When we want more... (part 2)
Hezekiah was terminally sick. He miraculously recovered.They had fended off (prayed off) the Assyrians.
With the extra time Hezekiah had, he amassed wealth and riches and embarked on grandiose building projects. When a faraway Babylonian King sent a "Get well soon" message, Hezekiah took the messengers on an extensive tour, showing them all the wealth of the kingdom.
Isaiah the prophet realised that this was a scouting mission and that Hezekiah had just painted a target on Israel's back and he rebuked and warned Hezekiah. Look at the warning and Hezekiah's response.
| Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, that will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." "The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?" (2Kings20:16-19) |
Yesterday we saw how Hezekiah's dissatisfaction and desire for more bought him 15 years in which, unfortunately, he planted the seeds for Israel's ultimate destruction: Opulent wealth, a character deficient son and a self-centered attitude were the legacy of these extra years that Hezekiah so badly wanted.
Nowhere is Hezekiah's desire for immediate gratification more evident than in our passage today.
Isaiah warns him of the pending destruction coming to Jerusalem.
We would expect the Hezekiah we've known up to this point to rush to the temple - to plead with the Lord. We'd expect him to tear his robes - even to repent.
BUT what does Hezekiah do?
He says: "Oh well, it will be after my lifetime, so why worry?"
This is what happens when we become self-centered.
May we examine our own lives and ruthlessly stomp out this kind of attitude!
