1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hello and good morning, faithful listeners. Welcome to 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: the Bible Explain Podcasts on this lovely Wednesday morning. Okay, 3 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: faithful listeners, we are going to be in second Chronicles 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: thirty two today talking about Hezekiah's terminal illness and how 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: God responds to him and what he ends up doing 6 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: in response to God's response essentially, and this is a 7 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: really good episode, I think for anybody who believes that 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: the people in Scripture are holier than the average Christian, 9 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: which a lot of people do think that. You know, 10 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: there's so many churches that like venerate these people we 11 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: read about in Scripture, and yet time and time again 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: we see how bad they respond to things, how much 13 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: sin they have in their life, and you know, over 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: and over and over again. So today we're going to 15 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: get into Hezekiah's bad response to God's kind kindness and 16 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: also why we should not venerate any human being we 17 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: read about in Scripture other than Jesus himself. Before we 18 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: get into this topic today, here's a word from our 19 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: first sponsor today. Okay, hopefully during that ad you were 20 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: able to grab your delicious cup of coffee or a 21 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: cup of tea for you crazy tea drinkers, because we're 22 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: going to be reading Second Chronicles thirty two twenty four 23 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: through thirty three. Together, grab your Bible out of the 24 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: version that you prefer, and when you do that, let's 25 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: go ahead and give reverence to God's word together. In 26 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: those days, Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to Yahweh, 27 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: and he spoke to him and gave him a sign. 28 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: But Hezekiah didn't reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for 29 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: him because his heart was lifted up. Therefore, there was 30 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: wrath on him Judah and Jerusalem. However, Hezekiah humbled himself 31 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: for the pride of his heart, both he and the 32 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh's wrath didn't come on them. 33 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: In the days of Hezekiah, Hezekiah Iyah had exceedingly great 34 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, 35 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and 36 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: for all kinds of valuable vessels. Also storehouses for the 37 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: increase of grain, new wine, and oil, and stalls for 38 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: all kinds of animals flocks in folds. Moreover, he provided 39 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: for himself cities and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance, 40 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: for God had given him abundant possessions. This same Hezekiah 41 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihan 42 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: and brought them straight down to the west side of 43 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: David City. Hezekiah prospered in all his works. However, concerning 44 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to 45 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: him to inquire of the wonder that was done in 46 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: the land, God left him to test him that he 47 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: might know all that was in his heart. Now the 48 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds behold, 49 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: they are written in the vision of Isaiah, the Prophet, 50 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: the son of Amas, in the book of the Kings 51 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: of Judah and Israel. Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and 52 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: they buried him in the ascent to the tombs of 53 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: the sons of davids Udah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 54 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: honored him at his death. Manassa, his son, reigned in 55 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: his place. It's important to note that in verse twenty 56 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: four it says, in those days Hezekiah was terminally ill, 57 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: and what days would those be? Well? Those were the 58 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: days that Assyria was invading Judah. Remember we talked earlier 59 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: this week and last week about how the king of 60 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: Assyria was coming into Judah taking all of the fortified cities, 61 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: and he was very successful in doing that actually, and 62 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: not to mention, he was getting really big for his 63 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: breeches and he was trying to target Jerusalem during all 64 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: of this as well. So it kind of seems like 65 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: during all of this happening, Hezekiah had become terminally ill. 66 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: That means that he was so sick he was dying, 67 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: And you can imagine that Hezekiah was absolutely devastated because 68 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: not just about his death, but everything going on in 69 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: Judah at this time as well. I'm sure he's probably 70 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: thinking that God is done with Judah, done with him, 71 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: done with the kings, done with everything, that this is 72 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: God's retribution for all of the sins that Judah had committed. 