The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-19
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

indicated above. Asoi read 2 Ch. 80 "a 81 Isa.,
IS: Is 81, 90. OIL
Hezekiah has been King Ia years. Mean
while the Kingdom Of IsriieI ceased to be, King
The same power which subdued that Kingdom,
viz, the Assyrian, has eyBfon the Kingdom of
Judah, and is Gathering $bout the territory in
mcnacing attitude. Just at this juncture
Heze!zah is prostrated by5a fatal sickness. He
is yet young mao-oniy 80. The Prophet
Isaiah visits him, saying" Set thine house in
order; for thou shalt die and not live" He
meant that the King should at once look to
anything which, as a dying man, he would
want to adjust. He should make his will, ar
range as TO his successor, and give attention to
spiritual preparation. The disease was mortal.
Physicians could not save the patient Only
one hope was left-that was Divine help So
Hczekiah prayed. All effective prayer must
be argumentative. The King gives reasons
why he would live longer-reasons so power
full to his mind that ut the prospect of death
he even wept. Length of life had been prom
ised so positively to the righteous that it seemed
a reflection on his character to die so young.
(Ps., 81 10; Pro. 3: l, p He had been moral
and pious. g XII, Is: S. He recalled Gods
promise to David that the time would never
come when descendant would be wanting to
continue the royal line. Il XII PSI But
how could this be if Hezekah die2 No son
was born to him till three years after the sick
ness of the King. Then the Government just
at that time was in a precarious condition.
The Assyrians were hemming in the territory
and threatening tho very capital. Further, the
King had set his heart on the religious refor-
nation of the Kingdom and feared q relapse
by his death. So, not in peeyishness as in the
case of Ahab Il XII, 81 d. but for retirement
and abstraction he turns his face to the wall
and prays. What power in prayer! God
listens and directs Isaiah, who had gone but
LEFT to Of mud h ,,
that he should recover, and indeed be able
within three days to go to the temple that he
would live Is years longer, and that the Assyrian
forces would be forever withdrawn from his
territory. But God acts through human means.
fig poultice must be applied to the diseased
part. There is remedial power in figs, but a
special curative effect may have been impaired
TO the plaster in Heck iah's case 1t is impos-
sble to determine the nature of his disorder.
The word bile" is inclusive of tumors alb
sceSseS, etc.
The cure of Hezelliah was not instantaneous,
but was deferred for three days. The King
wanted some immediate comfort. God had at
various times confirmed his promises and
strengthened the faith of his people by per-
forming on the spot some wonderful act. 1t
would be an inspiration for the succeeding II
hours if Hezekiah could witness some miracul-
Gus deed requiring but moment. God yielded
to the weakness of the man. Through his
Prophet he suggested the sun dial as the in
strument, giving the King the choice whether
the shadow should go forward or backward 10
degrees. A shadow is a result of a law of nature.
When the sun shines a perpendicular object
must cast shadow on the side opposite the
sun. If no shadow should he cast or if it be
cast to the right left of a direct line from the
sun to the background opposite the intervening
object, we have miracle. Let the sun be in
the east; then a post must cast its shadow
If nm tho ary-t SbaSn tn tho
north or south, We are astounded. We cannot
hold that the total universe reversed its revo-
lutons 10 degrees. Let the sun shine and let
an object cast shade to the one or other side in
stead of straight forward, and we have a mira
Gle. The miracle consisted simply in an unus-
ua, and ordinarily impossible location of a
shadow. To bring Che matter home: suppose
the hands of clock should move back 10 hours
and after little return I'd the correct time; we
would be obliged to allow the interpositiOn of
some supernatural power. If we wanted sign,
We would regard such actIof the hands of dial
as meeting the case.
1t is curious, the exact limit of the Kings life
is stated-15 years. We are certain, as the years
gided by, Hezekiah must have felt strangely.
lie was sentenced. 1t would be comfort
dinarily, to know in advance the day of ones
death. The last year must have been one quite
wanting in cOmposure. Hezekiah is the only
man of the human race who knew the date of
his death, save in the instances of condemned
criminals. And we notice that, even with the
additional 10 years, the King died quite young
at "a
Now we reach weak point in the life of
Hezekiah-ostentation. The King of Babylon
sent commission to Judah's K ing with friendly
letters and a present He congratulated Heze-
kiah on his restoration to health. 1t is always
well to fear the Greeks bringing gifts. Instead
of reviewing before the commission all his mil
ltarV forces and showing the STRENGTH his
defenses, he exhibited all his treasures, jewels,
wealth. What folly He could thus but slim
ulate their rapacty and make them eager to
become possessors of such vast and precious
stores. In I25 years the Kingdom of Judah was
attacked by the Babylonians. The inhabitants
were carried away captives. All of the treas
ures were seized and made booty. The tradi-
tions of Judahs wealth, gathered from the
glowing reports Of the commission to which
Hezekiah showed his treasures, fired the Baby
lonian ambition.
There is something probably typical in the
restoration on the third day;-points to our
Savor's restoration from the grave on the third
day. Recall Jonah's three days experience.
Notice the practical thoughts deduced from
our study:
l. Think it no strange thing if sick. Even
palaces are not exempt from disease. Men can
be Kings only in certain limited realms.
2. Visit the sick. The Prophet, hearing of
IiSEckldH .liDSsS piiu Hiii q pdStOIdi CALL
Ciergymen should be seen much with the sick
Patients should send notice of their illness to
their pastors.
3. Make all due preparation for death. See
TO wills. Keep business in manageable con-
dition. Specially seek that holiness without
which none can see God.
4. If sick, pray. (St. James, 5 49, Let others
pray for the sick. U.s. Ii, 49, Prayer avails
against disease, foes, nature against sin, Satan
and the unregenerate heart
5. Live exemplary lives. ". 81
6. Tell the dying the fact outright. (V ~
One should not deceive, nor should one be
blunt We cannot be so certain in our declara-
tions person shall die as was the Prophet
Isaiah but when the fact is fixed to all human
probability, it is better not to conceal it from
The patient. Advise with the physician.
Z. Even the dead speak. Their influence is
felt. David had been dead 800 years, and yet
Hezekiah was blessed through him.
8. God keeps his promises. Compare V. 6
with l XII s.: 25)
9. Use means; not pray alone, but apply
poutices. (St. John, 8: 6, Z; ST. Mark, z: 33;
2 XII, .: 20 22)
TO- Return thanks for cure. When Hezekiah
went to the temple on the third day he surely
did not neglect to eHpressto God his gratitude
for recovery. ga
H. Congratulate your friends on their re-
gaining health; do so in person or by letter. 1t
was a handsome act on the part of Berodach