HEZEKIAH'S PRIDE, SUCCESS, AND FAILURE

Passage: 2 Chronicles 32:24-33

Key verse: 26

NIV

Hezekiah’s Pride, Success and Death(A)

24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.(B) 25 But Hezekiah’s heart was proud(C) and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath(D) was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah repented(E) of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.(F)

27 Hezekiah had very great wealth and honor,(G) and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. 28 He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and olive oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. 29 He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches.(H)

30 It was Hezekiah who blocked(I) the upper outlet of the Gihon(J) spring and channeled(K) the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. 31 But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon(L) to ask him about the miraculous sign(M) that had occurred in the land, God left him to test(N) him and to know everything that was in his heart.

32 The other events of Hezekiah’s reign and his acts of devotion are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah rested with his ancestors and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David’s descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.

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ESV

Hezekiah's Pride and Achievements

24 (A)In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah (B)did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for (C)his heart was proud. Therefore (D)wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah (E)humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of (F)costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah (G)closed the upper outlet of the waters of (H)Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, (I)who had been sent to him to inquire about (J)the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, (K)in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written (L)in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, (M)in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the (N)upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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1. Hezekiah's pride and repentance (23-26)

At the peak of Hezekiah's life, he became ill to the point of death. He earnestly asked God for mercy and God healed him with a miraculous sign. However, his heart became proud, and he took God's kindness for granted. He neither showed thanks nor acknowledged God's work in his life. This provoked God to anger and brought God's wrath on him and his nation. He then repented of his pride and God withheld his wrath during his reign. God opposes the proud but shows favor to a repentant sinner.

2. Hezekiah's success and failure (27-33)

God blessed Hezekiah with great wealth and honor. He succeeded in everything he undertook. However, the time of prosperity is a time to see what is in one's heart. When the Babylonian envoys came and asked about the miraculous sign in the land, Hezekiah proudly displayed to them his wealth and achievement. He didn't seek God's wisdom in prayer, for he was self-confident and self-assured. In this way he failed in the test of God who sees everything in his heart.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace. Help me to bear your blessing with a humble and thankful heart all my days.

One Word: Pride comes before the fall.