Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Isaiah 39
Isaiah 39:2And 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.
This verse captures Hezekiah's fatal mistake, where his joy turns into prideful display, showing the Babylonians the full extent of Judah's wealth and military power.Isaiah 39:6-7Behold, 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.”
Here, Isaiah delivers the shocking prophecy that the very nation Hezekiah tried to impress would become Judah's conqueror, taking both its treasures and its royal descendants into exile.Isaiah 39:8Then 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."
Hezekiah's response is startlingly selfish. He is relieved that the judgment will not happen in his own lifetime, showing a lack of concern for the future of his kingdom and family.
Historical & Cultural Context
After the Miracle, A Test of the Heart
This chapter immediately follows one of the high points of King Hezekiah's life. In Isaiah 38, he was deathly ill, but he cried out to God, who miraculously healed him and extended his life by fifteen years. It is in the wake of this incredible act of God's grace that envoys from Babylon arrive, ostensibly to congratulate him on his recovery. This sets the stage for a critical test of Hezekiah's heart: would he give glory to God for his healing, or take the credit himself?
A King's Pride on Full Display
Instead of testifying to the power of the God who healed him, Hezekiah gives the Babylonian delegation a grand tour of his kingdom's resources. He proudly displays his treasury, his armory, and all his wealth, essentially boasting in his own strength and prosperity. This was likely a political move to impress Babylon and secure an alliance against the superpower Assyria, but it revealed that his trust had shifted from God to his material possessions and political maneuvering.
From Royal Welcome to Prophetic Warning
The scene opens in Jerusalem, shortly after King Hezekiah's miraculous recovery from a fatal illness. The king receives a diplomatic mission from the rising power of Babylon, but what begins as a cordial visit quickly turns into a moment of significant spiritual failure. Isaiah 39 chronicles Hezekiah's prideful display and the swift, devastating word of judgment from the Lord that follows.
A Diplomatic Visit and a Prideful Tour (Isaiah 39:1-2)
1 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.
2 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.
Commentary:
Hezekiah welcomes Babylonian envoys and foolishly shows them all his kingdom's wealth and weapons.
Isaiah's Confrontation (Isaiah 39:3-4)
3 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."
4 Then Isaiah the prophet said to King Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:
Commentary:
The prophet Isaiah confronts King Hezekiah, questioning him about the Babylonian visitors and what he showed them.
The Prophecy of Exile (Isaiah 39:5-7)
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:
6 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.
7 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.”
Commentary:
Isaiah prophesies that Babylon will one day carry away all of Judah's treasures and Hezekiah's descendants into exile.
A Selfish Peace (Isaiah 39:8)
8 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."
Commentary:
Hezekiah accepts the prophecy with relief, concerned only that there will be peace during his own lifetime.
The High Cost of a Proud Heart
The Danger of Pride
This chapter is a classic illustration of the proverb, "Pride goes before destruction." Hezekiah, fresh off a miracle, takes personal credit for God's blessings. His desire to impress men leads him to forget the God who is the source of all his wealth and power.
Misplaced Trust
Hezekiah's actions reveal a shift in his trust from God to earthly things. Instead of relying on the Lord who had just saved him from both sickness and the Assyrian army, he puts his confidence in political alliances and the security his wealth could seemingly provide.
Consequences for Future Generations
The story is a sobering reminder that our actions, especially those of leaders, have a ripple effect. Hezekiah's selfish pride and short-sightedness directly lead to a prophecy of suffering for his children and grandchildren, showing that sin's impact is never limited to one person.
Guarding Your Heart and Your Legacy
Hezekiah's mistake in verse 2 challenges you to look at your own successes - your career, family, or talents. It's easy to display these as trophies of your own effort. This chapter calls you to consciously acknowledge God as the source of every good thing and to point others to Him, not yourself, when you experience blessings.
Hezekiah was content with peace in his day, regardless of the future cost. His response in verse 8 pushes you to consider the legacy you are building. Are your choices focused on immediate comfort and personal gain, or are you making decisions that will bless your family, church, and community for generations to come?
Isaiah's confrontation in verses 3-7 was a moment for Hezekiah to repent, but he responded with selfish relief. This challenges you to examine how you receive correction. Do you become defensive, make excuses, or, like Hezekiah, find a way to minimize its personal impact? The passage encourages a response of true humility and concern for how your actions affect others.
A Heart's Pride, A Nation's Future
Isaiah 39 reveals how a single moment of pride in a leader's heart can chart a nation's tragic course for generations. After being blessed by God, King Hezekiah chose to showcase his own strength rather than God's, inadvertently giving his future enemy a catalog of treasures to plunder. The message is a powerful warning that our true allegiance is tested not in hardship, but in success. God's sovereign plan moves forward, but our choices create the legacy we leave behind.
What This Means for Us Today
Hezekiah's story is a timeless warning against the subtle poison of pride. It calls us to inspect our own hearts: when we succeed, do we put our own accomplishments on display, or do we point to the God who made them possible? We are invited to cultivate a spirit of humility, finding our security not in our own 'treasures' but in the God who is our true and lasting treasure.
- What is one blessing in your life right now that you can intentionally thank God for and give Him the credit for?
- In what area are you tempted to rely on your own resources instead of trusting in God's provision?
- How can your decisions today create a legacy of faith, rather than a burden of failure, for those who come after you?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details Hezekiah's illness and miraculous healing, which provides the direct context for the Babylonian envoys' visit in chapter 39.
Marking a major shift in the book, this chapter begins a message of comfort and hope, promising restoration from the very exile prophesied in chapter 39.
Connections Across Scripture
This is a parallel historical account of the same event, confirming the details of Hezekiah's foolish pride and Isaiah's prophecy.
This passage adds a key insight, stating that in this incident, "God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart."
This passage shows the tragic fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, as young men of royal descent from Judah are taken to serve in the Babylonian king's palace.
Thematic Connections
This proverb, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall," perfectly summarizes the lesson of Hezekiah's story.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Hezekiah, who had shown such great faith in God before, was so susceptible to pride right after experiencing a miracle?
- Hezekiah's response in verse 8 is often seen as selfish. Is there any other way to interpret his words? What does his reaction teach us about the difference between submission to God's will and passive resignation?
- This chapter serves as a turning point in the book of Isaiah, shifting the focus from the threat of Assyria to the future exile in Babylon. How does this story of one king's personal failure set the stage for God's larger story of judgment and redemption for His people?
Glossary
figures
Hezekiah
A king of Judah who initially demonstrated great faith but whose pride in this chapter led to a prophecy of his kingdom's downfall.
Isaiah
A major prophet in Judah who served as God's messenger to King Hezekiah, delivering both words of deliverance and judgment.
Merodach-baladan
A king of Babylon who sent messengers to Hezekiah, likely to forge a military alliance against their common enemy, Assyria.