Hezakiah recovers from a serious illness. It is significant that this narrative portrays Isaiah as a messenger of healing, even prescribing the treatment. Some have suggested that he may have been a physician. Hezakiah reflects seriously on death before the cure. This remarkable recovery is back in the day when death means the end of everything. We, on the other hand, believe in immortality, a concept resisted by the Hebrews. In their inability to ignore it, they created a compromise belief in Sheol, a place somewhere between extinction and immortality. It is natural that added here is this psalm of thanksgiving and gratitude for the recovery which incorporates words of lamentation closely resembling those in the Psalter and the speeches of Job. Merodach-baladan, twice king of Babylon, hears of Hezekiah’s recovery. The visit of his messengers was in reality a political one. Babylon hoped to lead an anti-Assyrian confederation composed of neighboring states. Because Judah preferred to follow a pro-Babylonian policy instead of trusting in God, it will later be exiled to Babylon. Chapter 40 begins Deutero-Isaiah who stood in the succession of Isaiah and during the later years of the Babylonian exile sent out his interpretation of the disaster and his understanding of restoration. In sharp contrast to the main par of the message of Isaiah, the initial note of 2nd Isaiah is of comfort and deliverance. He raises the spirits of his fellow countrymen. Deliverance is in sight. The figurative language describes the actual return of the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. It is the Lord who leads them; their road is made easy for them. In Chapter 40:6 the prophet hears the voice say “Cry!” and he responds “What shall I cry?” Is this a familiar feeling? How many times in good conscience do we know that we should speak up? Yet, in our uncertainty and confusion we have no earthly idea what to say or to whom to say it, if we did find words. The Hebrews are now watching the world rock under the campaign of Persia under Cyrus. What are they to do? They are “to wait for the Lord.” “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary and they shall walk, and not faint.” This reminds me of the people on whom I depend when life gets messy. They trudge along undiscouraged, year in and year out, and forbid me to give up hope that everything will work out for the best. It always does!
Hezakiah recovers from a serious illness. It is significant that this narrative portrays Isaiah as a messenger of healing, even prescribing the treatment. Some have suggested that he may have been a physician. Hezakiah reflects seriously on death before the cure. This remarkable recovery is back in the day when death means the end of everything. We, on the other hand, believe in immortality, a concept resisted by the Hebrews. In their inability to ignore it, they created a compromise belief in Sheol, a place somewhere between extinction and immortality. It is natural that added here is this psalm of thanksgiving and gratitude for the recovery which incorporates words of lamentation closely resembling those in the Psalter and the speeches of Job. Merodach-baladan, twice king of Babylon, hears of Hezekiah’s recovery. The visit of his messengers was in reality a political one. Babylon hoped to lead an anti-Assyrian confederation composed of neighboring states. Because Judah preferred to follow a pro-Babylonian policy instead of trusting in God, it will later be exiled to Babylon. Chapter 40 begins Deutero-Isaiah who stood in the succession of Isaiah and during the later years of the Babylonian exile sent out his interpretation of the disaster and his understanding of restoration. In sharp contrast to the main par of the message of Isaiah, the initial note of 2nd Isaiah is of comfort and deliverance. He raises the spirits of his fellow countrymen. Deliverance is in sight. The figurative language describes the actual return of the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. It is the Lord who leads them; their road is made easy for them. In Chapter 40:6 the prophet hears the voice say “Cry!” and he responds “What shall I cry?” Is this a familiar feeling? How many times in good conscience do we know that we should speak up? Yet, in our uncertainty and confusion we have no earthly idea what to say or to whom to say it, if we did find words. The Hebrews are now watching the world rock under the campaign of Persia under Cyrus. What are they to do? They are “to wait for the Lord.” “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary and they shall walk, and not faint.” This reminds me of the people on whom I depend when life gets messy. They trudge along undiscouraged, year in and year out, and forbid me to give up hope that everything will work out for the best. It always does!
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