Scripture

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace – all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now – will be carried off. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.”

Observation

Some envoys from the king of Babylon come to Jerusalem to send Hezekiah his best wishes following Hezekiah’s sickness.

Hezekiah is delighted with them, and shows them everything in the Palace, including the armoury and the treasure stores.

Isaiah asks Hezekiah what the men had wanted. Hezekiah tells hem. Isaiah says that the Lord says that all of these things will be carried away to Babylon. Even Hezekiah’s sons will go into exile.

Hezekiah thinks this isn’t so bad because at least there will be peace in his time.

Application

Although Hezekiah is considered a godly king, on this occasion he acted very foolishly. Seduced by a gift and kind words, he treated these envoys as friends when he should have been more careful.

On one occasion, Jesus told us not to throw pearls to pigs. In other words, there are spiritual truths that we don’t need to share with unbelievers. Some people just want to engage Christians to find out how silly they are. Their desire is to condemn not to convert.

There are many aspects of my life that I keep to myself. In this highly connected world, privacy seems to be at a premium. What I share in a closed meeting can easily be repeated to the world.

We must always be as gentle as doves and as wise as serpents.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to discern who is open to your word and who is hard of heart. Amen