HEZEKIAH’S PRIDE
Key verse: 5-6
NIV
Envoys From Babylon(A)
39 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon(B) sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys(C) gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold,(D) the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.(E) There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
3 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,(F)” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”
4 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.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word(G) of the Lord Almighty: 6 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.(H) Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 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.(I)”
8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,(J)” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.(K)”
Cross references
- Isaiah 39:1 : 39:1-8pp — 2Ki 20:12-19
- Isaiah 39:1 : S 2Ch 32:31
- Isaiah 39:2 : 2Ch 32:31
- Isaiah 39:2 : S 2Ki 18:15
- Isaiah 39:2 : 2Ch 32:27-29
- Isaiah 39:3 : S Dt 28:49
- Isaiah 39:5 : S Isa 38:4
- Isaiah 39:6 : S Jdg 6:4; S 2Ki 24:13
- Isaiah 39:7 : S 2Ki 24:15; Da 1:1-7
- Isaiah 39:8 : S Jdg 10:15; Job 1:21; Ps 39:9
- Isaiah 39:8 : S 2Ch 32:26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Every human servant of God, even the best, has mistakes on their record. This chapter shows Hezekiah’s big blunder. The king of Babylon sent envoys to Hezekiah after his recovery with gifts and a letter. Hezekiah welcomed the envoys and treated them as honored guests. This is not wrong. But because of his pride, he showed them all the treasures in his storehouses. Almost no one can resist showing off when a good opportunity comes to do so.
At that time, Babylon did not seem like a serious threat compared to the Assyrian Empire. But Isaiah told the king that the Babylonians who had seen his treasures would one day come and carry off all of them. It doesn’t mean that the Babylonian exile was caused only by Hezekiah. But Hezekiah’s sin was one link in the chain that led to God’s judgment on Judah. Only Jesus can break the chain-links of sin and judgment in our lives.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I have taken pride in the blessings you gave me. Free me from the need to show off. Help my life be a good influence in spite of my sins.
One Word: Don’t show off.