73 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: So it says in verse twenty four that in those days, 74 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: Hezekiah was terminally ill and he prayed to Yahweh. So 75 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: let's turn to Second King's twenty and read this story 76 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: more in depth, because the account in Second King's twenty 77 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: actually gives a lot of details about what Hezekiah prayed 78 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: and how God responded to Hezekiah's prayer. So, starting in 79 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: verse one, it says, in those days Hezekiah was sick 80 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 1: and dying, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amos, came 81 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: to him and said to him, Yahweh says, set your 82 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: house in order, for you will die and not live. 83 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed 84 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: to Yahweh, saying, remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how 85 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: I have walked before you in truth and with a 86 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: perfect heart, and have done that which is good in 87 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 1: your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. So Hezekiah knew that 88 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: he was going to die, because Isaiah actually came to 89 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: him and said, you're going to die. That is what 90 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: God says. So Hezekiah turns toward the wall, and that's 91 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: symbolically saying that he did this prayer very privately. So 92 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: he turned his face toward the wall in private, so 93 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 1: that nobody could see him, and he prayed and wept 94 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: bitterly to God. He basically is asking God, begging God 95 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: to remember his kindness and how Hezekiah did his best 96 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: to try to turn Judah back to him. That's what 97 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: he says, Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I 98 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, 99 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: and have done that which is good in your sight. 100 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: So Hezekiah prays that God will heal him. So Isaiah, though, 101 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: is on his way back home, and it says before 102 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: he had gone out into the middle part of the city, 103 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: Yahwai's word came to him, saying, turn back and tell Hezekiah, 104 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: the prince of my people. Yahweh, the God or your father, says, 105 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, 106 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: I will heal you. On the third day, you will 107 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: go up to Yawai's house. I will add to your 108 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: days fifteen years, and I will deliver you in this 109 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: city out of the hand of the King of Assyria. 110 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: I will defend this city for my own sake and 111 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: for my servant David's sake. So there you go. That's 112 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: more confirmation right there that this was happening during the 113 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: invasion of the King of Assyria. So Hezekiah is having 114 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: a really nasty time of things just with his enemies 115 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 1: on his doorstep, and also this terminal disease that he has. 116 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: But Isaiah gets this prophecy minutes after Hezekiah prayed that 117 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: private prayer, and Isaiah does indeed turn back and tell 118 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: Hezekiah what God had just relayed to him, and he 119 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: might be like, well, jen did Isaiah give a false 120 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: prophecy before? Because it says in verse one that Isaiah 121 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: said that Hezekiah would in fact die and not live. Well, 122 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: I would say no, Isaiah did not give a false prophecy, 123 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: because obviously Hezekiah did die. He is not alive right now. 124 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: We know that he is dead, and Isaiah didn't give 125 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: any particular timeline when he told Hezekiah that he would die. 126 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: But also, whenever a prophet goes to a person and 127 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: tells them some sort of judgment God is going to 128 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: do on them, it is always a call for repentance 129 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: every single time. So when Isaiah came to Hezekiah and 130 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: told him this prophecy, Hezekiah knew that this was a 131 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: chance for him to repent and repair his relationship with God. 132 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: So I don't know exactly what Hezekiah was doing that 133 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: caused him to have a severed relationship with Yahweh. And 134 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that this terminal illness came on Hezekiah 135 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: because of this severed relationship with Yahweh. You know, sometimes 136 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: sickness does happen, and it's not necessarily because God is 137 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: angry with you or something like that. But we do 138 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: know that during this time Hezekiah made some mistakes. You know, 139 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: don't forget. He had actually gone into God's temple and 140 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: taken all of the precious things out and stripped the doors. 141 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: I believe it was of the gold, and sent all 142 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: of that to the king of Assyria out of fear. 143 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: There's also some evidence that King Hezekiah is trying to 144 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: make an alliance with Egypt, which God specifically said in 145 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: his law, never go back to Egypt again for anything 146 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: for any reason. Rely on Me, not on the Egyptians. 