Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Kings
Book: 2 Kings
Chapter: 20
Overview:
Hezekiah's sickness, His recovery in answer to
Prayer.
(1-11)
Hezekiah shows his treasures to the ambassadors from
Babylon,
His
Death.
(12-21)
1-11 Hezekiah was sick unto
Death, in the same
Year in which
the
King of
Assyria besieged
Jerusalem. A warning to prepare for
Death was brought to
Hezekiah By Isaiah.
Prayer is one of the
best preparations for
Death, because
By it we fetch in strength
and
Grace from
God, to enable us to finish
Well. He wept sorely:
some gather from hence that he was unwilling to die; it is in
the nature of
Man to dread the separation of soul and body.
There was also something
Peculiar in
Hezekiah's case; he was now
in the midst of his usefulness. Let
Hezekiah's
Prayer, see Isa
38. interpret his tears; in that is nothing which is like his
having been under that fear of
Death, which has
Bondage or
Torment.
Hezekiah's
Piety made his sick-
Bed easy. "O
Lord,
remember now;" he does not speak as if
God needed to be
Put in
mind of any thing
By us; nor, as if the reward might be demanded
as due; it is
Christ's
Righteousness only that is the purchase
of
Mercy and
Grace.
Hezekiah does not pray,
Lord, spare me; but,
Lord, remember me; whether I live or die, let me be thine.
God
always hears the prayers of the broken in
Heart, and will give
health, length of days, and temporal deliverances, as much and
as long as is truly good for them. Means were to be used for
Hezekiah's recovery; yet, considering to what a height the
disease was come, and how suddenly it was checked, the cure was
miraculous. It is our duty, when sick, to use such means as are
proper to help nature, else we do not trust
God, but tempt him.
For the confirmation of his
Faith, the
Shadow of the
Sun was
carried back, and the
Light was continued longer than usual, in
a miraculous manner. This work of wonder shows the power of
God
in
Heaven as
Well as
On Earth, the great notice he takes of
Prayer, and the great favour he bears to his
Chosen.
12-21 The
King of
Babylon was at this time independent of the
King of
Assyria, though shortly after subdued
By him.
Hezekiah
showed his treasures and
Armour, and other proofs of his wealth
and power. This was the effect of pride and ostentation, and
departing from simple reliance
On God. He also seems to have
missed the opportunity of speaking to the Chaldeans, about Him
who had wrought the miracles which excited their attention, and
of pointing out to them the absurdity and evil of
Idolatry. What
is more common than to show our friends our houses and
possessions? But if we do this in the pride of ours hearts, to
gain applause from men, not giving praise to
God, it becomes
Sin
in us, as it did in
Hezekiah. We may expect vexation from every
object with which we are unduly pleased.
Isaiah, who had often
been
Hezekiah's
Comforter, is now is reprover. The blessed
Spirit is both, Joh 16:7,8. Ministers must be both, as there
is occasion.
Hezekiah allowed the
Justice of the sentence, and
God's
Goodness in the respite. Yet the prospect respecting his
family and nation must have given him many painful feelings.
Hezekiah was indeed humbled for the pride of his
Heart. And
blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord; for they
Rest from
their labours, and their
Works do follow them.