Isaiah 39:1
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. 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.
At that time was after Hezekiah had recovered from a life-threatening sickness, and Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, having heard that he had been sick and was recovered, sent him letters and a present by ambassadors who came into his house. The envoys came to congratulate him and to inquire about and learn about the wonder God had done for him. That wonder was especially the sign in which the shadow on the sundial was turned back and the sun went back ten degrees, pointing to the God who performed it.
The visit gave Hezekiah an opportunity to show gratitude by telling them about God's power, goodness and deliverance in healing him. It became a test of his devotion that revealed what was in his heart, God leaving him to show what was within. Instead of giving God the glory and directing their attention to the Lord's deliverance, Hezekiah in pride, exaltation and self-exaltation, and seeking influence, displayed to them the riches and treasures in the Lord's house and in his own house, with his possessions and advantages. By that display he failed the test, and God's favor and wisdom were withdrawn from him.
His display gave himself away, exposed the people's weakness, tempted Babylon to come and plunder his possessions, and marked the beginning of his downfall as a heinous sin that brought God's judgment. For the visitors left planning how to obtain and take those treasures and advantages for themselves. The episode warns God's people not to disclose their prosperity and success nor their troubles and vulnerabilities to an enemy, to those opposed to God, and to the wicked.
It warns against trusting foreign visitors, treating them as a source of influence, welcoming unbelievers into plans and councils, displaying resources without discernment, and forming alliances with unbelievers instead of relying on God. Doing so betrays sacred trusts, loses God's favor, and weakens the example set for others. As Hezekiah showed the treasures in God's house, it warns against unwisely opening an institution's books and affairs to outsiders. Such inspection causes harm far greater than any small promised financial gift.
The same test of heart came when the Sanitarium's riches were shown to strangers, revealing pride and being weighed and found wanting. And church affairs are to be kept within the church except when confession is needed for a personal injury.