Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 20
Ancient kings were extremely powerful men. They did not consider that they had a responsibility to answer questions about their own actions. So, Isaiah was acting especially boldly when he asked Hezekiah about his visitors. He was bold because, as a prophet (holy man), he was asking the questions on God’s behalf.
Hezekiah tried to say that he had done nothing wrong in this matter. These were his guests, who had come a great distance to see him. Babylon was a journey of about 1000 miles (1600 kilometres) from Jerusalem. God had directed Israel’s people to offer peace to the nations that were far away (Deuteronomy 20:10-15). Babylon was even beyond Assyria.
So, Hezekiah would not believe that Babylon might cause trouble for Judah. Rather, it seemed that Babylon might help Judah. If Babylon attacked Assyria, then Assyria’s army would be unable to return to Judah. So, by means of a friendship with Babylon’s king, Hezekiah could bring about what God had promised to do (19:32-34).
However, it is proud and wrong to think that we can bring about God’s promises by our own efforts. If we try to do that, we are depending upon ourselves and not on God. We must trust God to carry out his promises in the way that he chooses.
The truth was that Hezekiah had not inquired of God about this matter. When he showed all his precious things to the visitors from Babylon, he was proudly trying to impress them. He was not giving honour to God for the wonderful things that God had done for him. Instead, Hezekiah was trying to prove how great he (Hezekiah) was.
Next part: The trouble that Babylon will cause (2 Kings 20:16-19)
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