If you review our first post on Hezekiah there were three stories that were recorded three times in Scripture, in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles and in Isaiah. Those stories are the confrontation with the Assyrians at Jerusalem, Hezekiah’s recovery from a fatal disease, and the following visit of envoys from Babylon. You might say that these events were quite important to the LORD. But more than that, each of those “books” of Scripture have a purpose and reason for including the stories.
·
The books of Samuel and Kings are records of important
events in the lives of Israel’s governing leaders. For that reason the story of the Assyrian
confrontation is longer in 2 Kings than the account in 2 Chron. The Kings are more concerned with Hezekiah’s dealings
with the nations.
·
The book of the Chronicles appears to have been
written by priests, perhaps Ezra. It emphasizes religious events and aspects of the reign of the kings of Judah
(where the temple was located). Thus, in
2 Chron. the record of the opening months of Hezekiah’s reign is 3 chapters
compared to less than a chapter in 2 Kings.
On the other hand, the Assyrian event gets less coverage in Chronicles.
·
Isaiah only records the three stories we
mentioned above, and I believe it is because these events are significant in
Isaiah’s prophecy. They provide a
division in the book. Ch. 1-35 contain
prophecies that have greater concern with Judah in the time of the Assyrian
supremacy. Isaiah then concludes with
the story of the confrontation (Isa. 36-37).
Then Isaiah records the story of Hezekiah’s healing and the visit of the
Babylonians to congratulate him on his health (Ch. 38-39). In Isa. 39 the prophet tells the King that
the day is coming, after his death, when Babylon will become the world power with
which Judah will have to deal. This
launches Ch. 40-66 where Babylon is prominent, as well as the future beyond
Babylon to the time of Messiah. Thus the
3 stories bring an end to Assyria and a beginning to Babylon.
Each recording of the story has an emphasis in
accordance with its location in the Bible.
That is my view of things. I don’t
think the Bible ever has “mere duplication.”
You certainly see it in the four Gospels, where each human author has a
particular audience in mind as they tell what are often the same stories.
I noticed this recently in the book of
Psalms. Ps. 42 and 43 are considered by
some as being originally one psalm.
After all, they have the common “stanza” that begins “Why are you cast
down, O my soul?” (42:5,11; 43:5). Maybe
they were once one psalm. But God, in His
work of providing us with a trustworthy book that can be called “The Word of
God,” gave it to us in 2 psalms. And as
it turns out, each has its own life-context.
Psalm 42 gives us the Psalmist yearning for a relationship with God and for
God’s lovingkindness (cf. 42:1,8; Heb. checed, His goodness, an
essential aspect of who God is). But
Psalm 43 is looking for vindication, for the justice of God (cf. 43:1).
So I come back to
the 3 records of Hezekiah’s dealing with the Assyrians and I see three areas of
application.
·
2 Kings: The emphasis on dealing with the
nations reminds me that the greater Son of David, the Messiah, will rule the
nations. Christ has sent the Church to
the nations with His gospel.
·
Isaiah: The emphasis on dealing with the prophet
reminds me that the greater Son of David, the Messiah, is Himself the Word of
God, the supreme revelation of God (Heb. 1:1-3).)
·
2 Chron: The emphasis on the king and his
worship reminds me that Jesus told Satan, It is written, you shall worship
the Lord your God, Him only you shall serve (Matt. 4:10). God has exalted His Son to be worshiped by
angels (Heb. 1:6) and men (Phil. 2:11).
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