Old Testament: 2Ki 20.16–19

To read the Bible in a year, read Second Kings 20–22 on May 18, In the year of our Lord 2022

By Don Ruhl 

The king of Babylon went to see Hezekiah, hearing that he had been sick and the king of Babylon brought a present to Hezekiah. He then showed the king of Babylon all of Judah’s treasure, 

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the LORD. And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”

– 2 Kings 20.16–19

What a prophecy! Too bad the successive kings did not consider that the Lord meant what He said and said what He meant. Josiah would follow the Lord, but he would be the only one after Hezekiah. 

Then the Lord would send Babylon against Judah and Jerusalem, and take the very treasures that Hezekiah had shown the Babylonian king. 

Questions: 

• Do you realize that even if your nation has prosperity now, it may not always be so? 
• Why did the Lord send Babylon against Judah?