2Ki 19:4 | KingComments | STEP | When the delegation had passed on the commander’s words to Hezekiah, he tore his clothes. He also covered himself with sackcloth. He revealed a good mind, that of humility. He was not arrogant, but bowed under the judgment that came upon him. He knew what he had earned, and that the hand of the LORD brought this upon him. Therefore he went to Him to His house. Furthermore he sent a delegation to Isaiah, with some people he first sent to the commander. Then he took refuge in the Word of God to ask what should happen. It is the example for us, to ask God by consulting His Word. Hezekiah’s need was brought to Isaiah. It was “a day of distress” because the enemy was lying in front of the gate of Jerusalem and there was no strength to fight the enemy. Powerlessness causes distress. It was also a day of “rebuke”. Thus Hezekiah acknowledged that the distress of the enemy was a rebuke they deserved for their unfaithfulness to the LORD. Hezekiah also characterized the commander’s words as “rejection”. Hezekiah continued his feelings in . But first he spoke in pictorial language about God’s work in His people. He compared the situation of the people with a birth that presents itself, when there is no strength to give birth. There were birth contractions, but the children were not born, so that the mother’s life was threatened. There was in the people, in the person of Hezekiah, acknowledgment of unfaithfulness. Confession of unfaithfulness can be compared to the pain of a new birth (cf. ). But it seemed that the birth would not progress. Hezekiah saw only distress and no salvation. He no longer dared to speak of the LORD as ‘my God’. For himself he saw that he had lost that right. But “perhaps” the LORD would listen to Isaiah. He spoke to Isaiah about “the LORD your God”. He recognized the good relationship Isaiah had with the LORD. The reason for his request for prayer was not that he was personally offended or that the people were threatened, but that the enemy had dishonored the living God (cf. ). It was about the Name of God. Is that also our motivation when we ask something, or is it about our own honor? The question to Isaiah was whether he wanted to send a prayer “for the remnant that is left”. That makes this history applicable to the end time, when there will be a remnant that is in great need. It also applies to us, believers in an apostate Christianity, who (want to) be a remnant that focuses on the honor of the Name of God.

‏ 2 Kings 19:4

Hezekiah Sends Servants to Isaiah

When the delegation had passed on the commander’s words to Hezekiah, he tore his clothes. He also covered himself with sackcloth. He revealed a good mind, that of humility. He was not arrogant, but bowed under the judgment that came upon him. He knew what he had earned, and that the hand of the LORD brought this upon him. Therefore he went to Him to His house.

Furthermore he sent a delegation to Isaiah, with some people he first sent to the commander. Then he took refuge in the Word of God to ask what should happen. It is the example for us, to ask God by consulting His Word.

Hezekiah’s need was brought to Isaiah. It was “a day of distress” because the enemy was lying in front of the gate of Jerusalem and there was no strength to fight the enemy. Powerlessness causes distress. It was also a day of “rebuke”. Thus Hezekiah acknowledged that the distress of the enemy was a rebuke they deserved for their unfaithfulness to the LORD. Hezekiah also characterized the commander’s words as “rejection”.

Hezekiah continued his feelings in 2Kgs 19:4. But first he spoke in pictorial language about God’s work in His people. He compared the situation of the people with a birth that presents itself, when there is no strength to give birth. There were birth contractions, but the children were not born, so that the mother’s life was threatened. There was in the people, in the person of Hezekiah, acknowledgment of unfaithfulness. Confession of unfaithfulness can be compared to the pain of a new birth (cf. Jn 16:21a). But it seemed that the birth would not progress. Hezekiah saw only distress and no salvation.

He no longer dared to speak of the LORD as ‘my God’. For himself he saw that he had lost that right. But “perhaps” the LORD would listen to Isaiah. He spoke to Isaiah about “the LORD your God”. He recognized the good relationship Isaiah had with the LORD. The reason for his request for prayer was not that he was personally offended or that the people were threatened, but that the enemy had dishonored the living God (cf. 1Sam 17:45). It was about the Name of God. Is that also our motivation when we ask something, or is it about our own honor?

The question to Isaiah was whether he wanted to send a prayer “for the remnant that is left”. That makes this history applicable to the end time, when there will be a remnant that is in great need. It also applies to us, believers in an apostate Christianity, who (want to) be a remnant that focuses on the honor of the Name of God.