Hezekiah’s showing the visitors from Babylon his treasury, his whole armory, and everything in his dominion was a foolish act and a great mistake. The showing of these riches became a temptation to Babylon. A little over one hundred years later, the king of Babylon came and took away those riches (2 Kings 24, 2 Kings 25). Hezekiah did not consider his action carefully, nor did he pray about it. He did not take thought concerning what the king of Babylon might do. This shows that Hezekiah was hasty and not very considerate or careful. Furthermore, his making a show offended God, who hates man’s pride (1 Pet. 5:5).

Hezekiah’s response to Isaiah’s word indicates that he was selfish, caring only for himself. The kingdom of Judah, over which Hezekiah became king, was actually God’s kingdom on earth, and Hezekiah should not have regarded it as his own kingdom (cf. note 1 Sam. 31:6¹). For Hezekiah to lose his kingdom was a small thing, but for God to lose His kingdom was a great thing. Hezekiah’s response in this verse indicates that he had no thought for God and God’s kingdom, nor did he care even for his own children. He was altogether for himself.

The factors of Hezekiah’s failure include:
1) making a show of what he had, according to his flesh,
2) not being watchful,
3) not seeking the Lord,
4) not praying,
5) not considering the result of his actions,
6) caring only for himself and not for God’s kingdom on the earth.