2 Kings 20 Hezekiah Pt 6
Hezekiah recovers from his illness and receives visitors from Babylon. Their visit seemed innocent. Hezekiah, in his pride, showed the EVERYTHING he had.
We come to the end of Hezekiah’s story today. He gets a ‘glad you are feeling better’ visit from Babylon. He is pleased with the honor being paid to him and he shows off for his visitors. His pride has him show the EVERYTHING he has. And that is the beginning of the undoing of Judah. Let’s rejoin our story and see where the Spirit takes us today.
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It has been a week since Hezekiah rose from his sick bed. Every day is special to him. It is another day that he would not have had if the Lord had not listened to his prayers. He goes about with a little extra spring in his step.
While he is listening to the matters of the people and judging between them, one of his guards approaches him. His face tells Hezekiah that he has an urgent matter he wants to discuss. Hezekiah finishes with the matter he is currently addressing, then has the doorkeeper wait before sending the next matter to him.
“What news do you bring me” he asks his guard.
“An envoy has arrived at the gates my king. They wish an audience with you.”
“Where are they from?”
“They state they are from the land of Babylon.”
“And have they given you a reason for their visit? Do they come in peace?”
“In peace my king. As to their purpose, they ask that they be allowed to reveal that to you alone. They did say that they are bearing gifts for you.”
Hezekiah is intrigued by this. “Bring them before me” he orders.
The guard bows and then leaves to fetch the visitors. Hezekiah turns his attention to the doorkeeper. “Send the people away as we have guests. I will hear their matters tomorrow.”
The doorkeeper informs those waiting of the king’s change in schedule. Some are disappointed, some are angry, but most of them are curious. They move out of the way but stayed within the outer courts so they can get a glimpse of the visitors. They don’t have long to wait and neither does Hezekiah.
A group of four men, dressed in fine robes with turbans fastened with gold, are led by the king’s guards through the outer, middle and finally inner courtyards. Just the sight of them is magnificent. They appear to fall just shy of royal status but it is clear that they are important men in their country. Instead of quenching the people’s curiosity, this sight heightens it. Whispers ripple through the crowd as to who they might be and why they have come.
For those outside the palace, they will have to wait to have their questions answered. For the king, his answer is quickly approaching.
A guard announces the group and they enter the throne room.
“Welcome” intones Hezekiah from his throne.
The visitors all bow deeply before speaking.
“Our great master Merodach-baladan, son of the king of Babylon, sends his greetings. He has heard that you were ill but have recovered. He was very pleased to hear of your recovery. He sends you this letter.” the first envoy offers up a letter he is holding by extending his hand with it towards Hezekiah.
One of the guards takes it from the envoy’s hand and brings it to Hezekiah who takes it.
“Our master also offers these gifts to you to use in good health.” The third man of the group is holding a small trunk. He places it on the floor near the feet of the guard so it too can be brought to Hezekiah.
Hezekiah nods to the guard who opens the trunk. Inside are vials of aromatic spices sitting atop brightly woven linen fabrics and gold and silver armbands. Gifts designed to appeal specifically to Hezekiah. He smiles brightly as each is extracted from the trunk and held up for his inspection.
Once the trunk is repacked, Hezekiah turns his attention to the letter he has been holding.
“Honored king of Judah,
I trust this letter finds you well. I recently heard of your illness and recovery. May the gods be praised that your nation was not deprived of such a leader as yourself. Please accept these gifts as my token of respect.
I would be honored to name you among my friends, as a sister nation of peace. I would also welcome a visit from you, if you so choose.
I have heard also of the power and blessings of the God of Judah. I would like to learn more of Him and all He has done for you. I hear tell that He is also responsible for your renewed health. May His name be ever praised by all who hear it.
Your faithful servant,
Merodach-baladan,
Son to the great king of Babylon”
Hezekiah is very pleased to have such a greeting. He is proud of all his God had done for His people. Hearing the prince of Babylon praise his God made Hezekiah want to show him EVERYTHING God had done for Judah.
Hezekiah isn’t only proud of what the Lord has done but that he is the one for whom the Lord has moved. “If not for MY heart and MY following His ways, Judah would be as broken as Israel” he has told himself on many occasions.
“Your master is most kind in his praises for the God of my people. I would be honored if you would take a report back to him of what our Lord has provided for his people.”
“That would please us greatly O king.”
“Then let us walk together as I show you the blessing of our God. There is none like Him in all the world.”
Hezekiah, his guards and the four men began with a tour of the palace.
“This palace was built by king Solomon. He was the last king of Israel when it was a united kingdom. I am his direct descendant. His father was king David. He served the Lord with his whole heart and as a reward for that devotion the Lord promised him that his descendants would reign forever. I am the most faithful follower of the Lord since David.”
Hezekiah takes his visitors to see his storehouses, his vineyards, his fields, his armory, even the hall of Lebanon. He saves the best for last.
“I would now like to show you the Temple of our God. It too was built by the great king Solomon. Some things have changed since then but it still remains the most glorious place in all of Judah and Israel. I have restored it after previous kings had neglected.”
Hezekiah takes the envoy everywhere except the Holy places.
“I am sorry, but none but the priests may enter beyond here. Our God is a holy God and his people must be holy. He has commanded that none but the Levites may enter into His most holy places. To do otherwise would mean death to the one who disobeyed His command. Beyond this place is one more where our most precious possession of our Lord is kept. It is the Ark of the Testimony. Only the high priest can enter there and it is only once a year that he may do so. Even he would suffer death if he were to disobey the Lord’s command.”
