Isaiah 39:1-8

Isaiah 39:1-8 NIV

At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?” “From a distant land,”

Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”

The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”

“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

“The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

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Wow! I was just getting to like Hezekiah and then he pulls this stunt! Here's a king who showed great devotion to Yahweh and the covenant through Moses and David. He tore down all the pagan shrines in Jerusalem and throughout Judea. He reestablished proper worship of the living God at the temple. He led revival throughout the southern kingdom. When Assyria threatened Jerusalem be humbled himself before and God prayed for Jerusalem and for God's reputation. God saved the city. When he fell ill and was near death, he wept and cried out to God. God showed him mercy. He swore to humbly serve the Lord for the rest of his days.

Isaiah 38:15-16 NIV

But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.

There's a lot of good in Hezekiah, but there is vanity too. Now healed miraculously from his life threatening illness, Hezekiah receives envoys from Babylon who bring gifts from the son of the Babylonian king, Baladan. Hezekiah shows them all his treasures and all the national armament. This was foolish and vain. Perhaps Hezekiah thought himself grand, blessed, and wise like his ancestor King Solomon.

1 Kings 10:4-5 NIV

When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.

Did Hezekiah hope to overwhelm the Babylonians with the wealth God had showered upon his kingdom? Had he hoped to show military strength? Whatever his motivations, it was a foolish thing to do. Now the Babylonians know the treasures they can loot and they know the limitations of their military, for they saw everything.

The prophet Isaiah confronted Hezekiah for this vanity. He told him the consequences of his actions. One day the Babylonians will take all of the wealth of Jerusalem away and even some of Hezekiah's descendants will be enslaved and turned into eunuchs to serve the king of Babylon.

Hezekiah's response reveals the level of his selfishness. He is glad it won't happen in His lifetime. He showed no remorse. He didn't turn to the Lord and humble himself as he had before. He was just glad he didn't have to face the consequences himself. It doesn't seem to bother him that Jerusalem will fall and others will suffer greatly under the Babylonians.

God warned the Israelites in His law about becoming self satisfied like Hezekiah.

Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17 NIV

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”

The next king to take the throne is the worst in the history of Jerusalem. Manasseh returned Judah to pagan idolatry and even sacrificed his own son to idols. (2 Kings 21:1-6) Hezekiah isn't totally responsible for his young son's actions. Manasseh was only 12 when he took the throne. But Hezekiah had some burden of guilt. He did not assure that a godly king would follow him. He reveals in his heart that he really is not caring much about future generations. He seems to care only for his own security and peace. Didn't this attitude affect his young son? Manasseh becomes the extreme version of self-seeking.

The word of the Lord today to me is beware of arrogant thinking. "Don't get too big for your britches," is how the old folks said it when I was a kid. Those who exalt themselves will be brought low. Those who humble themselves before the Lord will be exalted. Remember to remain thankful and grateful for all your blessings. All that we are and all we possess is a gift from the hands of God. Be a good steward with what He has entrusted to you and you will be given more. Give God the glory. Become puffed up and you may fall in a big way. If not you, then your children or grandchildren may suffer the consequences.