A Foolish Mistake

O. T. #1625 "A Foolish Mistake"
Feb. 10, 2020
Isaiah 39

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever made a decision or action and later realized it was foolish? King Hezekiah did. Want to find out what it was? Read on, friend.

We left King Hezekiah being healed of his deadly boil and his life extended 15 more years, which were given by God. He passed the faith test when Hezekiah wept and prayed to God. Apparently word traveled rather swiftly during this time, without internet and phone lines, too. Word spread of his sickness and recovery and the moving back of the sun (as proof from God that Assyria would not attack Jerusalem and that Hezekiah would be healed). (One commentary said that the Babylonians worshiped a sun god.) Could it have been curiosity about the day the sun stood still that resulted in their king sending messengers to Hezekiah?

According to Tony Evans, Babylon was going to be the next great world power in years to come. During Isaiah's day, it was another vassal state under Assyria.

What happened in this chapter?

• The king of Babylon sent letters and a present to Hezekiah by way of messengers.
• This pleased King Hezekiah of Judah. Was it pride and flattery that swelled up the king? After all, he name was great in distant countries.
• He made a foolish mistake in striving to impress his foreign visitors. The king showed them his precious things, treasures, and armory in his palace and kingdom. Nothing valuable remained unseen. (verse 2) He lived to regret it, though.
• The Lord sent His Prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah with a message. Notice, the king did not seek his advice when these foreign visitors came. (verse 3,5)

Did the Babylonian king think his sun god (a false god) was the source of this miracle and he was rejoicing in it? Or was the Babylonian king seeing the power of Judah's God Almighty, the One and Only God, who worked miracles and he wanted to honor Hezekiah's God? Was Hezekiah trying to impress his visitors by giving a guided tour through his precious things? Just my curiosity.

Anyway, we know it was our God's love and mercy shown to King Hezekiah, after he prayed, that healed and extended the king's life.

LET IT GROW

What was wrong with showing these Babylonians around? Was the Babylonian king planning a revolt against Assyria and was forming an alliance. Did he hope to convince Hezekiah to join this alliance against Assyria. And maybe Hezekiah felt honored by this attention and some sympathy for their proposal. Or was Hezekiah hoping to have Babylon join his alliance against Assyria. (Remember, God told Hezekiah that Assyria would not attack Jerusalem.) Either way, Judah's king did a foolish thing.

The Lord sent Isaiah to Hezekiah. What occurred in that meeting?

• Basically, Isaiah asked the king 3 questions-What did those men want? Where were they from? What did thy see in your palace? (verse 3-4a)
• Hezekiah's answers were: They came from the distant land of Babylon and they saw everything I own, all my royal treasuries. (verse 4)
• The LORD's message to Hezekiah was the captivity of Hezekiah's descendants, sons serving as eunuchs) and all their treasures stored up.(verses 6-7)
• Hezekiah's reply was, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. There shall be peace and security in my days. (verse 8, NLT)

What was Hezekiah saying? He recognized that God was merciful by not killing him. God's Word is good (precious; gracious; king; loving; pleasant; good in the wildest sense). Did it sound like Hezekiah was convicted of his sins and repented of his pride? Some say so. After all, he had stamped out idol worship and God had granted his faith 15 more years, and he knew Almighty God was LORD.

Was the king being short sighted in that Babylon's captivity would not occur during his reign? That he was blessed with peace with the remainder of his life?
In 5 more generations after Hezekiah, King Jehoiakim of Judah was attacked by King Neb in Babylon; in 6 generations, the second attack was made when King Jehoiachin rebelled against Babylon; in 7 generations King Zedekiah was the third attack and conquered by Babylon.

Are we careful that our treasures do not puff up pride within us? Do we seek the Lord as we make decisions?

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus warns, Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus made it clear that having the wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. (Life Application Study Bible)

Are we living contently with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures?

LET IT GO
Open my spiritual eyes to see the path for me according to Your will, God.
Thank You for all that You have provided for me.
Use me and my things for Your glory and purpose.
And help me to recognize pride in my life.