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T is certain that Hezekiah was a godly king in Judah (2nd
Chronicles 31:20). He was a man of faith and humility. He was diligent and
devout. He loved God and truth. We have just read of a couple of wonderful
incidences in his spiritual journey. But, he was only human, like the rest of
us. He was not perfect. In this chapter, we find a corner in the recesses of
Hezekiah's heart, a corner that doesn't appear to us to be very
sanctified. Of course, God is the judge.
However, we can at least examine our own hearts in light what we read here.
Hezekiah was healed. Booyah! Hooray for Hezekiah! Hooray for
God! The news of Hezekiah's healing made
it all the way to the king of Babylon, whose name was Merodachbaladan. King Mer.
had held an enemy in common with Hezekiah. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, had
given both of these kings great grief. However, Hezekiah put too much stock in
that common bond. When emissaries came from Babylon to Jerusalem with letters
of celebration concerning Hezekiah's healing, Hezekiah made much of this.
Receiving recognition from the world is never as wonderful
as we imagine it to be. Hezekiah trusted these heathen as if they were his
bosom buddies. He showed them all of his wealth and the glory of his small kingdom. But, whatever kinship those Babylonian
diplomats might felt toward the Jews during this mission, it would be shed
eventually. Babylon was to become the
conqueror of Jerusalem. What Assyria failed to do at all, Babylon would do more
than once.
Now, after the departure of the friendly foreign delegation,
the prophet Isaiah visited Hezekiah again. Hezekiah's gaudy presentation of his
own greatness must have been displeasing to Jehovah. Hezekiah's response to
Isaiah's words should be very tough for us to swallow. Even though Hezekiah's
own descendants were going to have to endure the awful things that Isaiah
prophesied, Hezekiah was happy anyway, because, as he said, "At least I
won't have to face the damage myself." Strange (Philippians 2:3-4)!
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