The Good Word of the LORD

After King Hezekiah miraculously recovered from a grave illness, he entertained messengers from the distant land of Babylon by showing them all the treasures of his house.  2 Kings 20:16-19 says, "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD: ¹⁷ 'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the LORD. ¹⁸ 'And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' " ¹⁹ So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?"

I have always thought the response of King Hezekiah was very strange, seeing the future events which Isaiah prophesied according to the word of the LORD did not seem good:  the riches of the kingdom plundered, nothing would be left, Hezekiah's sons would go into captivity and be made eunuchs.  Hezekiah's response on the surface seems flippant and careless, even selfish.  But let us not ascribe folly where God has not, for God alone knows the hearts of men.  Though Hezekiah did not live up to the blessing of an extended life God granted him at his request, Hezekiah spoke the truth.  Believers who trust God who is good, gracious, merciful and compassionate can rest in His sovereignty now and forever regardless what He allows.

When Hezekiah was previously told by the word of the LORD he would die of his illness, he turned to the LORD in prayer and pleaded for his life.  Hearing about what would befall his nation and children was certainly sobering, yet he knew the God who answered His prayer would also be faithful to hear and answer the prayers of all who feared and sought Him in the future.  The good word of God would stand, and we who fear God can rest in His unerring wisdom and grace.  It has been revealed to believers how God will one day destroy the heavens and earth with fire (2 Peter 3), yet this should not provoke us to mourn without hope or deny the goodness of God today or tomorrow.  We ought to be like Hezekiah who praised God for His mercy to us and that He has made a way of salvation for all.  The word of the LORD is good and true because it is of God, and because we can know God by faith in Jesus to a greater degree than Hezekiah we can count on God's perfect peace all our days.

Repentance for sin is an important part of the Gospel, and all who see their sin in light of the word of God know judgment for sin is coming.  A judge should not apologise to apply a just sentence that fits the crime.  When God said He was going to destroy Sodom for the cry against it was great because of iniquity, Abraham did not assert it was unjust the wicked should be punished.  People take issue with judgment from God because they do not agree with His assessment of what constitutes sin and how justice is correctly administered by Him because they do not know Him.  When confronted with the judgment of his wicked sons and house Eli responded, "It is the LORD.  Let Him do what seems good to Him." (1 Sam. 3:18)  We would not say, "No so, LORD!" should He offer us grace and mercy:  how can we say, "Not so, LORD!" when He reveals He will surely administer justice upon all?  Our very salvation hinges on the fact God is gracious and just, for the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary who bore the sins of the world satisfied the just requirements of God once for all who believe.

May the LORD by His grace bring us to a place of joyful submission to all He has said, that we can say as Hezekiah, "The word of the LORD is good!" knowing there will be peace and truth in our days because we are in Christ and He is in us.  The Word who became flesh and dwelt among us is good, and He is with us now and forever in glory.