147 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: So Hezekiah was doing some things wrong during the days 148 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: of the Assyrians, and so it could be that God 149 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: was using this sickness Hezekiah had in order to spur 150 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: Hezekiah to have a relationship with him again instead of 151 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: going off the path that Hezekiah was unfortunately going. But 152 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: whenever a prophet comes to somebody with a prophecy like this, 153 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: a prophecy of judgment of some sort, it is always 154 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: a chance for the person to repent before God, and 155 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: that is what Hezekiah actually does. So no, Isaiah was 156 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,359 Speaker 1: not a false prophet. In fact, he was doing exactly 157 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 1: what a prophet was supposed to do. A true prophet 158 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: is one that relays God's messages and does it in 159 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: a way that encourages people to turn to Yahweh. So 160 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: Isaiah did not give a false prophecy here at the 161 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: very beginning. But regardless, God gives another prophecy to Isaiah 162 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: and he says, Hezekiah will be healed. In verse five, 163 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: it says, I have heard your prayer, I have seen 164 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: your tears, and I will heal you. He says, in 165 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: three days, you're gonna go up to Yahweh's house, and 166 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: I will add to your days fifteen years, and I 167 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: will deliver you and this city out of the hand 168 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city 169 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: for my own sake and for my servant David's sake. 170 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: So that's what ends up happening to Hezekiah. He does, 171 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: in fact get healed. It mentions in verse seven that 172 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: Isaiah had knowledge now of how to heal Hezekiah, and 173 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: apparently Hezekiah had some really bad skin problem that was 174 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: causing this terminal illness, and we have no clue what 175 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: this is. Nobody knows. I speculated last time I talked 176 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: about this that maybe it was a bite of some 177 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: sort that Hezekiah might have had. But Isaiah mentions that 178 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: a cake of figs was to be placed on the boil, 179 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: so basically a paste of figs of some sort, and 180 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 1: once that was placed on the boil, Hezekiah started to recover. 181 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 1: And so Hezekiah says to Isaiah, what will be the 182 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: sign that Yahweh will heal me? And that I will 183 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: go up to Yahwa's house on the third day. Isaiah says, 184 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 1: this will be the sign to you from Yahweh that 185 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken. Should 186 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps? Now, 187 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 1: what Isaiah's talking about there is the shadow on the 188 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 1: what are those called those sun dials, you know, where 189 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: each step represents an hour, And so Isaiah's basically like, 190 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: God's giving you a choice, Hezekiah, do you want the 191 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 1: sun to go forward ten hours or do you want 192 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 1: it to go backward ten hours? And here's what Hezekiah says, 193 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: which is a really weird thing to say. He says, 194 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: it's a light thing for the shadow to go forward 195 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: ten steps. No, let the shadow return backward ten steps. 196 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: So He's like, no, no, you know, like going forward 197 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: that's easy, because that's how the sun goes anyway. So 198 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: I want it to jump backward ten steps. And to me, 199 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: I think that's such a bizarre thing to think. It 200 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: is just as impossible for the day to somehow jump 201 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: forward ten hours as it is for the day to 202 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: jump backward ten hours. It is impossible either way. And 203 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: yet Hezekia was like, no, it's gonna be easy for 204 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: God if he just jumps it forward. I would rather 205 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: he jumped it backwards. And so God listens. God does. 206 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: In fact, it says, bring the shadow backward ten steps, 207 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: by which it had gone down on the sundial of 208 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: a has is what it says. Now at this point 209 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: in time, the rest of the world notices that something 210 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: really bizarre had happened with the sun. Okay, because people 211 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: worshiped the sun back in these days, and for the 212 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: sun to suddenly start working backwards and disappear ten hours 213 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: earlier for people that you know, watched the sky for 214 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: signs and for time. You can imagine this was a 215 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: really freaky thing that happened here. So the king of 216 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: Babylon is especially interested in this. Now, Babylon at this 217 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: time was a smaller power. It was not very big yet. 218 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: