Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"And Hezekiah was pleased with them"
Text: Isaiah 39:2
A SURPRISE VISIT BY A BABYLONIAN ENVOY
The miraculous healing of King Hezekiah drew the attention of the Babylonians. Babylon was but a small state ruled by the Assyrians at that point of time. The son of the king of Babylon led a delegation of Babylonians to visit Hezekiah and to bring him a present.
“At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon,
sent letters and a present to Hezekiah,
for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—
the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armoury—
all that was found among his treasures.
There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion
that Hezekiah did not show them.”
Isaiah 39:1-2
1. A Babylonian prince
a) Baladan was the king of Babylon at that time.
b) Merodach-Baladan was his son.
i) He led a Babylonian delegation to pay respects to King Hezekiah.
ii) He bore a letter from his father and a present too.
iii) This was a show of effective diplomacy on the part of the Babylonian king.
iv) Babylon, like many other smaller states, was ruled by the mighty Assyrians.
2. Hezekiah’s pleasure in seeing the Babylonian prince.
a) Hezekiah was pleased:
i) With Merodach-Baladan.
ii) With the letter and present from King Baladan.
b) An un-called for response:
i) He showed off all his treasures.
ii) His silver and gold.
iii) The spices and precious ointment.
iv) His armoury.
c) He kept back nothing from the Babylonian prince!
i) They were strangers before this visit.
ii) Hezekiah treated the Babylonian prince as if he was his best friend.
d) Why did he do this?
i) Pride because of his great wealth.
ii) Foolishness because he could not see deeper implications.
iii) The lack of restraint in displaying his wealth showed recklessness.