Godly Men Still Make Mistakes

Although he was one of Judah’s greatest kings, and dedicated to following the Lord, Hezekiah was still a human being, and messed up, as II Chronicles 32:25-26 tells us.  “But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.  Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”

God had blessed Hezekiah in many different ways, and as so often happens, Hezekiah became proud of the way God blessed him.   II Chronicles 32:27-30 describes his blessings.  “And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.  Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.  This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.”

As so often happens, Hezekiah’s pride in how he had been blessed became a problem, as II Chronicles 32:31 tells us.  “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.” At the time, Babylon was a minor part of the Assyrian Empire, and Hezekiah was flattered when they sent ambassadors enquiring about his health.  II Kings 20:12-13 tells what happened.  “At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.  And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.” 

God sent Isaiah to warn Hezekiah that flaunting his wealth would lead to the Babylonians invading Judah when they became strong enough, in Isaiah 39:3-8.  “Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee?

And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

Then said he, What have they seen in thine house?

And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.

Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.  And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.”

While God expects us to enjoy the things he blesses us with, we need to be careful not to flaunt then or make other people feel that God doesn’t love them as much because he hasn’t blessed them in the same way even though they have done the same things.  Sometimes we discourage other Christians by bragging about how much we are blessed, and other times we tempt ungodly people by flaunting what we have.   Nobody is perfect, and even the most Godly men can mess up. 

Hezekiah was very highly respected by his people, as was demonstrated when he died, in II Chronicles 32:33.  “And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.”

The people refused to allow some of the kings to even be buried in the same cemetary as David. But Hezekiah was buried in an area reserved for their greatest leaders.