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| 1 In those days hath Hezekiah been sick unto death, and come in unto him doth Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, and saith unto him, 'Thus said Jehovah: Give a charge to thy house, for thou [art] dying, and dost 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 And Hezekiah turneth round his face unto the wall, and prayeth 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 saith, 'I pray thee, O Jehovah, remember, I pray Thee, how I have walked habitually before Thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and that which [is] good in thine eyes I have done;' and Hezekiah weepeth a great weeping. |
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 And a word of Jehovah is unto Isaiah, saying, |
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| 5 Go, and thou hast said to Hezekiah, Thus said Jehovah, God of David thy father, 'I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tear, lo, I am adding to 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 Asshur I deliver thee and this city, and have covered over this city. |
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| 7 And this [is] to thee the sign from Jehovah, that Jehovah doth 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 Lo, I am bringing back the shadow of the degrees that it hath gone down on the degrees of Ahaz, by the sun, backward ten degrees:' and the sun turneth back ten degrees in the degrees that it had 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 A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah concerning his being sick, when he reviveth 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 I said in the cutting off of my days, I go in to the gates of Sheol, I have numbered the remnant of mine 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 do not see Jah Jah! In the land of the living, I do not behold man any more, With the inhabitants of the world. |
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| 12 My sojourning hath departed, And been removed from me as a shepherd's tent, I have drawn together, as a weaver, my life, By weakness it cutteth me off, From day unto night Thou dost end me. |
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| 13 I have set [Him] till morning as a lion, So doth He break all my bones, From day unto night Thou dost end me. |
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| 14 As a crane a swallow so I chatter, I mourn as a dove, Drawn up have been mine eyes on high, O Jehovah, oppression [is] on me, be my surety. |
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| 15 What do I say seeing He said to me, And He Himself hath wrought, I go softly all my years for 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 Lord, by these do [men] live, And by all in them [is] the life of my spirit, And Thou savest me, make me also to live, |
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| 17 Lo, to peace He changed for me bitterness, And Thou hast delighted in my soul without 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 Sheol doth not confess Thee, Death doth not praise Thee, Those going down to the pit hope not for Thy truth. |
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 doth confess Thee. |
Shall praise thee – His proper desires were to live, serve and praise the Lord. R3589:5
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| 20 Like myself to-day a father to sons Doth make known of Thy faithfulness, O Jehovah to save me: And my songs we sing all days of our lives In the house of Jehovah.' |
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| 21 And Isaiah saith, 'Let them take a bunch of figs, and plaster over the ulcer, and he liveth.' |
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 saith, 'What [is] the sign that I 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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