John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 38:3

"and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore." — Isaiah 38:3 (ASV)

And said, I beseech You, Jehovah. He appears here to expostulate with God and remonstrate with Him about his own past life, as if he were undeservedly distressed. But this is not the case; on the contrary, he strengthens and fortifies himself against a heavy and dangerous temptation that might otherwise have been suggested.

For the great severity with which the Lord chastised him might lead him to think that the Lord had cast him off, forsaken, and disapproved of him, and had rejected all that he had formerly done. For this reason, he strengthens and encourages himself, and declares that whatever he did was done by him with a good conscience. In short, he concludes that, although he must die, his services have still not been displeasing to God, so that he may thus open up for himself a path to prayer and good hopes.

Remember now that I have walked before You in truth. He does not plead his merits against God, or remonstrate with Him in any respect, as if he were unjustly punished, but fortifies himself against a severe temptation, so that he may not think that God is angry with him for correcting the vices and removing the corruptions that prevailed throughout the whole of his kingdom, and especially in regard to religion.

Yet the Lord permits His people even to glory, in some degree, on account of their good actions, not that they may boast of their merits before Him, but that they may acknowledge His benefits, and may be affected by the remembrance of them in such a manner as to be prepared for enduring everything patiently.

But sometimes the unreasonable conduct of their enemies constrains them to holy boasting, so that they may commend their good cause to their Judge and Avenger; as David boldly meets the wicked slanders of enemies by pleading his innocence before the judgment-seat of God (Psalms 7:8; Psalms 17:2). But here Hezekiah intended to meet the craftiness of Satan, which believers feel when, under the pretense of humility, Satan overwhelms them with despair. Therefore, we ought earnestly to beware lest our hearts be swallowed up by grief.

With a perfect heart. We learn from His words what is the true rule of a pious life: that integrity of heart holds the first place, for nothing is more abhorred by God than when we endeavor to deceive either Him or men by our hypocrisy.

Although the eyes of men are dazzled by the splendor of worlds, yet pretended holiness, which is, as it were, a profanation of His name, provokes His anger. And, because He is a Spirit (John 4:24), He justly demands spiritual obedience and declares that He abhors a double heart (Psalms 12:2).

Most properly, therefore, Hezekiah begins with sincerity of heart. The Hebrew word שלם (shalem), which is translated perfect, means nothing other than integrity as contrasted with hypocrisy. This is also evident from the use of the word truth, as Paul affirms that the end of the law is brotherly love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

And have done what is good in Your eyes. He also brings forward the fruits that spring from an upright heart as from a root, not only to confirm himself, but likewise to confirm others, in reference to those things that might have given any occasion of offense. Hezekiah therefore did not hesitate or waver, but wished to remove what might have given offense to many people.

But again, we should observe how we must regulate our life, if we desire that God will approve of our conduct. We must do nothing but what is agreeable to His command; for, as He rejects and condemns all the pageantry that hypocrites boast, so He likewise considers of no value all the false worship in which foolish men weary themselves in vain, while they labor to obtain His favor by disregarding His word.

Accordingly, Hezekiah, who knew that obedience is of greater value than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), says not only that he ran (which is often done in a disorderly manner) but that he regulated his life in obedience to God, who alone is competent to judge. Hence we may conclude how great his earnestness in prayer was; for though he sees on every side nothing but the tokens of God’s anger, yet he does not cease to fly to Him, and to exercise faith, which all believers ought earnestly and diligently to do amidst the heaviest afflictions.