April 6, 2026 Devo

April 6th, 2026

Powerful Words from the Prophets
“Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and that he had recovered. Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.” – Isaiah 39:1-2 (NLT)
“How Soon We Forget”

When the envoys came with well-wishes and a gift from the king of Babylonia, Hezekiah was flattered. He probably felt as if the king was trying to make a partner out of him in their fight against the king of Assyria. Hezekiah, wanting to make himself appear like a worthy ally, gave the envoys a “behind the scenes” tour of the wealth and power of Jerusalem. While a gesture like this appears harmless on the surface, it was actually dangerous and reckless.
First of all, it wasn’t just a “glad you’re feeling better” gesture by the king of Babylonia. He was sizing up Jerusalem for future acquisition. Though it was true that Jerusalem and Babylonia shared a common enemy, in this case, “the enemy of his enemy” was not his friend. Once Assyria was taken down, Babylonia would set its sights on Jerusalem as well. Now Babylonia would know what they were fighting against and what there was to take. If Hezekiah had been wise, he would have sought the counsel of Isaiah beforehand about how to handle this envoy. His lack of wisdom put wind in the sails of Babylonia’s desire to possess Jerusalem.
Another dangerous part of this encounter was that it seemed that Hezekiah’s motivation to show them his wealth and power was driven by his pride, which was truly a slap in God’s face. Hezekiah’s power didn’t save the city from the king of Assyria. God’s power did. And the wealth they possessed was from the blessing of God and not their own accomplishment. After all that God had done for Hezekiah and Jerusalem, including healing Hezekiah of a deathbed illness, Hezekiah still took credit for it all. He forgot where his blessings came from, and he unwittingly set himself up to lose it all.
Guard well what God has entrusted to you. Our lives, our families, and all that we possess have come from His Hand. His blessings are precious, and His work in our lives deserves both our gratitude and our protection. Don’t forget to seek His heart and mind in the important matters of your life. Be careful to remember all that He has done. A lack of judgment and a lack of appreciation can quickly undo the good treasure God has poured into our laps. Remember, we are stewards, not owners, of God’s good gifts. Let’s be wise and guard them well! That’s God’s Word for you today.