Isaiah 39:1-8, Don't be fooled by the world, seek God's view of life

• REVIEW: The background for Isaiah is chapter 38. These two chapters occur well before 36-37 because they speak of a still future destruction of Assyria.


Isa 38:1-6 (ESV) In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover." 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, "Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.


4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.  6  I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.


Isa 39:1-2 (ESV) At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2 And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.


• Merodach-baladan ruled Babylon from 721-710BC and 703-702BC. The Assyrians will defeat Merodach in 702, but he continues to ferment revolt in the region
• Why does Hezekiah respond as he does?
• It is in response to Merodach's concern and gift
• This is the classic salesman, selling you something you don't want, and it is the classic consumer, buying something you don't need (this is a great picture of Babylonian worldview)
• What is Hezekiah response and how should he have responded?
• Materialism fuels pride. The Babylonian worldview is built around things and thinking (everyone thinking the same way)
• Jesus gives us the example when he responds to the flattery of Nicodemus and the rich young ruler?
• In both cases, he asked tough questions (makes you think)
• In both cases, he ignores the flattery
• Finally, it is not as if Isaiah has not warned Hezekiah about Babylon
• APPLICATION:
• When someone flatters me, try to think of a question to turn the discussion back onto the other person
• Also, continuing a theme, Hezekiah TRUSTS in the flattery of others


Isa 39:3-7 (ESV) Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?" Hezekiah said, "They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon." 4 He said, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them."


5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: 6  Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 7  And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." 


• So, is the prophecy the result of Hezekiah's action or something else?
• Babylon has already been prophesied as a future enemy
• Rather, God shows Hezekiah what his trust in Babylon will yield
• APPLICATION: The point is not to trust in human beings but to trust in God


Isa 39:8 (ESV) Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good." For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my days."


• You can take this a couple of ways. How can you view this?
1. Hezekiah seems more interested in his own skin
2. Hezekiah is glad that the people he rules will not see it in his time. But he still recognizes that it is a future prophecy and that it was independent of his action
• APPLICATION:
• Hezekiah did not cause the prophecy. But Hezekiah can learn. A situation that he thought, humanly speaking, was a good situation, was not good. What seemed good to trust in, was not good to trust in. We must trust in God, not circumstances or people