3. He mentions his past religious consistency, not as a boast or a
ground for justification; but according to the Old Testament
dispensation, wherein temporal rewards (as long life, &c.,
Ex 20:12)
followed legal obedience, he makes his religious conduct a plea for
asking the prolongation of his life.
walked--Life is a journey; the pious "walk with God"
(Ge 5:24;
1Ki 9:4).
perfect--sincere; not absolutely perfect, but aiming towards it
(Mt 5:45);
single-minded in walking as in the presence of God
(Ge 17:1).
The letter of the Old Testament legal righteousness
was, however, a standard very much below the spirit of the law as
unfolded by Christ
(Mt 5:20-48;
2Co 3:6, 14, 17).
wept sore--JOSEPHUS
says, the reason why he wept so sorely was that
being childless, he was leaving the kingdom without a successor. How
often our wishes, when gratified, prove curses! Hezekiah lived to have a
son; that son was the idolater Manasseh, the chief cause of God's wrath
against Judah, and of the overthrow of the kingdom
(2Ki 23:26, 27).
JFB.
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