Isaiah: Chapter 39 | The Wolfe Notes

Welcome, Family! We're spending 2024 with the prophet Isaiah. While we claim no expertise, we're excited to sit with you as we both learn at the feet of Jesus. Each month, we offer a calendar that outlines daily exercises (adapted from Jenn Wilkin's Women of the Word Bible study process) to progress through Isaiah. Download July's calendar to begin with us and witness what we uncovered in our weekly "Wolfe Note" postings.

A sunflower set against a partly cloudy sky. Text overlay quotes Isaiah 39:8

Contents:

  1. Different Versions Noting and clarifying differences between KJV & YLT.
  2. Annotation My thoughts, connections, clarifications, and questions.
  3. Research Why Hezekiah didn't pray for his kids.
  4. Summary An approximately twenty word overview of the chapter.
  5. Memorize Why I chose to memorize Isaiah 39:8.
  6. Cross References Of Isaiah 39:8.
  7. Respond Based on reflections on God's character and my own.

Different Versions

I read Chapter 39 in the King James Version (KJV) and the Young's Literal Translation (YLT). Both are word-for-word translations.

Major differences I noticed (*My thoughts alone are in italics and designated with an asterisk.):

*I noticed no major differences in this chapter between the KJV and YLT.

Annotation

Notes on my process. *Denotes my thoughts alone. ! Denotes a connection. Researched quick answers are in italics. *R Indicates a topic with more extensive notes under the research heading.
  1. A Present for Hezekiah (v1): Babylon brought presents to Hezekiah to celebrate his recovery.
    1. ? Why did the Babylonians bring Hezekiah a gift? Did they already have a relationship established, or was this a reconaisance mission?
  2. Hezekiah's Error (v2): Hezekiah gave them a grand tour of his estate.
    1. ? Why would Hezekiah show the Babylonians the location to all of his treasures? Simply out of gratitude? Was it because he was receiving attention and made an error from his giddiness? Or was it pride?
  3. Isaiah's Prophecy (v3-7)
    1. Hezekiah tells Isaiah that the Babylonians came and he showed them everything he owned.
    2. God, through Isaiah, tells Hezekiah that the Babylonians would take everything from him, all of his treasure and even his unborn sons would become eunuchs to their king.
      1. If Hezekiah hadn't shown the Babylonians around, would these events still happen?
  4. Hezekiah's Response (v8)
    1. Because God has ordained it, I trust it is good.
      1. ? Why didn't Hezekiah plead for his sons? He experienced first hand that God answers prayer in miraculous ways? Why did he just let this prophecy stand? Is this the righteous response? *R
        1. Job 1:21 KJV: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
        2. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it away? Isaiah 14:27 KJV
    2. At least there will be peace and truth throughout all of my days.
      1. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Isaiah 32:17 KJV

Research

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.
Why didn't Hezekiah fight in prayer for his kids? Isaiah 39:8

He Knew it Was Deserved and that God was being Merciful

  • He bragged of his treasures but was repentant of it. - Barnes
    • 2 Chronicles 32:25-26 ...Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah
    • 2 Chronicles 32:30-31 ...Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
  • Ellicott suggests Hezekiah's response is similar to Louis the XV quote, "After me, the deluge." While he knew punishment was coming, he was thankful that the punishment would come after him.
    *Conclusions: Hezekiah knew he messed up and that God was being generous to him. He saw God's decision as a just punishment for his sins. It makes me wonder:
    1. What decisions am I making today that will affect future generations?
    2. If Hezekiah had not been prideful, would the Israelites still have undergone Babylonian exile?

    Summary

    Because Hezekiah reveals all his riches to Babylon, God reveals Babylon will take it all and make Hezekiah's sons eunuchs.

    Memorize

    I chose to memorize Isaiah 39:8.
    Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

    I want to remember in the darkest of times that God is still good. I want to find the goodness that He positions around me instead of fixating on what I think "should" or "could" be.


    Cross References

    *Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

    Of Isaiah 39:8.

    ...Good is the word of the Lord...
    • I Samuel 3:18 YLT: (Eli's response to learning the prophecy against his family): ..."It [is] Jehovah; that which is good in His eyes, he doth."
    • 2 Samuel 15:26 KJV: (David waits for God's favor): But if [God] thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
    • Psalm 18:30 YLT: God! perfect [is] His way, The saying of Jehovah is tried. A shield [is] He to all those trusting in Him.

    ...there shall be peace and truth in my days...

    • Esther 9:30 YLT: and he sendeth letters unto all the Jews, unto the seven and twenty and a hundred provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus - - words of peace and truth - - 
    • Jeremiah 33:6 KJV: Behold, I will bring [Jerusalem] health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
    • Isaiah 26:3 KJV: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

    *Conclusion: Oh! To respond like this in our hardest moments. To be able to say: I trust You, God. I know You are good even though I am hurting right now. Yet, though I hurt, I take comfort in Your peace and Your truth. You promised You would never leave me, so I know peace and truth encompass me. Help me to see it.

    Respond

    1. God desires our humility. I hunger for pride. Pride can be intoxicating. It gives us a sense of worth, of significance. But really, God longs for us to realize our worth and significance is only found in Him. Everything else is vanity.
    2. God executes judgment on everyone. My choices matter. While heaven is my eventual eternal home, I live in the "not yet" space. My choices have lasting impact. I must fill myself with the knowledge and wisdom of God  so I can better make choices that lead me along His path.
    3. God is good. There are many, many times I doubt it, but those are times I'm placing the blame of our sinful nature on God. He truly wants only good for us. It is when we push Him away that we know despair. So, if I want to know goodness, I must stay continually in God's presence.

    In Closing

    Father God, You are good. So good. Sometimes my heart does not want to believe it, but when I fight through my doubt and return to You, I find rest in Your peace and truth. Train me to seek You always. 

    Learning with You,
      
    Ready for Isaiah 40?

    Sample these related posts:
    To locate the Isaiah study guide for August.
    To review notes on Isaiah Chapter 37 & 38.
    To study the meaning of "good" from various perspectives.
    To practice humility.
    To commit to being a good follower.


    Interested in more faith-related blogs? Then you're looking for Faith Food. At Faith Food, you'll find links to all our faith-related blogs and a short description of each.

    Image Credit: Sunflower from Pixabay



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