Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 37 · Verse 1
Verſ. 1. And when Hezekiah heard it, he rent his clothes, and put on ſackcloth, and came into the houſe of the Lord.
THe Prophet ſhews that nothing remained to this good King but one onelyonly hope of ſaluation; namely, to powre out his complaints into Gods boſome, who is a iuſt Iudge: according as it is ſaid, Pſal. 123.2. The eies of the faithfull wait vponupon him, euen as the eies of bond ſeruants wait vponupon their maſters and miſtriſſes, when they are oppreſſed. When Ieruſalem then ſeemes loſt, Hezekias deſtituted of all humane helpes flees vntounto God for his protection. And thus he confeſſeth, that this is the onelyonly remedie when things are become deſperate. Now herein Gods grace ſhined in ſuch wiſe, that it was a manifeſt miracle ſhewed to all, when the King with all his ſubiects were deliuered out of the mouth of the lion. This circumſtance therefore is to bee noted, to the end wee may take knowledge of the excellencie of ſo great a benefit.
Heere we are alſo taught what courſe to take in extreme dangers:God calles vsus to him by extreme perils, therefore we muſt not be ſlothfull in crauing his aid & aſſiſtance. wee muſt not bee ſlothfull nor idle in crauing helpe of God, who by this meanes calles vsus vntounto him. Wee muſt not then ſtand amazed nor diſmaied, but rather be pricked forward by our neceſſities, which preſſe vsus to ſeeke his aſſiſtance: for that vſe Hezekias makes of his afflictions. He goes forthwith into the Temple, no otherwiſe then into a place of refuge, to hide himſelfe and his people vnderunder the ſhadow of Gods wings.
Thereunto hee alſo ioines the outward ſignes of repentance, he rents his garments, he puts on ſackcloth, and couers himſelfe with aſhes, & doth other things, which were then ſolemne ſignes of godly ſorrow, by which (being vnderunder ſore afflictions) they condemned themſelues before God as poore malefactors, and humbly ſought pardon of him. Now the modeſtie of this holy King is wonderfull,Hezekias his modeſtie. ſeeing he is not aſhamed to proſtrate himſelfe in the preſence of his God, though he had brought ſo worthie things to paſſe, and was adorned with ſo many rare and excellent vertues. On the other ſide we may behold in him a wonderfull courage of mind, and ſtedfaſtnes of faith,Hezekias his ſtedfaſt faith. in that the weight of ſo great a triall hindred him not freely to ſeeke vntounto that hand for help which ſharplie aſſailed him. There is not one amongſt an hundred to be found but will murmure if God doe touch him but a little more then ordinarie; yea, they will be readie (if they hauehave done any good) to twite God in the teeth with it, and thinke themſelues but hardlie recompenced for the ſame at his hands. Others will complaine and ſay, It is but in vaine and time loſt to ſerue God, when they ſee things fall not out as they would hauehave them. But wee ſee none of theſe things in Hezekias, for he is not aſhamed to confeſſe his fault, notwithſtanding he was indued with the true feare of God.
Therefore if we deſire to ſeeke reconciliation with God, and to feele his fauor in the day of aduerſitie, let vsus giuegive ſome teſtimonies of our repentance, and francklie acknowledge and confeſſe our ſinnes: for afflictions comes not out of the duſt, Iob. 5.6. but God ſolicits vsus thereby to amendment of life. I grant that ſackcloth and aſhes ſerue to little purpoſe, vnleſſe the affection of the heart go formoſt: for hypocrites (as we know) are but too forward and ouer-liberall in their ceremonies. The Holy Ghoſt (as wee hauehave ſeene before) requires theſe exerciſes, and giues them their iuſt commendation; yet ſo, as they be alwaies vſed to a right end. And no doubt it was alſo a ſigne of ſingular modeſtie and meeknes, to ſee this good King and all the people by theſe helps to ſtirre vp one another to the feare of God: alſo, in that he clothed himſelfe with this deformed and baſe apparell the more freely to confeſſe his fault, which is an humilitie that Kings and Princes are aſhamed to imitate.