Isaiah 38-39

Hezekiah became king at age 25 and reigned 29 years (2 Kings 18:2).  Thus we conclude that he became deathly ill at the fourteenth year when, as our passage tells us, God granted him an additional fifteen years.  The events of Isa. 36-37 were said to have taken place in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah.  Because of some issues with correlation to well-known historical dates some have proposed that Hezekiah serve a co-regency with his father Ahaz and/or with his son Manasseh.  Others have thought that it was the fourteenth year of the fifteen additional years, thus placing these events in that time frame.  It is all quote possible.  But let us not miss what these events say to us personally. 

We are seeing that Hezekiah is a real man of prayer.  He understands that he can and should come to the LORD in his time of need.  And this is a time of need.  He is sick and the prophet tells him he will die from this.  But after Hezekiah cries out the LORD grants his request, giving him fifteen additional years.  Manasseh, who will begin his reign at age 14, will be born in these years.

Many have prayed this prayer at a similar time but it is a prayer not usually answered in the affirmative.  In that regard we must say it was in the LORD’s sovereign plan to do this and His answer was gracious.  Certainly, from the human point of view, God may have been moved by Hezekiah’s faithfulness (v3) or his tears (v5).  But the answer through Isaiah was the word of the LORD (v4), an answer that involved the use of medicine (v21).  This is one of those stories, of which there are many, that present the mystery of prayer and the sovereignty of God.  He does answer prayer.  It makes a different.  That is what we must know and how we must operate.  He is blessed when we trust in Him.

Note how he prayed (v9-20).  He reminded God that he was in the prime of life, a time when he could do so much to glorify God.  His plea, in v14, undertake for me, is literally be my surety, my confidence, my guarantee.  The Psalmist prayed in the same way (Ps. 119:122).

Isa. 39 reminds us of our need to always be aware of the issue of pride.  God had answered Hezekiah’s prayer; undoubtedly Hezekiah was elated; and it is at times like that, when God has blessed us, that we are must vulnerable to the temptation to pride.  Often the testimonies people share about their answers to prayer seem to exalt them for praying rather than God for answering in grace.  In Hezekiah’s case, when the Babylonian emissaries came to wish him well, he undoubtedly told them the story, and then proceeded to take them around and show them all of his greatness and wealth.  God was at work in all of this and used the situation to set the future scene when Babylon would be His tool to discipline His people.

God is the Sovereign Lord.  He is honored when we put our trust in Him.  Pride is an ever present enemy.