2 Kings 20:12 - Meaning and Application

Here is the first part of the story, the embassy sent to Hezekiah by the king of Babylon to congratulate him on his recovery (2 Kings 20:12). Up to this point, the kings of Babylon had been only rulers under the kings of Assyria, and Nineveh was the royal city. We read that Babylon was subject to Assyria (2 Kings 17:24). But this king of Babylon was beginning to rise on his own, and in time the balance shifted until Assyria came under Babylon’s power.

The king of Babylon sent to honor Hezekiah and win his favor for two reasons. First, there was a religious reason. The Babylonians worshiped the sun, and when they heard how their god had shown honor to Hezekiah by turning back the shadow, they thought they ought to honor him too. It is a good thing to have as friends those whom heaven clearly favors. Second, there was a political reason. If the king of Babylon was trying to break away from the king of Assyria, it was wise policy to gain Hezekiah as an ally. Babylon had reason to thank Hezekiah, and even more, to thank Hezekiah’s God, for the blow that had weakened Assyria. He could see that no ally would be more powerful or useful than one who had such favor in heaven. So he sent ambassadors, letters, and a gift, showing Hezekiah great respect.

Hezekiah received these ambassadors kindly (2 Kings 20:13). It was right for him to treat them with proper respect, since they were official messengers. But he went too far and became overly eager to please them. He listened to them too readily. Though they were idolaters, he grew close to them, was quick to welcome an alliance with their king, and gave them all they wanted. He opened himself more than he should have and did not stay on guard.

He also showed them his palace, his treasures, and his storehouses, so they could see and report back how great a king he was, and how worthy he was of the honor their master had shown him. The text does not say that he showed them the temple, the law, or the way he worshiped God, though that would have been a fine chance to lead them toward the true faith. Instead, to avoid offending them, he passed over that and showed them the rich goods in his own house, the treasures he had gathered since the king of Assyria had emptied his coffers, along with his silver, gold, spices, and every valuable thing he possessed. He may have done nothing unusual in the eyes of the world, for people often show strangers the riches and wonders of a land, or show friends their homes, gardens, stables, and libraries. Yet if this is done from pride, as Hezekiah did it, to win praise from men and not to give glory to God, it becomes sin.

Then Isaiah, who had often comforted Hezekiah, now came to rebuke him (2 Kings 20:14, 15). The Holy Spirit does both, as Jesus said (John 16:7, 8), and ministers should do the same when needed. Isaiah spoke in God’s name, so he questioned Hezekiah with authority: Who are these men? Where did they come from? What do they want? What have they seen? Hezekiah did not resist the questioning. He answered openly, “There is nothing in my treasures that I did not show them.” Still, it would have been better if he had brought these men to Isaiah first, and shown them the prophet, who was surely the greatest treasure in the land. Isaiah’s prayers and prophecies had been part of all the wonders these envoys had come to learn about.

Then came the sentence against Hezekiah’s pride and his too strong love for worldly things, even after he had so recently been brought into close dealings with divine things (2 Kings 20:17, 18). First, the treasures he was proud of would one day be taken away, and his own family would be stripped of them. It is only right for God to take from us what becomes the object of our pride and the thing we trust in. Second, the king of Babylon, the ruler Hezekiah had been so eager to befriend, would become the enemy who would carry those treasures off. This was not the direct cause of the later judgment, for the sins of Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, especially his idol worship and murders, brought that ruin. But God foretold it to Hezekiah now to show him how foolish his pride was and how mistaken he had been to value Babylon so highly. Hezekiah had been glad to help Babylon rise and to weaken Assyria’s great power. Yet he is now told that the serpent he was nursing would soon strike the hand that fed it, and that his royal descendants would become slaves in Babylon, as later happened (Daniel 1:1 and following). Nothing could have been more painful for Hezekiah to hear. Babylon would bring ruin to those who loved Babylon. So those are wise and happy who come out from her (Revelation 18:4).

Hezekiah then submitted humbly and patiently to this word (2 Kings 20:19). Notice how he reasons himself into that submission. He says, in effect, that the Lord’s word is good, even this word, though it is a warning of trouble. Every word from God is good. It is not only right, but good, because God does no wrong, and he means no harm to those who are truly his. It is good also because God will bring good out of it and use it for Hezekiah’s benefit by warning him in advance. We should believe this about every work of providence, that it is good and working for good.

He also noticed the good part of the message, that he would not live to see this evil, much less share in it. He took the dark word and made the best use of it. “Is it not good?” he asks. “Yes, it is, and better than I deserve.” True penitents, when God rebukes them, call his judgments not only just, but good. They do not merely submit to the punishment of sin, but accept it. Hezekiah did this, and in that way it was shown that he was truly humbled for the pride of his heart.

When we are under dark providences, or when the future looks dark in public life or in our own lives, we should notice what is for us as well as what is against us. That helps us give thanks to God and, by patience, keep our souls steady.

In public matters, it is good, and we are bound to count it good, if peace and truth are present in our days. This means that, whatever else we lack, it is a great blessing if true religion is openly taught and protected, if we have Bibles and ministers, and if we can enjoy them in peace, without fear of war or persecution. It is also good if, whatever troubles may come after we are gone, things are well in our own day.

We should not be unconcerned about those who come after us. It is right to grieve when we see coming troubles ahead. Even so, we should admit that delaying judgments is a great mercy in general, and that having them delayed until we can die in peace is a special mercy to us. We do not know how we would bear the trial, so we have reason to think it is well if we may reach heaven safely before it comes.

This brings us to the close of Hezekiah’s life and story (2 Kings 20:20, 2 Kings 20:21). In 2 Chronicles 29 through 32, much more is told about Hezekiah’s work of reform than in this book of Kings. It also seems that in the civil records, which are no longer available, many things were written about his power and the good things he did for Jerusalem, especially bringing water into the city through pipes. To have water in abundance, without having to fight for it and without fear while drawing it, is a great mercy, because the lack of water would be a serious disaster.

But this history leaves Hezekiah resting with his fathers, with a son on the throne who turned out very badly. Parents cannot give grace to their children. Wicked Ahaz was the son of a godly father and the father of a godly son. Holy Hezekiah was the son of a wicked father and the father of a wicked son. When the land was not reformed as it should have been under a good reign, it was then harmed and prepared for ruin by a bad one. Yet God then gave it another good reign, showing how unwilling he was to cut off his people.