Free Bible study

Isa 39:6  Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.  In Isaiah 38, we read of God extending Hezekiah’s life by fifteen years. God asked Hezekiah to set his house in order (Isaiah 38:1). Well, Hezekiah did not set his house in order. First, he gave Judah a most wicked king after him (2Kings 21:1, 2). Second, as we read in this chapter, Isaiah 39, he became prey to the vanities of this world. During the fifteen, years, his kingdom was strengthened and he became rich. When some came from Babylon to visit him to congratulate him for returning to health, “Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not” (v.2). Hezekiah was trying to impress the ambassadors from Babylon his wealth. God reproved Hezekiah for his vain display of wealth. Isaiah came and told Hezekiah that all that he had would be taken away into Babylon (v.6). What was the sin of Hezekiah on this occasion? Vanity! He was too pleased with what he had accomplished in this life; he focused too much on it. Those things overwhelmed him and he was just too eager to impress others for the things he had. If you have a new house, is it wrong to show your guests around? What are you doing? You are trying to impress them what a fine house you have. You are vain! Ha, most people are anyway. Why do you think rich men want to drive expensive cars, wear fine clothes and expensive watches, and live in posh houses?  Vain! What should be done instead? Be humble and thank God for all that He has given you. We remember King Nebuchadnezzar. His kingdom grew and became rich and powerful. He became proud. He said: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30). Whatever you possess, whether of strength, beauty, honour, riches, etc; it is all because God has been good to you: “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:9). If the LORD had not been good to you, you would have been like Gomorrah – NOTHING! Be like David instead; he acknowledged everything belongs to God: “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). The issue is between choosing PIETY OR WORLDLINESS. Our Lord warns: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Many who aim for success in this life seldom are successful in the kingdom of God: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1Timothy 6:9). It is not wrong to show your guests the things in your house. It is wrong to think like King Nebuchadnezzar that he achieved them on his own. The godly person will give thanks to God for His blessings and bless God in return: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes, count your blessings and name them one by one – that’s how much God has blessed you.