The Embassy From Babylon: 2 Kings 20:12-19

From: Meditations on 2 Kings By: Henri L. Rossier

2 Kings 20:12‑19 • 7 min. read • grade level: 10

A brief passage in Chronicles, the only passage in this book that speaks of all the contents of our chapter, informs us of Hesekiah’s state of soul when the ambassadors were sent by the king of Babylon: “In those days Hezekiah was sick unto death, and he prayed to Jehovah; and He spoke to him and gave Him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was lifted up; and there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. And Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chron. 32:24-26²⁴In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. ²⁵But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. ²⁶Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 32:24‑26)). Here we see the king’s feelings when he received the messengers of Babylon. “His heart was lifted up.” At that time under Berodach-baladan Babylon was not yet that which she later became.

Her king had thrown off the over lordship of Assyria and wanted to ward off the return of this power on the offensive by seeking friends among the nations located to the west of his kingdom. He therefore sent a letter and a present to Hezekiah by his ambassadors. Our passage says that Hezekiah “hearkened to them.” Thus they had some request to make of him, some alliance to propose to him against their common enemy, whose yoke Hezekiah had himself thrown off. The Word does not tell us that this alliance was concluded, but that the king received the ambassadors favorably. Here he once more made the humiliating experience that his trust in God was not absolute. According to the account in 2 Chronicles 32:27-31²⁷And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; ²⁸Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. ²⁹Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. ³⁰This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. ³¹Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:27‑31) God had abundantly blessed him for his faithfulness during the first fourteen years of his reign: he had “very much riches and honor,” and it was just at that time that “the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land” arrived. Such was the avowed purpose of Berodach-baladan. As for his secret purpose, he flattered Hezekiah’s pride. On this occasion “God left him to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chron. 32:31³¹Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:31)). Left to himself, “his heart was lifted up.” He displayed the riches God had given him so that he might vaunt himself before the eyes of these strangers instead of glorifying before these idolaters the God who had saved him by a miracle when he was appointed to death, and who had richly blessed him in replenishing his treasures. These treasures, together with his arsenal, his house, and his domain were passed in review before a jealous world which could not, except merely superficially, be a friend to the saints and the people of God. And lo, in the near future “all... which thy fathers have laid up... [should] be carried to Babylon” (2 Kings 20:17¹⁷Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. (2 Kings 20:17); Isa. 39:6⁶Behold, 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. (Isaiah 39:6)). There was, Chronicles tells us, “wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem,” and Hezekiah had to make painful experience of it. But during the interval his soul had been humbled and restored. He was now prepared, as he says in his writing, to “go softly all [his] years”—the fifteen years of life he yet had before him—“in the bitterness of [his] soul:” Softness and bitterness together! These qualities which seem unable to harmonize, harmonize perfectly for the Christian. To the bitterness of the discipline by which we are broken is joined the unspeakably sweet feelings of the Father’s love, which He has bestowed on us!

Isaiah plays a new role here, that of the Word which penetrates and searches us out. Happy are we if, like Hezekiah, we do not try to hide anything from Him with whom we have to do. The godly king, taken aside, acknowledges and owns everything before the prophet. “What said these men? and from whence came they to thee?” asks Isaiah. “They came from a far country, from Babylon,” answered Hezekiah. Did this “far country” where the prodigal son could live in pleasure far from the face of God (Luke 15:13¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. (Luke 15:13)) have anything to do with the presence of God? These men came “from Babylon; “ cradle both of rebellion against God and of idolatrous worship. Hezekiah had not contracted an alliance with their king, but had bound himself to him by friendship. The prophet asks, “What have they seen in thy house?” The king answers, still with the same sincerity, “All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them: “ Then Isaiah announces the judgment of God: “Hear the word of Jehovah: Behold, days come that all that is in thy house, and what thy fathers have laid up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left” (2 Kings 20:14-17¹⁴Then 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, even from Babylon. ¹⁵And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them. ¹⁶And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord. ¹⁷Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. (2 Kings 20:14‑17)). Is this not the final sentence of the Word if our hearts allow themselves to be attracted and puffed up by things of this earth? “And the world is passing, and its lust.” Nothing shall be left!

Hezekiah, having hidden nothing from the Lord, accepts his sentence in all humility. His words recall those of David: “I have sinned against Jehovah,” but they contain yet more: “Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken” (2 Kings 20:19¹⁹Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? (2 Kings 20:19)). With a contrite heart he accepts the consequences of his deed. The testimony which God had entrusted to him does not escape his hands unharmed; on the contrary, it is hopelessly ruined. This revival, begun in the freshness of divine power, ends through the fault of him who had been its instrument. But in a personal way Hezekiah’s heart and conscience had gained through these experiences. If his testimony had been unable to maintain itself and had slipped into ruin, his soul through discipline had recovered its fellowship with the Lord and this humble confidence in Him which it had forsaken for a moment to let itself to be ensnared by the words of the enemy who had flattered his pride.

“And Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; “ Chronicles tells us (2 Chron. 32:26²⁶Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 32:26)). Blessed result of personal humiliation — it produced the same result in others. When the Assyrian had appeared before the walls of Jerusalem, the king and the people had been of one heart and mind to answer him not and to despise his threats, trusting in the Lord. Discipline having produced its fruits, Hezekiah’s wish “Is it not so? if only there shall be peace and truth in my days!” was fulfilled! “The wrath of Jehovah came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chron. 32:26²⁶Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 32:26)).