Hezekiah's Pride

"God will preserve a people that will stay humble in His presence, and God will save a soul that will call upon Him" [Romans 10:13]. 

Hezekiah was the 13th King of Judah, he reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah for twenty-nine years, from c.726 to 697 BC. The Bible describes Hezekiah as a king who had a close relationship with God, one who did “what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God” (2 Chron. 31:20).

One day, he fell ill and Prophet Isaiah told him to set things in order and prepare to die (2 Kings 20:1),but Hezekiah prayed and God had pardon on him; healed him and added 15 years to his life. Hezekiah’s story is told in 2 Kings 16:20—20:21; 2 Chronicles 28:27—32:33; and Isaiah 36:1—39:8. He is also mentioned in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; 26:18–19; Hosea 1:1; and Micah 1:1.

Although 15 years was added to Hezekiah life, he made a big mistake when he fell into the trap of the King of Babylon. The Babylonians sent a gift to Hezekiah, for they had heard Hezekiah had been sick. In foolish pride, Hezekiah showed the Babylonian visitors all of his treasures, all the silver and gold, and everything in his arsenal.There was nothing Hezekiah did not parade in front of them. He foolishly exposed himself to these Babylonian spies.

More so, Isaiah rebuked Hezekiah and revealed to him that they were spies, Isaiah prophesied that all the king had shown the Babylonians would one day be taken to Babylon- along with Hezekiah’s own descendants.

The Lord was good enough to add 15 years to King Hezekiah's life; but it was up to Hezekiah if those years would be lived in wisdom and to the glory of God.

Lessons learnt from this message;
1. Hezekiah allowed compliments from the King of Babylon to get to his head, he exposed his treasures to the envoys and was defeated.Just like Samson revealed his strength to the whore,likewise Hezekiah showed off his treasures and when the king of Babylon heard of the mighty store of riches that were in Jerusalem, first thing he did was to run it down and to make plans to destroy it, to carry it away, to take it. Hezekiah's pride and inflated ego made him blind.

There are so many people carried away by the world compliments and they become emotional strippers. The Bible states in John 10:10 that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy but in Matthew 24:43 Jesus said "If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into". Brethren, When you expose yourself, you give the devil a foot hold (Ephesians 4:27). The Devil can only use people to destroy you, base on the information you have revealed. We are adviced as Christians to keep watch and stay humble.

2.Hezekiah boasted about his life and achievements. It is important to understand the difference between human glory from God glory.To glorify one self is the character of the devil, Isaiah 14:12-14 -- Lucifer was caste down because he, said in his heart,"I will ascend into heaven,I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. On the farthest sides of the north;I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,I will be like the Most High." Pride transformed an Angel into a demon.

Many people are so overly confident and proud of their talents and gift they boast about it. The problem with giving man power is that it can intoxicate him. God is Spirit and you cannot entice him with your riches, the Heaven and earth are His. He is beyond this world,it is important to understand that we can only worship God in truth and in Spirit.

In Bible story of the widows mite, it can be assumed it was a mini-launching service and rich men and women where bidding with large amounts of money,probably they where trying to impress Jesus with their high bids but the poor widow, though she gave only two mites, she gave all she had and that caught Jesus attention. The King of Glory searches the heart, a humble and faithful heart.

In Paradise there are many Saints who never gave alms on earth: their poverty justified them. There are many Saints who never mortified their bodies by fasting, or wearing hair shirts: their bodily infirmities excused them. There are many Saints too who were not virgins: their vocation was otherwise. But in Paradise there is no Saint who was not humble.St. Thomas says: "Speaking absolutely, humility excels virginity."

Jesus has not called everyone to be doctors, preachers or priests, nor has He bestowed on all the gift of restoring sight to the blind, healing the sick, raising the dead or casting out devils, but to all He has said: "Learn of Me to be humble of heart,"[Matt. 11, 29]  and to all He has given the power to learn humility of Him. Humility is not just a virtue it is the nature of God. The humblest men honours God most

3. Hezekiah in his place in wanting to please man, he lost the focus in God. Paul wrote in Galatians 1:10; "For if I still please men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ". When we live to please men, we cannot at the same time live to serve and please God. It is important to understand from the above mentioned scripture in Galatians that it is a glorious thing to live to serve men, but not to live to please them.

The fear of rejection will allow other people to manipulate us. It keeps us from speaking the truth because we do not want another to get hurt and will not be accepted. Sometimes silence isn’t golden; it’s just plain yellow! We don't share our faith because we're worried about the approval of others. Paul's word in Gal. 1:10 implies;I can choose whether I’m going to live for the applause of God or the applause of men. You can’t seek the approval of both at the same time. You have to decide whom you’re trying to impress. Many times instead of seeking joy by pleasing God with our faith-inspired actions, we seek a sin-sick joy from the mere praise of others.

Hezekiah lost it all. This was fulfilled in 2 Kings 24: 19-13 and 2 Kings 25: 11 - 17. under the Babylonia King Nebuchadnezzar. Hezekiah started as a great King but it did not end well despite his extended years. His material riches was not only taken, his sons, which are his true riches were also taken.