Isaiah 39:1-8
Q.1. How did the healing of Hezekiah inflate his ego? What message of coming judgment did God bring against the king? Was Hezekiah’s response appropriate? – (Isa.39:1-8)
News of the healing of Hezekiah travelled near and far. News of the salvation of a sinner does not seem to gain the same traction. The news even spread to Babylon. They responded by sending a congratulatory letter and present. Hezekiah let his guard down amid the sensation that his healing had aroused. He showed the emissaries all his wealth and splendour – There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them (Isa.39:2). Hezekiah had a guaranteed life span. However, his healing brought him acclaim that plainly belonged to God. In response, God sent Isaiah to Hezekiah, to identify his foolishness, and to deliver a stinging condemnation of his pride. His wealth and sons would be taken into exile by these same Babylonians. We must always be careful to give the glory to the One to Whom it belongs. Hezekiah accepted God’s judgment on his failure. It is possible that he acknowledged that God had extended further grace to him by delaying the coming judgment. However, his response – For he thought, ‘For there will be peace and truth in my days (Isa.39:8) betrayed assumptions he had made because he had been spared.