Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 37 · Verse 2
Verſ. 2. And hee ſent Eliakim the ſteward of the houſe, and Shebna the Chancellor, with the elders of the Priests clothed in ſackcloth, vntounto Iſaiah the Prophet, the ſonne of Amos.
3. And ſaid vntounto him, This is a day of tribulation, and of rebuke, and blasphemie: for the children are come to the birth, and there is no ſtrength to bring forth.
BY this Ambaſſage he not only meant to call Iſaiah to lament this calamitie with him, but alſo to hauehave ſome conſolation from the mouth of the Lord;Prayers vnſtable, vnleſſe they be ſupported by the word. for if prayers be not grounded vponupon the word of God, they will be but ſo many words caſt into the ayre. Wee know that the vnbeleeuers will make both loude and long prayers, and yet flee away from God, either by deſpiſing, or in vtter reiecting his promiſes. Here is a ſigne of Hezekias his true deuotion then, that being kindled with the zeale of prayer, he addes thereunto a cōfirmation of his hope, leſt he ſhould faint vnderunder the temptation; alſo, in that he keeps himſelfe cloſe to the meanes ordained of God, and deſires to heare his voice by the mouth of his Prophet Iſaiah. For albeit he reſted vponupon none but God only, yet he reiects not the teſtimonie of a mortall man like himſelfe: and this is the cauſe why the title of the Prophet is here expreſlie mentioned, becauſe he ſent to Iſaiah to be confirmed by ſome new propheſie. And thus he names him, not as a priuat man, but as the ſeruant of the Lord, whoſe office it was to comfort the King by ſome word of conſolation.
There are two notable remedies then by which we are ſuccoured in affliction.Two ſoueraigne remedies by which we may receiue comfort in affliction. Firſt, we muſt call vponupon God for his deliuerance: Secondly, we muſt ſend for the Prophets of God (if they be to be found) that they may giuegive vsus ſome word of conſolation: for it is their charge to comfort and refreſh the afflicted, by ſetting the pretious promiſes of life before them. But if Prophets be wanting, yet we ſhall hauehave ſufficient and full conſolation in the word it ſelfe. For we muſt aske counſell of theſe Prophets which God hath ſent, not only during the terme of their liues, but for euer afterwards, and of thoſe that ſucceed them: for although themſelues be dead,2. Pet. 1.19. yet we hauehave their bookes ſtill with vsus: their doctrine liues, and ſhall remaine for euer: but the ſumme is, we muſt alwaies aske counſell of God.
Some may demand, Queſt. whether Hezekias was not ſufficiently inſtructed, and furniſhed with the promiſes, was it not a ſigne of infidelitie in him then to ſeeke for new promiſes of the Prophet? I anſwere, Anſ. It is not to be imputed to him for infidelitie or diſtruſt that he ſeekes a new promiſe, becauſe being beſt acquainted with his owne infirmitie, he was not aſhamed to ſeeke new confirmations of his faith. The fleſh alwaies ſolicits vsus to diſtruſt,The fleſh euermore ſolicits vsus to diſtruſt, therefore we ought neuer to deſpiſe new ſuccors. therefore we ought not at any time to deſpiſe new ſupplies: nay rather it ſtands vsus in hand to vſe all the beſt meanes we can to beate back the multitudes of temptations which dayly preſſe vsus. For Satan inuirons vsus ſo cloſe on eueryevery ſide, that if we be not well furniſhed indeed, it is not poſſible for vsus to wind out of his ſnares and intanglings. Although we be well inſtructed in Gods word then, and hauehave learned that he will ſurely help vsus in the day of trouble, yet when ſome extraordinarie ſurge or waue ariſeth, it is all the need then to get vsus to the mouth of the Lord againe and againe,Although our faith be well confirmed in the… promiſes, yet vponupon new aſſaults we ought once yea twice to get new confirmatiōs from the mouth of the Lord. and ſtill to ſeeke out new confirmations to comfort, quicken, and ſtrengthen our faith. We hauehave no particular propheſies now, but we ought to applie the generals to our particular vſes, becauſe they were written for our learning, Rom. 15.
In that Hezekias ſent Ambaſſadors to Iſaiah, and went not himſelfe, it was becauſe he praid in the Temple: for it appeares the mourning was generall, in regard that both the elders and counſellers were clothed in ſackcloth, it is alſo very probable that the King had proclaimed a publike faſt. Let vsus alſo note, that Iſaiah liued not in the Kings houſe to giuegive himſelfe to iollitie there: but in his abſence, God meant to proue the faith of this good King.