Beware of pride and power that can be detrimental to good.
Hezekiah was the 13th king of Judah (725-695 BC). He was an effective ruler and led the people to a return to the worship of God after numerous monarchs before him had turned the people to idol worship imitating the nations surrounding Judah. The Temple that had been built by Solomon was used for idol worship. But Hezekiah brought Judah back to life with God as the center of the life of the nation; the country prospered. When Hezekiah learned he had a terminal illness, he prayed fervently for healing and God granted him fifteen more years of life.
But Hezekiah was human. His one fault was his pride. This trait almost cost him his healing because he wanted to dictate how the healing process was to be done. The last 15 years of Hezekiah’s reign were marked with prosperity and military success. Judah continued to prosper and protect itself from countries who wanted to conquer the nation and take over its resources. All of this was due to divine flavor. Because of her relationship with God, even the mighty Assyria failed in its effort to defeat her. Word of the power and wealth of Judah spread throughout the Middle East. Shortly after Hezekiah’s illness, the king of Babylon sent a gift and letters of greetings and well-wishes to Hezekiah. Hezekiah was delighted and honored that a king whose country was over 600 miles northwest of Judah was showing such kindness and high regard for him. Pride, Hezekiah’s weakness, overcame him. He wined and dined the Babylonian representatives and showed them all the treasures of Judah:
Treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and valuables, barns for grain, new wine, and olive oil, stalls for various breeds of cattle, and pens for his flocks. There were new cities that he founded for himself and built up huge stocks of sheep and cattle. God saw to it that he was extravagantly rich. Hezekiah diverted the upper outlet of the Gihon spring rerouting the water to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything. (II Chronicles 32:27-30, The Message)
After the emissaries had departed for Babylon, the prophet, Isaiah, came to King Hezekiah and asked the reason for the guests’ visit and from what country they came. Still excited and glowing with self-importance, Hezekiah shared that he had shown them all the wealth and power of Judah. They had traveled over 600 miles from Babylon in concern about his health. Isaiah listened. Then he warned the king that God had revealed that the day would come when everything that he had shone to the men would be hauled away to Babylon. No sign of the present wealth would be left in Judah. Even royal descendants would be taken into exile. Hezekiah accepted the prophecy and was consoled that at least during his reign there would be peace. (II Kings 20, II Chronicles 29-32, Isaiah 37-39)
There is a congressperson that appears to be an Ivy leaguer by his attire. His resume gives the impression of intelligence, business savvy and connection. In his campaign, his stories about his mother being in one of the Towers during the 911 catastrophe but able to escape and his grandparents as victims of the Holocaust pulls upon the heart. He wanted to be a congressperson to give service to his country. People believed him and elected him to serve in the Congress of the United States. But before the congressperson’s election, there were high-ranking leaders in politics who had researched his background and knew that much of what he said was false. Journalists in small and large media had gotten the truth but discounted him as too small for them to waste coverage; there were the bigger stories to cover. Now, he is the big story. A person about whom nothing seems to be true has been sworn in as a congressperson. There are other matters more pressing than dealing with this purveyor of untruths who is a keen observer of that which appeals to the American mind and emotions. An insidious precedent has been set.
Though the new congressman has been placed on two of the least important congressional committees, can he wheel and deal from them? Who is observing him? What will he learn about the wealth and power of this country? His unethical behavior is being rewarded by the fact of his presence in congress. How much critical information about this country will he be able to obtain? What is he after? Whom does he really represent? What is the real agenda of this newly elected congressperson? How did he get $700,000 for his campaign? Our country and its leaders are presently so involved in focusing on present-tense matters that we do not seem to be deeply concerned about the generations after us. Into what jeopardy are we putting our country by not being watchful of the new congressman and of others that will pursue reenacting the precedent that he has set?
Be aware and beware of that which is labeled insignificant.
Dorothy Watson Tatem, D.Min., ACC
Senior Associate
Cassandra W. Jones, Ed.D.
President & Founder
Next Step Associate, LLC
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