Isaiah 39: Hezekiah’s Pride and the Babylonian Prophecy

Isaiah 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.

2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed 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 armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

3 Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What said these men? and from where came they to you? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country to me, even from Babylon.

4 Then said he, What have they seen in your house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.

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

6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, says the LORD.

7 And of your sons that shall issue from you, which you shall beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Isaiah 39 provides a solemn account of King Hezekiah’s failure during a significant test of his faith, marking the first mention of Babylon in prophecy and foretelling the future captivity of JudahSITI January 13, 1888, page 22.4+1. This chapter serves as a warning against pride and the dangers of self-exaltation when we should instead be glorifying God for His miraculous merciesRR 125.6+2.

The Context: A Miraculous Recovery and a Celestial Sign

Hezekiah had been "sick unto death," and although the Lord initially told him to set his house in order because he would die, the king’s earnest prayer moved God to grant him fifteen additional years of life 2 Kings 20:1-6+1. To confirm this promise, Isaiah the prophet gave Hezekiah a sign: the shadow on the sun dial of Ahaz moved backward ten degrees 2 Kings 20:8-11SITI January 13, 1888, page 22.4. The Babylonians, who were renowned astronomers, noticed this solar phenomenon and sent an embassy to Jerusalem to inquire about the "wonder that was done in the land" 2 Chronicles 32:31SITI January 13, 1888, page 22.4+1.

The Test of Hezekiah’s Heart

The visit of the Babylonian ambassadors, led by Merodach-baladan, was a divine test of Hezekiah’s gratitude and devotionRR 125.6+1. God "withdrew from him" for a moment to see what was truly in his heartSITI January 13, 1888, page 22.4+1.

• The Error of Pride: Instead of using the opportunity to witness to the power and compassion of the God who had healed him, Hezekiah was overcome by vanity and self-exaltationPTUK July 27, 1899, page 480.2+1.

• The Display of Riches: He showed the ambassadors everything—the silver, the gold, the spices, his entire armory, and all his treasures—leaving nothing in his house or dominion unexposed Isaiah 39:2SITI January 13, 1888, page 22.4+1.

• A Missed Opportunity: These men were "seekers after truth" from a powerful nation, and had Hezekiah shared the goodness of God, their report could have been a light piercing the darkness of heathendomRR 125.6+2.

The Prophetic Consequences

Isaiah confronted the king, asking who the men were and what they had seenKJV — Isaiah 39:2. When Hezekiah admitted he had shown them all his treasures, Isaiah delivered a devastating prophecy:

1. Loss of National Wealth: Everything Hezekiah had displayed, along with the accumulations of his forefathers, would one day be carried off to Babylon Isaiah 39:6SITI January 13, 1888, page 22.4+1.

2. Captivity of the Royal Line: Some of Hezekiah’s own descendants would be taken away to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon Isaiah 39:7RR 126.2+1.

3. The Result of Cupidity: The "vain-glorious exhibition" of wealth only served to arouse the cupidity of the Babylonians, making Jerusalem a target for future conquestPTUK July 27, 1899, page 480.2+2.

Lessons and Applications

• Human Nature and the Heart: Hezekiah was a good man who loved the Lord, yet this incident demonstrates that "the heart is deceitful above all things" and that pride often goes before destruction Jeremiah 17:9PTUK July 27, 1899, page 480.2+1.

• Individual Responsibility: We are stewards of God’s gifts, including our health and wealth; when we use these talents for self-glorification rather than God’s service, we bring a "reproach and stigma" upon His cause13MR 367.3+2.

• Remorse and Mercy: Upon hearing the prophecy, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, which delayed the execution of the judgment during his lifetime 2 Chronicles 32:26RR 125.6+1.

• The Spiritual "Babylon": The spirit of Babylon is one of self-sufficiency and worldly display; believers are encouraged to seek the "Spirit of meekness" and rely fully on Jehovah to triumph over the powers plotting their ruinRR 125.6+2.

Ultimately, Isaiah 39 shows that while men’s boastful treasures will pass away, the truth of God remains the same and does not depend on earthly might or wealth Isaiah 40:8PTUK August 10, 1899, page 498.5. We are called to speak of the "precious chapters" in our experience—the mercy and loving-kindness of God—rather than exalting our own abilitiesPK 347.3+1.