The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 39:1-2,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them."
This action on Hezekiah's part was his undoing and the undoing of the southern tribes of Israel. We read Isaiah's resulting prophecy to Hezekiah in verses 5-7, "Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors 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 who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."
This is exactly what happened about 117 years or so later. It appears there is a connection with Hezekiah's thorough display of all he had to these envoys from Babylon and the Lord's judgment. Following the incident, Isaiah asked Hezehiah, "What did they see in your palace?" Hezekiah admitted he showed the delegation all he had. What might that connection be? Some think it is the Lord's disgust of Hezekiah showing off all he had in a grand display of pride.
Here is another thought: as Hezekiah received this delegation from Babylon, he was in fear of the threatening Assyrians. His display may have been an effort on his part to demonstrate to the king of Babylon he had something to offer as a potential ally. Again, instead of trusting in the Lord, he sought safety and security from others (as he did Egypt.)
Notice how his actions caused the loss of all that his predecessors had accumulated and the cost to his progeny as they would be carried away to become enslaved eunuchs in service to Babylon. It had an impact on what previous generations had left as well as what future generations would lose.
It is a costly thing to turn away from the living God!
This action on Hezekiah's part was his undoing and the undoing of the southern tribes of Israel. We read Isaiah's resulting prophecy to Hezekiah in verses 5-7, "Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors 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 who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."
This is exactly what happened about 117 years or so later. It appears there is a connection with Hezekiah's thorough display of all he had to these envoys from Babylon and the Lord's judgment. Following the incident, Isaiah asked Hezehiah, "What did they see in your palace?" Hezekiah admitted he showed the delegation all he had. What might that connection be? Some think it is the Lord's disgust of Hezekiah showing off all he had in a grand display of pride.
Here is another thought: as Hezekiah received this delegation from Babylon, he was in fear of the threatening Assyrians. His display may have been an effort on his part to demonstrate to the king of Babylon he had something to offer as a potential ally. Again, instead of trusting in the Lord, he sought safety and security from others (as he did Egypt.)
Notice how his actions caused the loss of all that his predecessors had accumulated and the cost to his progeny as they would be carried away to become enslaved eunuchs in service to Babylon. It had an impact on what previous generations had left as well as what future generations would lose.
It is a costly thing to turn away from the living God!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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