Isaiah 39 - Bible Study in 5 Minutes

Isaiah 39 Short Summary:

In Isaiah 39, Isaiah documents a mistake made by King Hezekiah. Hezekiah gave a tour of his entire armory, treasure house, and palace to envoys from the nation of Babylon. Isaiah and God were angry with Hezekiah for this foolish move. Isaiah prophesied that in the days of Hezekiah’s children, the Babylonians would conquer Jerusalem and take its people and treasures captive.

Isaiah 39 Bible Study

TIMELINE:

• The prophetic ministry of Isaiah spanned the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

• Generally accepted dates for Hezekiah’s reign are 716-687 BC, which would place his recovery from his illness around 702 BC (38:1, 5). The visit of Merodach-baladan’s envoy may have happened the same year.

KEY CHARACTERS:

• Isaiah – The son of Amoz (1:1). God commissioned Isaiah as His prophet to Judah.

• Hezekiah – King of Judah.

• Merodach-baladan – A prince of Babylon. He sent an envoy to Jerusalem to celebrate Hezekiah’s recovery, and likely also to cultivate an alliance with Judah against the Assyrians.

DEFINITIONS:

• Eunuch (39:7) – A man who has been castrated. In ancient days, eunuchs were often used as servants in king’s palaces.

OUTLINE:

• HEZEKIAH’S FOOLISH MISTAKE (39:1-8):

  • When news reached Babylon that Hezekiah had been sick and recovered, Merodach-baladan, the son of Babylon’s king, sent an envoy and gift to Hezekiah in Jerusalem.

  • Hezekiah greeted them warmly, and he gave them a thorough tour of his palace and treasures.

  • “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” (39:3).

  • Isaiah was unhappy with Hezekiah’s actions and he confronted him.

  • It wasn’t just Isaiah who was unhappy with Hezekiah, God was too!

  • Isaiah prophesied that one day, all of Jerusalem’s riches would be carried off to Babylon.

  • Along with the treasures, some of Judah’s children, including the king’s, would be taken to Babylon as captives.

  • Hezekiah responded to this prophecy in an odd way. He was pleased with Isaiah’s words because they informed him that trouble wouldn’t come until after he was dead and gone. He was comforted knowing the Babylonians would oppress the next generation but not his.

  • He thought to himself, “There will be peace and security in my days” (39:8).

APPLICATION:

• Hezekiah’s response to Isaiah’s prophecy was extremely selfish.

• Hezekiah’s actions, the actions of his contemporaries, and the actions of his ancestors were going to bring devastation to the next generation, but Hezekiah didn’t care.

• All he cared about was making it through his life comfortably.

• Leaders and older members in the Church must not share this selfish attitude with Hezekiah.

• Unfortunately, there are many who aren’t concerned about setting up the next generation for success. They aren’t concerned about developing leaders for the future. They are content so long as they can keep the doors of the church open for their lifetime. They don’t really care if their actions (or lack of actions) negatively impact the future.

• That is a terrible attitude! We can recognize it clearly in Hezekiah, but we often miss it in our own congregations.

• Shame on us if the Church of tomorrow is ill equipped because of our apathy!

• Churches and individual Christians must have the foresight to perceive how their choices will affect their generation AND the generations that will follow them.