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| 1 In those days, was Hezekiah sick, unto death,–and Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz, came in unto him, and said unto him–Thus, saith Yahweh, Set in order thy house, for, about to die, thou art, and shalt not recover. |
In those days – Somewhere in the period of time when "Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor." (2 Chron. 32:27) R2382:5
731 BC, 125 years before the overthrow of Zedekiah; corresponding to the date of the French Revolution in 1789 AD, from which Christendom recovered, though it must have seemed to be a "sickness unto death." R3574:2*
Was Hezekiah sick – With a malignant ulcer. R3588:1
Had somewhat to do with Hezekiah's prosperity and pride. R2382:6
Was neither of divine nor Satanic infliction, but a natural effect from some natural cause. R3588:2
All sickness and death are indirectly the result of Satan's work, whose deception brought the death penalty. R3588:1
Thine house in order – Make proper preparations for the interests of the Kingdom, disposition of property, your funeral, and for your successor. R3588:2
It is the duty of the Lord's stewards to leave their affairs in such shape that those who take up the work can do so intelligently. R3588:2
Thou shalt die – Nothing in Hezekiah's conduct indicated that he had fear of torment. R3588:3
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| 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face unto the wall,–and prayed unto Yahweh; |
Hezekiah...prayed – Instead of rejoicing that he was about to go to heaven. R3588:3
He would have died had he not prayed. R3588:5
Does not imply that we should make specific requests for recovery from illness. R3588:5
The difference between our relationship to the Lord and that of Hezekiah is that we have surrendered earthly life and interests for the spiritual. R3588:5
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| 3 and said,–I beseech thee, O Yahweh, remember, I pray thee, how I have walked before thee, in faithfulness and with an undivided heart, and, that which is good in thine eyes, have I done. And Hezekiah wept, aloud.
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And said – A brief summary of his prayer. R3588:4
Not a boastful prayer, for he freely acknowledged his sins. (Verse 17) R3588:4
A perfect heart – We all should be able to claim such in our walk. R3588:4
Hezektah wept sore – Hezekiah did not rejoice in the thought of death. R3588:3
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| 4 Then came the word of Yahweh unto Isaiah, saying: |
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| 5 Go, and say unto Hezekiah–Thus, saith Yahweh, the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears,–Behold me! about to add unto thy days, fifteen years; |
Heard thy prayer – The Lord can arrange certain matters as easily one way as another without interference with his general plans. R3588:5
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| 6 And, out of the hand of the king of Assyria, will I deliver thee, and this city; And I will throw a covering over this city. |
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| 7 And, this, to thee, shall be the sign, from Yahweh,–that Yahweh will do, this thing which he hath spoken:– |
A sign – Hezekiah requested a sign. (See 2 Kings 20:8) R3588:6
For a confirmation of faith and not because of disbelief. R3589:1, R2383:1
The New Creation, walking by faith and not by sight. should avoid putting the Lord to tests and signs. R3589:1
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| 8 Behold me! causing the shadow on the steps, which hath come gone down on the steps of Ahaz with the sun, to return, backwards, ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps, by the steps which it had come down. |
Ten degrees backward – This was more difficult to be accounted for and therefore the surer test. R3589:2
Representing the 10 years from the beginning of the Time of the End in 1799 to the French Revolution in 1789. R3574:3*
So the sun – Could result if the upper atmosphere be in that condition which causes two parhelia, or mock suns, to appear on opposite sides of the sun, while clouds hide the real sun and the eastern mock sun. R3589:2, R2383:1
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| 9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and then recovered from his sickness:– |
Writing of Hezekiah – Verses 9 to 22 record, in poetic form, his resolves, embodying his previous prayer, with thanksgiving for deliverance. R2382:6, R3589:4
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| 10 I, said–In the noontide of my days, I must enter the gates of hades,–I am deprived of the residue of my years! |
Gates of the grave – Good King Hezekiah expected and declared that he was going to hell (sheol--"the grave"). HG335:1
Sheol, oblivion, death, not torment. E370; R2600:2
Residue of my years – Years Hezekiah might reasonably have expected to enjoy. E371
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| 11 I said–I shall not see Yah, Yah, in the land of the living, I shall discern the son of earth no longer, with the dwellers in the quiet land. |
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| 12 My dwelling, hath been broken up, And is stripped from me, like a shepherd's tent,–I have rolled up–as a weaver–my life, From the loom, doth he cut me off, From day until night, [I said]–Thou wilt finish me. |
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| 13 I cried out, until morning, like a lion, Thus, will he break all my bones! From day until night, Thou wilt finish me! |
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| 14 As a twittering swallow, so, do I chatter, I coo as a dove,–Mine eyes languish, through looking on high, O My Lord! distress is upon me–my Surety! |
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| 15 What can I say? Since he hath promised for me, Himself, will perform. I will go softly, all my years, Because of the bitterness of my soul. |
Hath done it – I freely acknowledge that it was not the lump of figs but the Lord, who produced the recovery. R3589:4
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| 16 O My Lord! on those things do men live,–And, altogether in them, is the life of my spirit, When thou hast strengthened me, and made me live. |
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| 17 Lo! for well-being, I had bitterness–bitterness,–But, thou, cleaving unto my soul, hast raised me from the pit of corruption, For thou hast cast, behind thy back, all my sins. |
In love to my soul – My being. E371
All my sins – He freely acknowledged his sins. R3588:4
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| 18 For, hades, cannot praise thee, Nor, death, celebrate thee,–They who go down to the pit cannot wait for thy faithfulness. |
For the grave – Sheol, oblivion, death, not torment. E371: R2600:2, R3589:5
Cannot praise thee – It is a place of silence, forgetfulness and absolute unconsciousness. HG335:4; HG121:5
"The dead know not anything." (Eccl. 9:5) R1881:5
Death can not – "For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in sheol (hell, the tomb) who shall give thee thanks?" (Psa. 6:4, 5) SM525:T
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| 19 The living, the living, he, can praise thee, As I, do this day,–A father, to his children, can make known thy faithfulness. |
Shall praise thee – His proper desires were to live, serve and praise the Lord. R3589:5
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| 20 Yahweh, [was willing] to save me,–Therefore, on my stringed instruments, will we play–All the days of our life, By the house of Yahweh. |
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| 21 And Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and let them press it over the boil, that he may recover. |
Take a lump of figs – Instead of healing him without remedies. R3588:4
We should recognize behind the remedial agents, the will of God. R3588:4
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| 22 And Hezekiah had said–What is the sign–that I shall go up unto the house of Yahweh? |
What is the sign – The Lord's people of the New Creation are advised not to ask signs of the Lord nor to make tests. "We walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor. 5:7) R3589:1
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