By Mary Fairchild
1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.
THE VISIT OF THE BABYLONIAN DELEGATION—2 Kings 20:12-19: News of Hezekiah’s miraculous healing reached Babylon, and the king of Babylon sent ambassadors to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery. They brought lavish gifts and Hezekiah showed them all of the Temple and the kingdom treasures. His action revealed that his possession of wealth, not his possession of the Lord, was more important to him. The covetous Babylonians would remember what they had seen. When Hezekiah told Isaiah what he had done, Isaiah rebuked him and told him that one day the descendants of these very men would seize all of Judah’s treasures along with the sons that would be born in Judah. (Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled 100 years later when Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon.)
Rather than remaining humbled, Hezekiah responded in pride to God’s abundant mercy. “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” (2 Chron. 32:25). After God’s rebuke, Hezekiah recognized his pride and humbled himself, which postponed God’s wrath on him and on his people. “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” (2 Chron. 32:26).
OUR RESPONSE TO TESTING: When we are tested by success, failure, material things, relationships, or anything else, our response should follow this pattern: Pray—this is vital. Describe your problem to the Lord. Praise Him for His ability to solve your problem and for His willingness to teach you and share His presence with you. Thank the Lord for giving you a test; it is His design that you grow to be more like Him. Confess your sin as the Holy Spirit brings it to your mind. Submit your will to Him—that means also submitting your will to those in authority over you. Recognize your dependence on Him. In pride you have thought that you could handle the situation yourself; in humility recognize that you cannot. Determine that you will believe the Lord when He says that He will bring you through the test and will powerfully work in your life each day. Special passages for testing times:
JAMES 1: Study and obey the Lord’s direction in this passage of Scripture.
HEBREWS 12: Gives special direction when we have failed.
ISAIAH 40, 41: Are important chapters to read and study when we are succeeding.
WORKS CITED
- Revelation and Church History
- Church Age
- Old Testament Study
- KING JAMES BIBLE
- MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY
- A Beka Book High School Bible Series “United Kingdom: Kings of Israel A;” 1995 Pensacola Christian College; www.abeka.com