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When King Hezekiah humbled himself and sought the Lord, the Lord gave him victory over the Assyrians (32:22) and also restored his health from a deadly disease (24). Because Hezekiah sought the Lord and strove to do right in the Lord’s eyes, the Lord also gave him great wealth and honor (27-29). However, worldly wealth is not an unconditional blessing; it is also a test, because riches easily corrupt the human heart. Even Hezekiah was not immune to this temptation, and he fell into the sin of pride for a time (25); this led him to show off his wealth to the envoys of Babylon (31), which had dire consequences for future generations (2Ki 20:17-18). The Bible shows us that even people of sincere faith can fall into serious sin. Knowing this, we should stay vigilant against temptation.
To his credit, Hezekiah repented his sin of pride (26), and so he is remembered as a blessing to God’s people. Even a king should be able to repent, because Jesus is the only one who never fell into sin. Without repentance, we cannot maintain God’s blessing. Our true blessing is not earthly prosperity, but to keep growing in faith.
Dec 21, 2025
HEZEKIAH’S SIN AND REPENTANCE
Passage: 2 Chronicles 32:24-33
Key verse: 26
NIV
chapter 32
24. In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.
25. But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.
26. Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.
27. Hezekiah had very great wealth and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables.
28. He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and olive oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks.
29. He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches.
30. It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.
31. But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.
32. The other events of Hezekiah’s reign and his acts of devotion are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33. Hezekiah rested with his ancestors and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David’s descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the example of people of faith who were also sinners like me. Protect me from pride and help me always be able to repent.
One Word: Repent of pride