Joel M Bradshaw

12At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. 

14Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” 15He said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”

16Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: 17Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. 18And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 

19Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”–2 Kings 20

1. Hezekiah had just received word that God was going to protect Judah from the Assyrians.
2. He also had just been healed of a disease by God. God even worked a miracle making the sun go back in time a bit to give Hezekiah a sign to trust.
3. Yet, rather than showing that gratitude with discipline, Hezekiah started playing politics.
4. As Biblical history would unfold, the Babylonians would replace the Assyrians as the major power.
5. And these are the Babylonians that will successfully defeat Judah and carry them away into exile.
6. Hezekiah was one of the few good kings. But even good kings have selfish moments.
7. Pride is the root of selfishness and selfishness is the root of sin. Sin is the doom of every king and kingdom. Hezekiah had all these good moments with God and yet didn’t follow with discipline or restraint. What discipline are you letting slide in your own life?–JMB