The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.4

In order to show you why this test came, I have to go forward in order to go back. I know this doesn’t make sense now, but hopefully it will. You see, the order of the events is not the order that we see it written in. Prior to this test, and prior to Hezekiah having to give this king the gold he had just overlaid the temple with, he did something foolish.

Isa 39:1  At that time Merodachbaladan, 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.

Isa 39:2  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.

Merodach-baladan = “Marduk has given a son”

1) king of Babylon in the days of king Hezekiah of Judah

Baladan = “Bel (is his) lord)”

Babel or Babylon = “confusion (by mixing)”

1) Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates

He showed the resources and blessings in his store house to the wrong people. This also speaks of mixing or yoking yourself with unsaved individuals. No matter how well-meaning they may seem, such a mixture will only bring confusion.

Isa 39:3  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.

Isa 39:4  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.

Isa 39:5  Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:

Isa 39:6  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.

Isa 39:7  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.

Isa 39:8  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.

Now, it bugs me that Hezekiah was ok with all of this. He didn’t seem bothered by the fact that this prophesy would affect his children. He was comfortable thinking that there would peace during his reign, and so he just accepted this prophesy without any sign of repentance. What he did here, was to open a door for an attack. By showing them the wealth of his kingdom, he incited the spirit of envy, jealousy and covetousness in the Babylonians.

He did continue to walk with the Lord. He did continue to be victorious, but he opened a door for devastation that would hit his children, and he never attempted, so it seems to close it. So he was somewhat negligent and self-centered in this regard.