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| 1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. |
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 to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah, |
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, Remember now, O Jehovah, 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. |
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 Jehovah to Isaiah, saying, |
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| 5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, 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. |
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 I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city. |
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| 7 And this shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that 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, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone 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 was recovered of 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 shall go into the gates of Sheol:
I am deprived of the residue of my years.
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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 Jehovah, even Jehovah in the land of the living:
I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
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12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me as a shepherd's tent:
I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life; he will cut me off from the loom:
From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
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13 I quieted myself until morning; as a lion, so he breaketh all my bones:
From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
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14 Like a swallow or a crane, so did I chatter;
I did moan as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward:
O Jehovah, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.
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15 What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it:
I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
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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 Jehovah, by these things men live;
And wholly therein is the life of my spirit:
Wherefore recover thou me, and make me to live.
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17 Behold, it was for my peace that I had great bitterness:
But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of nothingness;
For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
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In love to my soul – My being. E371
All my sins – He freely acknowledged his sins. R3588:4
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18 For Sheol cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee:
They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
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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 shall praise thee, as I do this day:
The father to the children shall make known thy truth.
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Shall praise thee – His proper desires were to live, serve and praise the Lord. R3589:5
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20 Jehovah is ready to save me:
Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments
All the days of our life in the house of Jehovah. |
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| 21 Now Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall 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 Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of Jehovah? |
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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