be anything, I want to be a person like this.'
C
"If we would all pray such a prayer, the Lord's recovery would have a great revival" (Life-study of Isaiah, p. 128).