Be Careful What You Wish For!

             In my last post, I spoke about the kings that followed King David and how they each failed to wholeheartedly follow the Lord.  Finally, after 275 years, Hezekiah came to the throne of Judah.  The Scripture tells us that “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done” (II Kings 18: 3 NIV84).  This time, there was no “except” clause.  Unlike those before him, King Hezekiah destroyed every aspect of idol worship.  As a result, he was successful because the Lord was with him (II Kings 18: 7).

            Still, Hezekiah was far from perfect.  After he had ruled for approximately 14 years, he became deathly ill.  Isaiah, the prophet, delivered a message from the Lord.  “Put your house in order because you are going to die” (II Kings 20: 1b NIV84).  Not exactly the words he wanted to hear, so Hezekiah prayed fervently.  God answered his prayer and added 15 years to his life (II Kings 20: 5).

            Those fifteen years became Hezekiah’s downfall.  Two major events took place during that time.

            First, representatives of Babylon came to visit, and Hezekiah eagerly showed them everything of value in his kingdom—“silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, his entire armory and everything found among his treasures” (Isaiah 39: 2b NIV84).  The author of II Chronicles tells us that “Hezekiah’s heart was proud” (32: 25 NIV84).  Instead of humbling himself and showing his gratitude to God for extending his life, he became proud and full of himself.  When Isaiah told him that because of his pride in his riches, eventually those treasures and some of his descendants would be carried off to Babylon, he was not concerned because he knew it would not happen until after his death (Isaiah 39: 5 – 8).

            The second event that spoils Isaiah’s record is found in II Kings 21: 1,2 which says, “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king…He did evil in the eyes of the Lord…” (NIV84).  Hezekiah’s son, who succeeded him as king, returned to the pattern set by those kings who had reigned for 275 years before Hezekiah.  That son was born during those 15 years.

            Hezekiah tried to break the pattern that the prior kings had set.  Ultimately, it was his pride and lack of humility that led to his downfall as well as that of the nation.  We will never know what might have been different if he hadn’t received those extra 15 years.

            Be careful what you wish for!

II Kings 18: 1 – 5 & 20: 1 – 21: 7

II Chronicles 32: 24 – 33

Isaiah 38: 1 – 39: 8

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