Caution!

Intro

AG: Steve Green, who sang six years with Bill and Gloria Gaither, tells about getting to know some of the work crews in the large auditoriums where their concerts were held. The Gaithers prefer concerts-in-the-round, which means extra work for the "riggers," who walk the four-inch rafter beams, often a hundred feet above the concrete floor, to hang sound speakers and spotlights.

"The fellows I talked to weren’t bothered by the sight of looking down a hundred feet," says Green. "What they DIDN’T like, they said, were jobs in buildings that had false ceilings where the acoustical tile was hung just a couple of feet below the rafters on weak metal frames.

They were still high in the air, and if they slipped, their weight would smash right through the flimsy tile. But their minds seemed to play tricks on them, lulling them into carelessness."

TS: Even godly people have their moments of failure. In ch 39, We have the story of King Hezekiah celebrating and boasting about his recovery by bragging to Babylonian officials. He threw caution to the wind and opened all he had. This put him in a vulnerable position since his enemy now knew everything.

RS: We must be on guard against enemies. and carefully guard against his schemes. Often we are at our most vulnerable after a victory. While celebrating a win, we let our guard down.

1. The Foolishness of the King

Isaiah 39:1–2 ESV

At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.

MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)

Berodach-baladan, ruler of the city of Babylon, defied Assyria repeatedly between 721 and 710 B.C. He apparently approached Hezekiah (ca. 703 B.C.) for help against Sargon, king of Assyria, though interest in the reversal of the sundial and Hezekiah’s recovery may have been part of his motivation.

2 Chronicles 32:31 ESV

And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

Isaiah, Volume 2 Chapter 39

It is stated in 2 Chron. 32:31, that one object of their coming was to make inquiry ‘of the wonder that was done in the land;’ that is, of the miracle in regard to the retrocession of the shadow on the sun-dial of Ahaz. It is well known that, from the earliest periods, the Babylonians and Chaldeans were distinguished for their attention to astronomy. Indeed, as a science, astronomy was first cultivated on the plains of Chaldea; and there the knowledge of that science was scarcely surpassed by any of the ancient nations. The report which they had heard of this miracle would, therefore, be to them a matter of deep interest as an astronomical fact, and they came to make inquiry into the exact truth of the report.

Either due to the flattery or for help against Assyrians, Hezekiah was pleased.

The gift and envy from Babylon was most likely at attempt at forming an alliance against Assyria.

It enticed Hezekiah to trust Babylon instead of GOD

From his foolish actions of revealing all he had, it appears it worked!

Hezekiah unwisely shows envoys from Babylon all of Judah’s treasures.

It was this very attitude of self-sufficiency that would bring about Judah’s downfall.

There was no reason to open up all his storehouses

This was bragging and an attempt to impress.

This unwise action no doubt painted a target upon Judah.

Hezekiah trusted the wrong person!

He should trust God

Instead, he seems to jump at the opportunity to become entangled with a human alliance.

Babylon’s strength appealed more than God’s!

Hezekiah failed to give glory to God

What an opportunity to witness he missed.

By showing his wealth and strength, he missed this golden opportunity to proclaim the greatness of God

AP: Be wise

We need to stop being so gullible!

We are in enemy territory and must stay on guard.

Satan has power on Earth

Many follow Him (knowingly or not)

Never let your guard down!

God alone is worthy of our complete trust.

While it is our nature, as Christians, to love everyone and want to befriend everyone, we must realize that there are some people who will trample your love into the ground and allow you to be deceived into thinking that they are your friends, with the sole intention of getting what they can from you.

An African proverb says, "Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

This is great advice since the water may contain not only deep, unseen holes, but can contain underwater limbs or vines or maybe even a crocodile or two.

I know too many Christians who will not only jump in with both feet but will dive in headfirst because they “trust in the Lord to deliver them”.

There is a big difference between trusting in God and tempting God!

Remember His warning:

Matthew 10:16 ESV

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

God is all powerful, all knowing, every present, and loving

He alone can aide us everywhere, at all times, and in all circumstances

There is no limits on HIM!

We must glorify Him every chance we get

Don’t waste those moments to give God the glory!

When they brag about how great your recovery from some calamity has gone, Give glory to God!

When they marvel at your capacity to get things done.... Give glory to God!

Anytime praise comes your way, POINT PEOPLE TO GOD!!!!!

2. The Faulting of the King

a. The Rebuke Isa 39:3-8

Isaiah 39:3–8 ESV

Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.” He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.” Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.”

Isaiah warns the king that one day, the Babylonian army would return and they would carry off all the treasures he had put on display and carry off the people into captivity.

This isn’t Isaiah’s first prophesy about the Babylonian captivity.

Hezekiah should have remembered the previous warnings.

It all was fulfilled around 100 years later

b. The Response Isa 39:8

Isaiah 39:8 ESV

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.”

There are 2 ways which we could interpret this

Negatively: Selfish!

The selfish king responds, “At least I will have peace and security!”

Very shortsighted

He just blew off his legacy!

Positively: An admission of his guilt and God’s grace in not sending immediate punishment.

What God has decreed will come to pass

This act of pride wouldn’t undo the promise of GOD from ch 38

It was good of God to be merciful to the Kingdom in spite of the sin of the king.

This was less than deserved.

AP: God is Unchanged

He punishes sin

God still corrects us and disciplines us

We may be facing our own coming judgment like the king.

He remains faithful and worthy of trust

In spite of our failures, He will always love us

Even if our trust grows weak He is faithful

He is worthy of our trust

Conclusion:

Be wise

Remember we are in enemy territory and we must look to God and God alone for direction.

Trust God

Give Him the glory in all things

Proclaim His greatness and love