SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 39
ENVOYS FROM BABYLON (vs. 1-8)
When Merodach -Baladan, king of Babylon heard of Hezekiah’s illness, he sent envoys and gave him letters and a gift. Hezekiah received them gladly and showed them his storeroom including the silver, gold, spices, fine oil and his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah: “The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers had stored up until this day, will be carried off the Babylon. Nothing will be left. 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.” (v. 6-7). But Hezekiah was shortsighted. He only thought of peace and security in his life time without concern for the future of his people.
THOUGHTS:
Hezekiah was lured by the enemy’s flattery when they visited him in his illness. Beware of the kisses of an enemy. They are deceitful like a serpent. Being honored by the fake concern of Babylon., Hezekiah showed the Babylonian envoys his treasures. But Isaiah warned the king not to trust Babylon. Someday they would conquer Judah and devour Jerusalem’s wealth.