the weakness and depravity of
man. By Charles Simeon. 2nd Chronicles chapter 32 verse
31. God left Hezekiah to test him
and to know everything that was in his heart. There is no character
so excellent, but there is some plot to be found in it. The most
illustrious saints that ever lived, not only manifested their
weakness and sinfulness, but showed themselves defective in
those very graces for which they were most eminent. We must not
wonder therefore that King Hezekiah, who was in some respects as distinguished
a character as any that either preceded or followed him, became
at last a monument of human frailty. It is probable that the peculiar
manifestations of the divine favour towards him had excited
an undue degree of self-delight, in his mind. God therefore saw
fit to test him, and, in the business of the ambassadors of
the princes of Babylon, who had sent unto him to inquire of the
wonder that was done in the land, God left him to the natural workings
of his own heart. The consequence was such as might
be apprehended, he gave way to pride and vanity, and brought
on himself the divine displeasure. The words which we have read,
will naturally lead us to observe, that, firstly, Until we are tested,
we have very little idea of the evil of our hearts. Though we
feel no difficulty in admitting that we are sinners, yet we can
by no means acknowledge the truth of the sinful representations
given of us in the Scriptures. If we were told that we are all
by nature haters both of God and man, Romans chapter 1 verse
30. Romans chapter 8 verse 7, Titus chapter 3 verse 3, we would
consider it as a libel upon human nature. When we read the history
of the Jews, we are ready to think that they were incomparably
more perverse than we would ever be. Though if we had been in
their situation, there is no reason at all to believe that
we would have shown ourselves in any respect more obedient
than they. If we have never fallen into
any gross sin, we imagine that our moral conduct has arisen
from the superior goodness of our hearts, and we suppose that
we have no disposition to those heinous iniquities which are
practiced by others. We are not aware that, if we
had been subjected to the same trials as others without the
restraining grace of God, we would have fallen like them.
How was King Hazael shocked when he was told what enormities he
would commit? Is your servant a dog, that he
should commit this monstrous thing? Yet no sooner was he tried,
than he did commit all the enormities that had been foretold. Just
so, if we were told that one of us would become a thief, another
an adulterer, and another a murderer, we would revolt at the idea as
though we were not capable of such atrocious wickedness. But
the more we know of our own hearts, the more we shall be ready to
say with David, My heart shows me the wickedness of the ungodly.
See also Mark chapter 7 verses 21 to 23 and Jeremiah chapter
17 verse 9. Yes, our heart is a repository
of all the wickedness that is committed upon earth. Secondly,
if God left us to ourselves, we would soon give some awful
proof of our depravity. That any are preserved from great
enormities is owing to the providence and the grace of God. It has
pleased God to encompass them, so that they should be screened
from any violent temptation. Or else he has endued them with
a more abundant measure of his grace, whereby they have been
enabled to withstand the tempter. Who that sees how others have
fallen will ascribe his own steadfastness to his own goodness. We need
only set before us those deplorable monuments of human depravity.
David, Solomon, and Peter. And we shall need nothing more
to enforce that admonition, let him who thinks he stands, take
heed lest he fall. We perhaps may have maintained
a good conduct for a considerable time. But can we not look back
to some moment wherein we have been left by God to follow the
bent of our own corrupt hearts? We must be lamentably ignorant
of what has passed within us if we have not long ago learned
our need to use that prayer, Hold me up, and I shall be safe.
Yet we must not view such proofs of depravity merely as insulated
and detached acts. Three, for one single act of
wickedness, if duly considered, will serve as a clue to find
out all the iniquity of our hearts. God did not design to show Hezekiah
one imperfection only, but all that was in his heart, and his
fall was well calculated to give him this knowledge. For in it
he might see, not only his pride and creature confidence, but
his ingratitude for the mercies he had received, his unconcern
about the souls of those who came to visit him, his indifference
about the honor of his God, and innumerable other evils which
were comprehended in his sin. Just so, if we will take any
one sin of our lives, and make use of it as a light to search
the dark corners of our hearts, we shall find out a most astonishing
mass of wickedness that has hitherto escaped our observation. Take,
for instance, any single act of pride, anger, lewdness, covetousness,
or even deadness in prayer, what a scene will it open to our view!
What unmindfulness of the Divine Presence! What unconcern about
our own souls! What preferring of carnal ease
or worldly vanities to the happiness and glory of heaven! What contempt
of that adorable Saviour who shed His blood for us! Alas! alas! We would never come to
an end, if we would attempt to declare all the evil in our hearts
which by such a scrutiny we might discover. This then we would
most earnestly recommend as the means of becoming acquainted
with our hearts. Let us not consider any sin as
though it were unconnected with any other, but rather regard
every sin as a fruit of an immense tree, or as a little stream flowing
from an inexhaustible fountain. Application From this dereliction
of Hezekiah and his fall consequent upon it, we may further learn. 1. Thankfulness to God for the
preservation we have experienced. none of us have perpetrated one
thousandth part of the iniquity which we would have committed,
if God had not restrained us by His providence and grace.
Let us acknowledge that by the grace of God we are what we are,
and say, Not unto us, not unto us, but unto your name be the
praise. And let our dependence be altogether
on God, that He who has kept us hitherto, will preserve us
unto His heavenly kingdom. 2. Tenderness and compassion
towards those who have fallen. We are apt to look on a fallen
brother with indignation and contempt. But if we considered
our own extreme sinfulness more attentively, and how often we
would have fallen if outward temptations had sufficiently
concurred with our sinful dispositions, we shall find less readiness
to cast a stone at others. We should rather see our own
picture in their depravity, and extend their compassion to them
which in similar circumstances we would desire to meet with
at their hands. 3. Vigilance against the assaults
of our great adversary. Satan combines in himself the
subtlety of a serpent and the strength of a lion. Well therefore
does the Apostle say to us, Be sober, be vigilant. If we do
not watch against his assaults, we, in fact, tempt him to tempt
us. Besides, we cannot expect that
God should preserve us, if we do not endeavor to preserve ourselves. It will be to little purpose
to pray that God will not lead us into temptation if we presumptuously
rush into it of our own accord. Let us then shun every occasion
of sin. Let us avoid the company, the
amusements, the books, yes the very sights that may lead us
into sin. Let us commit ourselves continually
to God's care and protection, and beg of Him never to leave
us or forsake us. In this way we may hope to experience
His unremitting care, and to be kept by His power through
faith unto everlasting salvation.