II Chronicles 32:24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
As we have seen, great things happened in Judah during the days of Hezekiah. The temple was restored; worship was revitalized; Passover was reinstated; Jerusalem prospered; the Assyrians were repelled. Life was safe, comfortable, and good. Things had never been better than the days of Solomon. Including pride. When success permeates, the temptation to pride is great. We can see in some of the wisdom literature of Solomon his struggle with it, and it led to problems after his death. The same would be true of Hezekiah. Pride does lead to that fall; it just might not be in our lifetime. Hezekiah's rule was good, but not perfect. May we never be deluded to think our lives are either. May we avoid at all costs the temptations to pride.
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