The weakness of his character was displayed--1. When the king of
Babylon sent messengers and a present to him to congratulate him on
his recovery from his illness. Then he must needs take them over his
house and his armoury, and parade before them all the strength of his
dominions (2 Kings xx. 12-13). It was natural and right that he
should be pleased with the conduct of the king of Babylon; it was
gratifying to him personally; it augured well for the future, as
concerning his kingdom, that he should be on good terms with the king
of Babylon, now rising into power; but it was unworthy of him to lose
his self-possession in the manner described. (1.) He was evidently
overcome for the nonce by silly feelings of vanity. He seems to have
thought that inasmuch as the king of Babylon had considered him
worthy of the compliment of sending to him, he on his part must show
that he was indeed a very magnificent king, as the king of Babylon
had no doubt heard that he was. (2.) His vanity caused him to forget
how little service his armoury and his treasures had been to him in
the hour of peril (H. E. I. 3998, 4000, 4001, 4011). (3.) His vanity
caused him to forego an opportunity of honouring God and of
instructing his neighbours in Divine truth.[2] Doubtless it was his
failure in duty in this respect that brought upon him so severe a
rebuke (vers. 3-7). 2. The weakness of his character had already
manifested itself in his conduct during his illness. In the prospect
of death his strength of mind quite broke down (ch. xxxviii.) But
there was a difference: in the other case he acted unworthily of his
knowledge; in this case he was weak because he was, compared with
ourselves, weak in religious privileges. He looked to his grave with
such melancholy feelings because he could not clearly see a life
beyond it. The answer of the great riddle of humanity had been
guessed by many before Christ, but His resurrection made the truth
clear (2 Tim. i. 10; H. E. I. 3415). If it were not for the light
which our Lord has thrown into the grave, we should mourn like
Hezekiah, and our eyes would fail as did his. Having more light than
he had, it is our duty to live a nobler life than he did, and not to
be cowards in prospect of death (H. E. I. 1570-1643).--_Harvey
Goodwin, M.A.: Plain Truth Sermons,_ Third Series, pp. 78-92.