Now later on it did become like one of the 219 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: biggest uh superpowers in the world. But at this point 220 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: in history, Babylon was not very big yet. It was growing, 221 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: but it was not very big. And it says the 222 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: king of Babylon was especially interested in what happened to 223 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: the sun. So he sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, 224 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: for he had heard that Hezekiah had become sick. And 225 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: also these ambassadors from Babylon showed up as well. And 226 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 1: Hezekiah tells them nothing about the sun, tells them nothing. Instead, 227 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: he showed them all around Judah. It says in verse thirteen, 228 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: Hezekiah listened to them and showed them all the storehouses 229 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,079 Speaker 1: of his precious things, the silver, the gold, the spices, 230 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: the oil, the house of his armor, and all that 231 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his 232 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: house or in all of his dominion that Hezekiah didn't 233 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: show them. So that's how Hezekiah responds to these Babylonian ambassadors. 234 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,559 Speaker 1: And if we jump back to Second Chronicles thirty two, 235 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: our passage for today, it mentions in verse thirty one 236 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent 237 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: to him to inquire of the wonder that was done 238 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: in the land. God left him to test him that 239 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: he might know all that was in his heart. So 240 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:46,599 Speaker 1: this was a test specifically from God, these Babylonian ambassadors. 241 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: God left these people to test what Hezekiah would do. 242 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,239 Speaker 1: And it also mentions here that the reason the ambassadors 243 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: went to Judah was because they were inquiring specifically a 244 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 1: out the thing that had happened with the Sun. They 245 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: were absolutely shook over it, and they were probably inquiring 246 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: from many different places seeing if any nation claimed that 247 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,559 Speaker 1: their God had done that to the Sun. And they 248 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: eventually figure out that it's the land of Judah. So 249 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: the princes of Babylon send the ambassadors to Judah to 250 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: figure all of this out. Because the Babylonians, by the way, 251 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 1: would have been especially interested in this miracle because they 252 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: worshiped the Sun, that was their prime deity. I forget 253 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: the name of the Sun God that they had, but 254 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: that was their deity, it was like their God. So 255 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: this was a perfect opportunity for Hezekiah to evangelize for Yahweh, 256 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: and Hezekiah fails the test dramatically. Hezekiah doesn't evangelize for Yahweh, 257 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: but he evangelizes for himself. He shows these ambassadors all 258 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: the riches of Judah, all the wonderful things that Hezekiah 259 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: Yah has achieved during his time as king. Hezekiah became 260 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: prideful because of this miracle that God did on his behalf. Unfortunately, 261 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: and this was to his detriment. It was also to 262 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: the detriment of Judah, because now Babylon knows all of 263 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: the good things that are happening in Judah, and Judah 264 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: is going to become a prime target of Babylon in 265 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: just a couple hundred years. This was a really, really 266 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: bad decision that Hezekiah made. It endangered a lot of people, actually, 267 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: and it was all because Hezekiah became prideful, and that's 268 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: what it says in verse twenty five of Second Chronicles 269 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: thirty two. But Hezekiah didn't reciprocate appropriate to the benefit 270 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: done for him because his heart was lifted up. Therefore 271 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: there was wrath on him, Judah and Jerusalem. However, verse 272 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: twenty six, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, 273 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh's 274 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: wrath didn't come on them in the days of Hezekiah. 275 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: So this was a bad thing Hezekiah did, but thankfully 276 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: he did actually turn his heart back to God. And 277 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: it also mentions that the inhabitants of Jerusalem did as 278 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: well during those days, so God's wrath didn't come on 279 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: them in the days of Hezekiah. Instead, God gave Hezekiah 280 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: a different prophecy through Isaiah. So let's turn back to 281 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: Second Kings twenty and start in verse fourteen. It says 282 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: Isaiah a prophet came to King Hezekiah and said, what 283 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: did these men say? And from where did they come 284 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: to you? Hezekiah said, they came from a far country, 285 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: even from Babylon. He said, what have they seen of 286 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: your house? Hezekiah answered, They've seen all that is in 287 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I 288 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: have not shown them. Isaiah