July 28, 2026 -- Isaiah 39:4-8 -- It matters when you pray or when you neglect to do so

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4 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: 6 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.” Isaiah 39:4-8 ESV
 
This is a strange little episode in the life of King Hezekiah. The LORD had given His mighty protection to King Hezekiah his people, after the King of Babylon had conquered most of the walled cities of Judah. Then when it seemed all might be lost, the LORD struck down 185,000 soldiers in the enemy camp. The enemy king escaped and returned to his own country. His own sons assassinated him. After that, King Hezekiah became sick to the point of death, but the LORD granted him recovery. God granted him 15 more years of life. Then our text is next in the sequence of events. It was afterwards that Manasseh would born. He becomes one of the most wicked kings in Judah. I wonder, did the pitilessness of his father, revealed in our passage today, factor into this?
 
Consider that King Hezekiah was okay having peace in his lifetime and seemed to be okay with the fact that his sons would suffer great hardship. Great King Hezekiah who’d been so faithful in prayer when attacked, and then later urgent in prayer when his own health was threatened, did not engage in urgent prayer when his children were threatened. He’d take the throne as an adolescent of 12-years-old. I wonder, did Manasseh grow up knowing his father was so self-absorbed, caring only that there’d be peace in his own reign, that he resented his father’s lack of concern for his future?
 
It puts a new light for me on the reign of Manasseh. He is responsible for his own sins, absolutely. And he is fighting the neglect of his father’s final years. Dad obviously focused on the final years of his reign, his own peace, but it seems during that time did not prepare his young son for the hardships to come. But there are a few lessons. God is in charge. God hears the prayers of His people (even wicked King Manasseh, when he is exiled, will cry out to God and be heard and restored to his throne!). The impact of a father’s prayers (or lack of prayers) in the life of his children and children’s children.
 
As New Testament Christians, we are reminded of the intercession of the Spirit within us, groaning with our groans, bringing our inexpressible thoughts and worries to Jesus. Jesus is our mediator before the Father. We have a faithful advocate, one Who loves us, prays for our good, even as His blood is ever reconciling us to our Father in heaven. We know whatever deficits exist in our past, in our present, or we will face, the LORD our God is mighty to save.
 
Be pleased, O LORD, to continue Your work in me. I cling to Your promise, “He Who began a good work you will certainly bring it to completion”. Thank You for the Holy Spirit given to me, guarding the rich deposit of salvation. O Father, You have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, and You have cast all my sins behind Your back! Therefore, the living thank You all the days of their lives. The living will bless You, O Triune God, from this day into eternity. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/XIpnW3rtRQ4?si=Q-YYuTE4dqjwOeFO Psalm 73 The Sons of Korah
 

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