HEZEKIAH DISPLAYS HIS TREASURES This section of Isaiah’s book sadly ended with the fall of Hezekiah in pride, displaying all his treasures and those of his Fathers to envoys from the king of Babylon, boastful of his richness and glory. That is why God ordered all of them to be carried off to Babylon. As the star of Jerusalem started to shine, following the defeat of the king of Assyria, who used to terrify all nations; arrogance and haughtiness infiltrated into Hezekiah’s heart, leading him to fall down into the abyss. 1. Displaying the treasures 1-2. 2. A divine order for the treasures to be carried off 3-7. 3. Hezekiah admits his fault 8. 1. DISPLAYING THE TREASURES Hezekiah’s star shined as a result of the defeat of Sennacherib king of Assyria. Although Hezekiah raised a psalm of thanksgiving to God, especially for adding 15 years to his life, yet he did not practice that attitude in his life, but “Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property.” (2 Chronicles 32: 27 - 29) God let him enjoy that richness and glory for some time, “to test him that He might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32: 31); then allowed Merodach- Baladan king of Babylon to send Hezekiah letters and a gift, having heard of his illness and recovery. It was more fitting for Hezekiah to glorify God, and to talk of His graces, rather than to display his own treasuries. He fell to the sin of pride and proclamation of his vainglory, as did Samson, who collapsed when he revealed the mystery of his strength to the harlot. Merodach, a title carried by numerous persons, is the name of the king of gods, mentioned with Bel (Jeremiah 50: 2); often used as part of the name of Babylonian kings. As for Baladan, it means (been given a son). St. Hippolytus says, [Merodach the Chaldean who had knowledge of astrology studied the stars, discovered their mysteries, and sent a letter and gifts, as did the wise men from the east with Christ1.] Hezekiah, motivated by the pride of his heart, and his love for vaiglory displayed all what he had, to the envoys of Merodach-Baladan: “There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.” (Is. 39: 2) He did not appreciate the wise words of his father David: “The royal daughter is all glorious within...” (Psalm 45: 13) The vainglory has authority to blind the minds of those captivated by it, even to obvious facts, and leads them to argue, even well known ones. Whoever gets enslaved by the vainglory of this world cannot gain that glory from God. That is why they are rebuked by the Lord who says to them: “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes 1 Fragments from Comm. On the prophet Isaiah, 1. from the only God?” (cf. John 5: 44) This curse is a kind, of hard to cure, strong alcoholism, that isolates the souls of its victims from the heavenlies, nails them to earth; keeps them from raising their eyes to the true light, and persuades them to wallow in the mud. Whomever this disease infects behaves according to his whims2. St. John Chrysostom 2. A DIVINE ORDER FOR THE TREASURES TO BE CARRIED OFF God sent His prophet Isaiah to chastise Hezekiah; he asked him: What did those men say? Where did they come from? What did they see in your palace? He did not answer the most important of these questions: What did those men say? He assumed that, because they came from a distant land they pose no danger to him (Is. 39:3). So the divine verdict was for the punishment to come through Babylon. The verdict was severe, because pride is a very dangerous disease, a fellowship in the very nature of the devil. Hezekiah did not only lose the treasuries he revealed, but also the freedom of his children, who were taken away as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon (Is. 39: 7). Origen believes that pride is the main sin of the devil3. St. John Chrysostom says, [The devil would not have fallen and become as such, if he was not infected with this disease, that cast him out of God’s trust, and brought him into the fiery pit. It is capable of destroying every goodness of the soul, even if he offers alms, prayer, fasting or anything else. There is no one more dumb than a proud man, even if he is blessed with richness or worldly wisdom, or is dwelling in a royal palace4. 3. HEZEKIAH ADMITS HIS FAULT “‘The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied, ‘At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”(Is. 39: 8) On the surface, the king uttered words of submission, although we do not know his real intentions; it is probably with no repentance and trust in God, the Forgiver of sins. He admitted that he sinned, yet he did not repent, which is evident by the fact, that in place of crying out to God with tears, he felt at ease, because the punishment is to be put on hold, until after his death, in the days of his descendants. That was a kind of selfishness, as he only cared for his own well being, disregarding what would happen later to the people and to his children after him. 2 In John hom. 3,5.. 3 In Ezech. 9:2 PG. 13:734 CD. 4 In John hom 16:4.
Welcome