Isa 39:1 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is important because in the second main part of Isaiah, Isaiah 40-66, we are no longer in the days of Hezekiah, nor in the days of Isaiah, but in days further in the future. These are days when Israel is in Babylonian exile and close to the end of it. In order to understand these prophecies, we must move in spirit to the end of Babylonian exile. For that purpose, what is announced in Isaiah 39 must first be fulfilled. Jerusalem must have been destroyed and all the treasures and all the people of Judah must have been transported to Babylon. This chapter answers the question of why God, Who is able to deliver Judah from the hand of Assyria, has had Judah carried away to Babylon. We also see here the necessity of the deliverance described in Isaiah 40-66. Isaiah speaks in the second part of his book to a people who still have to be carried away into exile, while he does so in a way that gives the impression that this exile is almost over. The message is this, that God has chosen a special tool to end the Babylonian empire. This tool is Cyrus, the Persian. Through this tool God will work a return of a remnant to His land. In Cyrus we can see a type of Christ, God’s perfect Servant, Who will bring about the ultimate, true salvation for Israel. The king of Babylon, who at that time was still an insignificant empire, finds in the illness and recovery of Hezekiah reason to send him a letter and a present ( ). The miracle of the sun’s shadow going back ten steps on the stairway also raised questions with him ( ). Possibly he wants to seek support from Hezekiah in his fight against the Assyrians. Even more, it seems that he sent spies to see what treasures and weapons Hezekiah has. But behind all this there is God Who wants to put Hezekiah to the test ( ). With this letter Hezekiah does not enter the temple to submit it to the LORD, as he did with the threatening letters of the king of Assyria ( ). This is a danger to which we are all exposed. When the world threatens us, we go to the Lord, but when the world flatters us, we feel honored and go with the world. When the world reaches out the hand of friendship to us instead of making a fist of enmity against us, we are quick to accept the outstretched hand. It is one of the greatest dangers that can threaten to eliminate us as witnesses of our heavenly Lord. Hezekiah feels caressed by this visit ( ). He tries to make the best possible impression on the envoy. For this he shows all his treasures, without withholding anything. This also includes his “whole armory”. He acts as if it is all his and leaves the LORD out of it. For Hezekiah Babylon is a powerful ally against Assyria. Hezekiah now puts his trust in people instead of in the LORD. The treasures Hezekiah shows have a spiritual meaning. In Scripture, “silver” is a picture of the price paid for atonement. “Gold” speaks of the glory of God. “Spices” represent the various glories of the Lord Jesus. “Oil” is a picture of the Holy Spirit. What Hezekiah does is what the Lord Jesus warns against: “Do not throw your pearls before swine” ( ). The Lord Jesus warns not to do that, for the swine – a picture of the heathens – will trample the pearls under their feet, turn around and tear in pieces whoever throws them to them. This is what will happen to Hezekiah, i.e. his offspring. The same will happen to us if we start to consider precious spiritual truths – of which the treasures of Hezekiah are a picture – as our own possessions and forget that we have received them from the Lord. Then we will ‘show them off’ and they will be taken away from us by those who we want to impress with it.

‏ Isaiah 39:1

Introduction

This chapter is important because in the second main part of Isaiah, Isaiah 40-66, we are no longer in the days of Hezekiah, nor in the days of Isaiah, but in days further in the future. These are days when Israel is in Babylonian exile and close to the end of it. In order to understand these prophecies, we must move in spirit to the end of Babylonian exile. For that purpose, what is announced in Isaiah 39 must first be fulfilled. Jerusalem must have been destroyed and all the treasures and all the people of Judah must have been transported to Babylon.

This chapter answers the question of why God, Who is able to deliver Judah from the hand of Assyria, has had Judah carried away to Babylon. We also see here the necessity of the deliverance described in Isaiah 40-66.

Isaiah speaks in the second part of his book to a people who still have to be carried away into exile, while he does so in a way that gives the impression that this exile is almost over. The message is this, that God has chosen a special tool to end the Babylonian empire. This tool is Cyrus, the Persian. Through this tool God will work a return of a remnant to His land. In Cyrus we can see a type of Christ, God’s perfect Servant, Who will bring about the ultimate, true salvation for Israel.

The Envoy From Babylon

The king of Babylon, who at that time was still an insignificant empire, finds in the illness and recovery of Hezekiah reason to send him a letter and a present (Isa 39:1). The miracle of the sun’s shadow going back ten steps on the stairway also raised questions with him (2Chr 32:31a). Possibly he wants to seek support from Hezekiah in his fight against the Assyrians. Even more, it seems that he sent spies to see what treasures and weapons Hezekiah has. But behind all this there is God Who wants to put Hezekiah to the test (2Chr 32:31b).

With this letter Hezekiah does not enter the temple to submit it to the LORD, as he did with the threatening letters of the king of Assyria (Isa 37:14). This is a danger to which we are all exposed. When the world threatens us, we go to the Lord, but when the world flatters us, we feel honored and go with the world. When the world reaches out the hand of friendship to us instead of making a fist of enmity against us, we are quick to accept the outstretched hand. It is one of the greatest dangers that can threaten to eliminate us as witnesses of our heavenly Lord.

Hezekiah feels caressed by this visit (Isa 39:2). He tries to make the best possible impression on the envoy. For this he shows all his treasures, without withholding anything. This also includes his “whole armory”. He acts as if it is all his and leaves the LORD out of it. For Hezekiah Babylon is a powerful ally against Assyria. Hezekiah now puts his trust in people instead of in the LORD.

The treasures Hezekiah shows have a spiritual meaning. In Scripture, “silver” is a picture of the price paid for atonement. “Gold” speaks of the glory of God. “Spices” represent the various glories of the Lord Jesus. “Oil” is a picture of the Holy Spirit.

What Hezekiah does is what the Lord Jesus warns against: “Do not throw your pearls before swine” (Mt 7:6a). The Lord Jesus warns not to do that, for the swine – a picture of the heathens – will trample the pearls under their feet, turn around and tear in pieces whoever throws them to them. This is what will happen to Hezekiah, i.e. his offspring.

The same will happen to us if we start to consider precious spiritual truths – of which the treasures of Hezekiah are a picture – as our own possessions and forget that we have received them from the Lord. Then we will ‘show them off’ and they will be taken away from us by those who we want to impress with it.