said to Hezekiah hear Yahweh's word. Behold, 289 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: the days come that all that is in your house 290 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: and that which your fathers have laid up in store 291 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will 292 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: be left, says Yahweh. They will take away some of 293 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: your sons who will issue from you, whom you will father, 294 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: and they will be eunuchs in the palace of the 295 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: king of Babylon. He basically tells Hezekiah, because you did 296 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: this because of the pride of your heart, not evangelizing 297 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: to these Babylonians, but rather being arrogant and showing them 298 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 1: all of these treasures that you have, all those things 299 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: that you find so precious, They're going to be carried 300 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: off to Babylon in just a short period of time. 301 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: In fact, some of your sons that you have are 302 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: also going to be carried off to Babylon as well. 303 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 1: And here's how Hezekiah responds to that prophecy. In verse nineteen, 304 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: it says Hezekiah says to Isaiah, Yahway's word which you've spoken, 305 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: is good, he said, moreover, isn't it so? If peace 306 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: and truth will be in my days? That is how 307 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: arrogant Hezekiah had become that he's not even thinking about 308 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: his children or his grandchildren. Oh, this is a great 309 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: prophecy because it's not going to happen in my days. 310 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: It's just gonna happen to my children. You know, they're 311 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: going to be in complete misery because of what I did. 312 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: But no, I mean, this is great. Yeah, not gonna 313 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: happen to me, so I'm not worried about it. So 314 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: Hezekiah had a terrible response to this prophecy. But the 315 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: good news is Second Chronicles thirty two says that at 316 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: some point in time he did, in fact humble himself 317 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,679 Speaker 1: before Yahweh. So I don't know if he realized the 318 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: error of his ways shortly thereafter, but it does say 319 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: that he humbled himself. So that's a very good thing 320 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: and better than all of the other kings. Honestly, in 321 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 1: Judah's history, Hezekiah was the best of them all because 322 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: even though he sinned, and he did sin, he came 323 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: back to Yahweh every single time. So to conclude, in 324 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: Second Chronicles thirty two to thirty two, it says, the 325 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his good 326 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 1: deeds behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah, 327 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: the prophet, the son of Amos. In the Book of 328 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: the Kings of Judah and Israel, Hezekiah slept with his 329 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: fathers and they buried him in the ascent to the 330 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: tombs of the sons of David. All Judah and the 331 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Nassa, his son, 332 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: reigned in his place. So Hezekiah was a very good king, 333 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: and the people did honor him in his death. There 334 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: were many times where the kings were hated by the people, 335 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: and so they did not give them a good burial. 336 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 1: Maybe didn't even bury them in the tombs of the kings, 337 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: but just some like random tomb somewhere in Jerusalem. Didn't 338 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: give them any honor. But Hezekiah received a lot of 339 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,919 Speaker 1: honor in his days, and he did live an additional 340 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: fifteen years after this sin that he made with the Babylonians. 341 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 1: So God was merciful to Hezekiah. And I think this 342 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: goes to show us that even people we consider to 343 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: be good still have flaws. They are still sinful. There 344 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: is no perfect person on the planet other than Jesus himself, 345 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: so there's no point in venerating human beings because they're 346 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: all flawed, which, by the way, veneration and worship are 347 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: one and the same. There will be people who tell 348 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: you that venerate just means to give respect to but 349 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: it actually is the same definition as the word worship. 350 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: Veneration is defined as respect or awe directed towards someone 351 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: due to his or her value or greatness, and worship 352 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: is defined as showing respect, love, reverence, or adoration. So 353 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 1: veneration and worship are the exact same thing, But unfortunately 354 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: a lot of people will say, oh, no, they're two 355 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: different things. We only worship God. We don't worship human beings. 