Justin Houtz

2 Kings 20, Hebrews 2, Hosea 13, Psalms 137–138

DateVersionReading Plan
@November 7, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Kings 20

2 Kings 20:5–6 (ESV)
5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”

God heard and responded favorably Hezekiah’s prayer, granting him fifteen more years of life and deliverance from the Assyrians. However, the reason for God’s defense of the city was for His sake and to remain faithful to His promise to continue the Davidic dynasty. It is important to see here that God certainly answers prayers but that there is a much larger plan of redemption being considered.

2 Kings 20:11 (ESV)
11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the LORD, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.

“As a sign that Hezekiah would be healed and would return to the temple to worship, God caused the shadow … on the sundial (or steps, NASB) of Ahaz to go back ten degrees. (Chronologically, verse 7 follows verses 8–11.) From 2 Chronicles 32:31 we conclude that it was a supernatural event, the news of which reached as far as Babylon. The Babylonians worshiped the heavenly bodies and they would certainly notice any irregularities. Word spread quickly that it was on Hezekiah’s behalf that this great miracle had taken place.” (BBC)

2 Kings 20:12–13 (ESV)
12 At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his 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.

“The king of Babylon, Berodach-Baladan, sent congratulations to Hezekiah on his recovery. Doubtless his real purpose was to strengthen his ties with Judah against Assyria. Hezekiah foolishly showed the messengers from Babylon all … his treasures. (From 2 Chron. 32:31 we learn that God was testing him through this situation to know what was in his heart. The answer: PRIDE!)” (BBC)

It is helpful to see that the real reason the king of Babylon sending envoys and a present to Hezekiah was rooted in personal gain and alliance against Assyria rather than altruism. Hezekiah’s response then also shows his heart of prideful boasting in showing the king of Babylon all of his treasures. Thus, we see in these events that both kings demonstrated selfish motivations.

2 Kings 20:19 (ESV)
19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

“While Hezekiah would have been sorry to hear this prophecy, he evidently accepted it as the Lord’s will for Judah and was glad it would not happen in his lifetime (v. 19). Other interpretations are that he made a smug, self-serving comment, or that he took the message as a prayer that the disaster would be delayed as long as possible. The first interpretation seems most consistent with Hezekiah’s character. Babylon’s future invasion came primarily as a result of Judah’s sins. Hezekiah’s unwise exposure of Judah’s wealth on this occasion was not the major cause.” (Constable’s Notes)

This is a significant exposition on Hezekiah’s response to Isaiah’s prophecy of the impending Babylonian invasion. I had always thought that it was Hezekiah’s selfishness that drove him to accept God’s will and punishment because he would not experience it in his day. While Hezekiah was certainly prideful and unwise in showing Judah’s wealth to the king of Babylon, the Babylonian invasion was ultimately a result of Judah’s sin.

Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2:6 (ESV)
6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?

“This vague expression suggests that the author considered the source of the testimony unimportant; only God—the one who speaks (Heb 1:1–2)—is important.” (FSB)

Hebrews 2:7 (ESV)
7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,

“The author demonstrated that the eternal Son entered creation to become a man and thereby temporarily became lower than the angels. Psalm 8, on one level taken to be a reference to humankind and the dominion conferred on man by God, also applies to the son of man as Jesus Christ.” (CSB Notes)

It is a wonder to behold that, while Jesus is God and far surpassing to angelic creatures in supremacy, he was made lower for a time. This He must have been made in order to condescend to us, remaining sinless in Himself but a worthy sacrifice for sinful man.

Hebrews 2:11 (ESV)
11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

“all from one Indicates the unity of Jesus and believers. The Greek text does not supply a referent, so some English translations insert ‘family’ or ‘Father.’ The author could be referring to Jesus sharing in humanity (v. 14).” (FSB)

Hebrews 2:18 (ESV)
18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

“The temptation of Jesus is described in Matt 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; and Luke 4:1–12. His own temptations allow for Him to sympathize with the temptations of believers. Nonetheless, since Jesus overcame temptations, He expects believers to do the same (see Jas 1:2–18).” (FSB)

Again, this verse points Jesus’ placement among us, being tempted as we are and yet without sin. The FSB speaking of the expectation for believers to likewise overcome temptation is important to consider as well. We have been given His Spirit in order that we may have the power to choose righteousness over sin, thus growing in intimacy with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hosea 13

“This collection of prophetic sayings reiterates the main accusations against Israel and interweaves them with images of Yahweh’s judgment. The imagery is familiar and continues to utilize Hosea’s poetic style of using word pictures. Hosea’s confident certainty in Israel’s sin and Yahweh’s coming judgment unify the diverse material in these sayings.” (FSB)

Psalm 137

Psalm 137:8–9 (ESV)
8  O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you
with what you have done to us!
9  Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
and dashes them against the rock!

Ps. 137:9 is admittedly a difficult verse as it depicts the brutal killing of Babylon’s children. However, as the BBC makes note, “the spiritual application is clear. We must deal radically with little sins in our lives. The little darlings must be destroyed or they will destroy us.” (BBC)

Psalm 138

“In this individual thanksgiving psalm, the psalmist begins by praising Yahweh and thanking Him for His help (vv. 1–3). He then widens his viewpoint and looks at the whole world, saying that all world rulers will eventually praise Yahweh for the way He helps the needy (vv. 4–6). The psalmist concludes by expressing his trust and confidence in Yahweh and asking for His continued protection (vv. 7–8).” (FSB)

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