A Good Man's Plea
Isaiah 38:2-3
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD,…


1. Holy men did sometimes make mention of their good deeds before the Lord, in their prayer to Him (Nehemiah 13:14; Jeremiah 15:15-17).

2. When they did make mention of their good deeds before the Lord, they did it, for the most part, when they were in trouble.

3. They did not mention them as meritorious causes of whet they prayed for (Nehemiah 13:22).

4. The reason why they mention their good deeds at such time is —

(1) That they might the more incline the Lord to mercy; for the Lord is more ready to show mercy to those who endeavour to live according to His laws than to those who neglect them.

(2) That they might sustain themselves against the faint-heartedness which might assail them, being prone by nature thereto; for the testimony of a good conscience produceth boldness towards God (2 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Peter 3:21). Besides, Hezekiah might have a special reason to move him to mention his good deeds, and it is this, because the Lord had made a promise to David (1 Kings 2:4). At this time Hezekiah had not a child to succeed him in the throne.

(W. Day, M. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,

WEB: Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh,




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