Isaiah 39
-At the time of Judah’s salvation
from Assyrian oppression and Hezekiah’s healing from his disease, the king of
Babylon, Merodach-baladan, who was trying to establish independence from
Assyria upon the death of Sargon II in 705 B.C., came on the scene in the
narrative. He was likely trying to split the Assyrians attention by opening up
another front from which they would have to fight for their empire. They were
at that time allies to Judah and King Hezekiah. Well wishes and presents were
sent by Merodach-baladan to Hezekiah, which the king of Judah understandably
welcomed gladly. Hezekiah, whose faith stood firm in the face of Assyrian
intimidation and arrogance, now melts in the face of Babylonian flattery. He
presents all the treasures of the Judean Kingdom for the envoys from Babylon to
view. This was a foolish move because he did not discern, as Isaiah did, the
ulterior motives of these foreigners to lust for the riches which were opened
up to them. Isaiah, remarkably for the time, predicts the coming days when
Babylon will carry away all that is in the king’s house and that which his
fathers had stored up to their nation. Isaiah by the word of God says that
“Nothing shall be left…and some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom
you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall become eunuchs (have their
manhood taken away) in the palace of the king of Babylon (Isaiah 39:1-7).”
Irresponsibly, Hezekiah thinks only of himself in his response by claiming the
word of the LORD spoken was good and that they would enjoy peace, truth, and
security in his days (2 Kings 20:19, Isaiah 39:8). Even though he was described
as a good king in Judah, he ended up not being a very good steward of his
father David’s dynasty (2 Kings 18:3-6, 2 Chronicles 29:2). *Application* Satan
has more than one way of attacking and oppressing the righteous children of
God. If he can’t get you through intimidation, he may very well try flattery or
some other comfort deception. Stand firm against the devil and all his evil
schemes as you walk with the LORD circumspectly (2 Corinthians 2:11, Ephesians
5:15).
Verse to Memorize: Isaiah 39:6
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