SCRIPTURE: 2 KINGS 20
HEZEKIAH’S ILLNESS (vs. 1-11)
Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. So God heard his prayer and extended his life for another 15 years. God assured him that he could go to the temple of God on the third day. And the sign would be that the shade will go back 10 steps on the stairway of Ahaz.
ENVOYS FROM BABYLON (vs. 12-21)
Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. Hezekiah received the messengers and showed them all that was in his storehouse – the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine oil – his armory and everything found among his treasure. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did no show them. (vs. 12-13)
Then Isaiah told king Hezekiah: “Hear the word of the Lord. The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, that will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon” (vs. 16-18) Hezekiah rested with his father and Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
THOUGHTS;
The weakness of Hezekiah is pride. He let the enemy know his secrets by showing his wealth and weapon. His great victory over Assyria gave him false confidence to entertain the Babylonians. it is better to keep everything you have in secret. Do not try to show off and impress people with the blessings from God.
Hezekiah was considered a great king because he fortified the city, improved its water system, cleaned the land of idols and led the people back to the Lord. He was also a man of prayer who knew how to tell God everything. God healed hm and saved his city from the Assyrians. Your prayer and sincere faith in God can change your situation.