The Strand Study Bible
ISAIAH 38:21
ISAIAH 40:1
1095
21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover. 22 Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD? READ NEXT - II Kings 20:12-19 Isaiah 39 King Hezekiah exposes his wealth to the Babylonians (S/A - II Ki 20:12-19 & II Chro 32:31,25,26) (Note - This portion of Isaiah’s prophecy took place in the 17th year of King Hezekiah’s reign) Date - c. 710 BC/AM 3290 1 At that time 1 Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and 2 shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. 3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.
4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD OF HOSTS : The promise of Judah/Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon (Fulfilled - II Ki 25 - 586 BC) 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, 3 shall be carried to Babylon: 4 nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. P The promise of captivity to King 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and 5 they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. P 8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days. Isaiah 40 God’s message of comfort (Note - This portion of Isaiah’s prophecy took place in the 27th year of King Hezekiah’s reign) Date Written - c. 700 BC/AM 3300 1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your GOD . Hezekiah’s descendants (Fulfilled - Dan 1:3 - 605 BC)
1. II Ki 20:12 2. Psa 62:10 & Job 31:24-25 & Lk 12:15 3. Fulfilled - II Ki 25 (Fall of Judah) 4. II Ki 24:13 & 25:13-17 5. Fulfilled - Dan 1:3 (Eunuchs)
39:1 Three years after his miraculous healing, Hezekiah received some letters and a present from Merodach-baladan , king ofBabylon. Merodach-baladan’s purpose in sending Hezekiah a gift was more of a bribe than a present, for the king of Babylon had just rebelled against Sargon, king of Assyria, by setting himself up an independent monarchy, and needed an alliance with Judah to secure this newfound freedom. Unfortunately, Hezekiah was impressed with the attention he received from Merodach-baladan (vs 2), and being blinded by his own pride, he foolishly showed the Babylonians his wealth and how special he was to God. Hezekiah thought to himself, “I’m so special to God, look what I have” (vs 4). NOTE – According to the Bible, God is no respecter of persons (Lev 19:15, Deut 1:17, Mt 22:16 and Jms 2:1 ), thus, we are no more special to God than anyone else. There is only one person that the FATHER ( LORDOF HOSTS ) deems special, and that’s the SON (Exo 23:20-23, Psa 2:7-12 and Mt 3:17 & 17:5), the SECOND PERSON of the Triune Godhead who stepped out of eternity and into time in order to purchase salvation for us (Phil 2:8-11). Just because God has done something special for us doesn’t mean we’ve become special to Him. Again, God is no respecter of persons and we need to be careful about promoting ourselves based upon how special we are to God. Remember, Christ was so special to the Father that the Father allowed Him to go through “hell” just to keep us from it. It appears that the more special you are, the more of a sacrifice you become. Now how special do you want to be? Job warned us long ago not to seek “lionization” ( Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person – Job 32:21). To do so is to seal one’s own fate ( in so doing my Maker would soon take me away – Job 32:22). We are admonished to steer clear of “lionizing” men ( neither let me give flattering titles unto man – Job 32:21) and/or becoming “lionized” (put on a pedestal – Rom 12:3, II Cor 3:5 & 12:7, Gal 6:3, I Cor 4:6 and I Pet 4:18 ). 40:1 Looking beyond Israel’s spiritual insensitivity and Judah’s inevitable captivity (Isa 3:1-14,17-26 & 4:1 & 6:11,12 & 27:8-11 & 39:6 & 47:6), Isaiah begins the great second section (chapters 40-66) of the book and sees a day of hope coming in the future, and calls the nation to “ comfort .” And who is this one that provides “ comfort ?” God says, “It’s Me.” It starts with CHRIST (vs 3-12), continues with the SPIRIT (vs 13-18), and ends with the FATHER (vs 19-25-31). All three Persons of the Triune Godhead are involved in your “ comfort ” (Mt 11:28-30 and Jn 14:1-3,16-18,26-27 & 15:26).
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