Isaiah 39:1-8 “At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them 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 shewed them not. 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 shewed 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.”
Note: The first section of Isaiah deals with the threat of the Assyrians, but the last section (Chapters 39-66) speaks of the threat and capacity by the hand of the Babylonians.
Note: This chapter is really an introduction to this next section in the book of Isaiah
Note: King Hezekiah had been sick, and God healed him. Gave Him 15 more years; it would seem that this allowed pride to grow in Hezekiah’s life.
2 Chronicles 32:24–25 “In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 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.”
Note: Hezekiah’s heart was lifted up.
Note: It’s easy for us to become proud of the gifts that God gives us. The blessings that we have received from the Lord.
If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud . . . If you think you’re not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.C. S. Lewis
2 Chronicles 32:31 “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.”
Note: God left Him.
Note: We know that in the New Testament, God will never leave or forsake us, but how many Christians today ignore God’s work in their life and decide to do things alone?
Note: Note the condition of Peter when he refused to follow Jesus into the judgment hall; he denied the Lord three times.
Note: God had allowed these events to take place in Hezekiah’s life to show him what was really in his heart.
Note: God often brings us to places and allows events to reveal our hearts.
Jeremiah 17:9–10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Note: This isn’t a message about Hezekiah; this is a message about the human heart and how wicked our heart really is.
Note: If it weren’t for God’s intervention, we would all be in trouble.
Note: God knows our heart and how much trouble, if left unchecked, it brings into our lives.
Note: I’m talking about all of us today. This is a message for all of us. No matter how spiritual we think we are.
Note: I was talking to a pastor this week; I had preached at his church several times. We were talking about ministry, and I asked him how [person’s name] was doing, and he said, oh, he’s not living for the Lord now, and I couldn’t believe it. He was living for God, on fire, serving the Lord – and now he’s backslidden. The human heart is deceitful and wicked.
Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
Note: This is the thing.
Note: Hezekiah’s failure in Chapter 39 is not the result of any fault that was peculiar to him alone.
Note: Anyone one of us could be in this position.
Note: We start to think that we’re someone and that we could never fall, and then reality hits. We are not as strong as we thought we were.
Note: I want to notice three pitfalls of pride today.
Note: And Yes, it can affect and harm you if you’re not careful.
Note: This is why it’s in the Bible for us.
✖ You are unauthorized to view this information; you need a membership. You can join Sermon Sparks here.