“What does the Ark you speak of look like?”
“It is a chest made of the purest gold. It has poles attached to the sides through rings. Its lid is also of the purest gold and is fashioned with cherubim on either end. The Lord’s presence rests between the cherubim.”
“Your God lives in this temple?”
“A portion of His Spirit does and it bears His name. But it is not large enough to contain Him. He is the Creator of all the universe. And He chose us as His people from among all the nations.”
“His fame has certainly been proclaimed throughout even our land. Is He the one who cured your disease?”
“He is. I was near death when He sent me His prophet. Initially he said that he was told by the Lord that I would die but I cried out to Him and He heard me. The prophet returned to me and told me that the Lord would heal me and the Lord gave me a sign to seal that promise.”
“What was that sign.”
“I thought you would never ask! The Lord made the shadow go back ten steps.”
“What does this mean?”
“Let me show you.”
Hezekiah took the group to the steps of Ahaz. Here he showed them how the time piece worked.
“This was built by my father, king Ahaz. He studied the heavens. He designed this building and the staircases on either side to mark time. As the sun moves across the sky it illuminates portions of the staircases. The length of the shadow signifies the time of day. God made the shadow go backwards up the steps by TEN steps. He moved the sun! Name me another god of any nation who could do that.”
“That is a feat I have never heard of before or of any god who claims they could do such a thing.”
“Only the God who made the universe could so control it.”
The visitors are amazed by all that they have seen. They leave for their own country first thing the following morning. They have quite a report to bring back to their master.
After the envoy from Babylon departs Hezekiah resumes his duties. Isaiah is the first to enter the throne room this day. He walks past the doorkeeper without a word and goes to stand before the king. Before Hezekiah even welcomes him Isaiah launches into his reason for being there.
“What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” (2 Kings 20:14b).
“They have come from a far country, from Babylon” (2 Kings 20:14c).
“What have they seen in your house?” (2 Kings 20:15a) asks Isaiah with a scowl.
“They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouse that I did not show them” (2 Kings 20:15b) answers Hezekiah with obvious pride in his voice.
Isaiah shakes his head. “Hear the word of the Lord: Behold, 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. And 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” (2 Kings 20:16b-18).
“The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good” (2 Kings 20:19a) replies Hezekiah.
Isaiah’s mouth drops open for a moment. Then he seals it into a tight line. He shakes his head in unbelief at Hezekiah’s inability to grasp the weight of what he has just done. Then he turns on his heals and leaves. He will not come to Hezekiah again.
Hezekiah watches Isaiah’s reaction. He is puzzled by it. The prophecy he gave promises peace for the rest of his reign. Why would he be concerned about children he doesn’t even have? “Surely they will follow the Lord and work out this prophecy on their own” he tells himself. “And if they go into captivity, it will be their own doing; not mine.”
As the years go by and Hezekiah begins to father those children whom Isaiah prophesied against, Hezekiah’s mind changes regarding their future. He is humbled by simply holding them in his arms. He vows to teach them to follow the Lord’s commands so that they too may be blessed and not cursed.
Hezekiah sleeps with his fathers and his son Manasseh, who is twelve years old, takes the throne. Hezekiah is buried with the sons of David, as he followed the Lord with his whole heart.
(to be continued)
The last time I shared this story, it was on Father’s Day. I find it interesting that we are approaching that same observance now. It is a week and a half away. Hezekiah had no concept of the depth of love a father feels for his children when Isaiah confronted him. He was wrapped up in his own pride. Pride at what HIS heart had accomplished by following the Lord. Pride that HE had brought Judah back from the brink of disaster. Even pride at all he had amassed and done. Not in the name of the Lord but by his own hand.
I believe that, after his children are born, he changes his mind about the ‘goodness’ of Isaiah’s prophecy. I believe any father would.
I was just thinking about our relationship with God verses the relationship those before Jesus’ sacrifice had with Him. Jesus is the first person in the bible to refer to God as Abba; Father. During the time of the Law, God was in relationship with His people, but it was a relationship with degrees of separation. The people didn’t come directly to God. They went through their intermediaries and through rituals and requirements. Theirs wasn’t an intimate relationship with Him. So, Hezekiah didn’t have that ‘sonship’ relationship as his guide when Isaiah brought his final prophecy to him.
We have been given the ‘right’ to call God Abba Father through Jesus’ work on the cross. NOT through anything we have done, but because of the work Jesus did. That relationship, and the understanding of a TRUE Father’s love is only because of Jesus. And we only receive that ‘right’ and relationship through Jesus; through believing in the work He did on our behalf and HIS right to do so. If He were ANYONE other than THE Son of God, He would not have had any more right to do so than you or I. But He was AND is the Son of God! And He FREELY gave us the ‘right’ to becomes sons of God through His blood sacrifice.
Maybe that is why Hezekiah though nothing of what his children would suffer. He didn’t know what it was to be a father, nor the fullness of a TRUE Father’s love. His own certainly wasn’t a good example. And, apparently, he wasn’t the best at instilling his beliefs in his own children, try as he might. His son Manasseh is the WORST king EVER!
Father God, THANK YOU for allowing me to call You Father; Abba. THANK YOU for the earthly father you gave me as well. He taught me what love looks like and introduced me to You. THANK YOU for my mother too! She helped hold my daddy’s feet to the fire when he got tired. They both have showed me what a parent’s love is. And BOTH strengthened and encouraged my walk with You. I don’t know where I would be without them and their faith (in You AND me).
