Scripture Daily

Context No. 3301 of 4322 · 2 Kings

Context · Reflection

2 Kings 20:12-21: in context

12At that time Berodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the storehouse of his precious things—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, or in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them. 14Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, even from Babylon.” 15He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.” 16Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the LORD’s word. 17‘Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the LORD. 18‘They will take away some of your sons who will issue from you, whom you will father; and they will be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 19Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The LORD’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “Isn’t it so, if peace and truth will be in my days?” 20Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 21Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

Envoys arrive from Babylon after Hezekiah's recovery, and the king welcomes them and shows them everything, all his treasure house, his silver and gold and spices and armory, holding nothing back. Isaiah then tells him that one day all of it, and even his descendants, will be carried off to Babylon. And Hezekiah answers, the word of the LORD is good, since there will be peace in his days.

Coming right after God had healed him and delivered Jerusalem, this scene exposes a subtle danger: pride that creeps in after blessing. Flattered by attention from a distant power, the king who had recently prayed so humbly now shows off everything he owns, as though his treasures were his own glory. Prosperity and rescue can quietly breed the very pride that humility in trouble had held at bay. It is often not in our trials but in the ease that follows our deliverance that pride slips in. Having been lifted up by God, Hezekiah begins to lift up himself, and the blessing becomes an occasion for boasting.

After God blesses or delivers me, do I guard against the pride that can quietly creep in, or do I begin to display his gifts as though they were my own glory?

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