356 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: We only venerate human beings. But a venerate and worship 357 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 1: have the exact same definition. Then essentially, when you say 358 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 1: that you're venerating a human being, then that actually does 359 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: mean you're worshiping a human being. So be very careful 360 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: if your church ever tells you we venerate so and 361 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: so for the good thing that they have done, because 362 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: worship and veneration are for God alone. That is what 363 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 1: scripture says, and not to mention the other reason we 364 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: shouldn't venerate human beings is because they are sinful and flawed, 365 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,400 Speaker 1: and honestly, I think that's why their flaws are recorded 366 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: in scripture so that we don't get the idea that 367 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: these people deserve veneration or are more holy than the 368 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,160 Speaker 1: average human being, because they are not. I mean, think 369 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: about some of the people we would consider the holiest 370 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: in the Old Testament. Think about Moses. He was a murderer. 371 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: God almost killed him at one point in time because 372 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: of his rebellion. Actually, think about David. David was an 373 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: adulterer and a murderer and a terrible father. In the 374 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: New Testament, think about Mary, she tried to stop Jesus 375 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 1: from doing his public ministry. Think about the Apostle Paul. 376 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: He put men and women in prison without any care 377 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: for their families, for their children, for their homes. He 378 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: tried to put Christians to death. Think about Peter. He 379 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: denied you us three times and then later on sided 380 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: with the Judaizers so much that Paul had to publicly 381 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: confront him and tell him that he was wrong. Pretty 382 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: Much every single person that we read about in scripture 383 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: that we consider to be holy now has some major flaws. 384 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: And that's because we are all human born with a 385 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: sin nature, and that shows us even more who we're 386 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 1: supposed to be revering, not these people talked about in scripture, 387 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: but yahweh, the one that loves them, created them and 388 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: shows forgiveness and mercy time and time again. Well, thank 389 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:37,919 Speaker 1: you so much for getting this far in the podcast episode, 390 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 1: Faithful listeners. Here's a last word from a sponsor before 391 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: I end today's episode. So the chapter we read today 392 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: is the end of Hezekiah's life, and it mentions at 393 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: the very end here that Manasa, his son, reigned in 394 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: his place. I'm definitely looking forward to talking about Manassa, 395 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: because if Hezekiah was the best king in Israel's history 396 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 1: so far, Manassa was probably one of the worst. Which 397 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: is funny because Hezekiah was sandwiched between two very very 398 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,719 Speaker 1: bad kings. You know. A Has was Hezekiah's dad, and 399 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: he was easily the worst king in Judas history, and 400 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: the Manassa, Hezekiah's son, was the second worst king in 401 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: Juda's history. I would say, though, Manassa and a Has 402 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: are pretty equal in terms of terribleness. So we'll get 403 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: into King Manassa on Monday, and I hope to see 404 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: all of you guys then. But tomorrow we are going 405 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: to be in the Hebrews. I'm very much looking forward 406 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:40,719 Speaker 1: tomorrow's episode actually, because we're gonna talk about how to 407 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: know if you're really saved. Because the one thing we've 408 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: been discussing in Hebrews recently is that it's not enough 409 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: to believe that God exists. We mentioned James Chapter two 410 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: the other day in Hebrews and how James says even 411 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: the demons believe and shudder. So it's not just enough 412 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: to believe that God exists. There has to be a 413 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: true faith. And tomorrow we're gonna get to the bottom 414 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: of how do we know if we have that true 415 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 1: faith in Jesus or not? And I highly recommend that 416 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: everybody take a listen to it because I think it's 417 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: a really good thing for all of us who claim 418 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 1: to be Christians to think about and talk about. It's 419 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 1: the most important thing, honestly in our lives is our 420 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: spiritual health and our relationship with God. So that will 421 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 1: air tomorrow at six am or whenever you choose to 422 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,479 Speaker 1: wake up and listen. So I hope to see all 423 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: of you guys tomorrow. Until then, happy listening and God bless. 424 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: I just want to take a second to thank the 425 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: team at Life Audio for their partnership with me on 426 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, if you go to 427 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: lifeaudio dot com you will find dozens of other faith 428 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: centered podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, 429 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: Bible study, parenting, and more.