THEOSISMaximus the Confessor
Hezekiah did not repay God according to the blessings He had given; instead, he became proud, leading to divine anger directed at him, Judah, and Jerusalem. However, Hezekiah later humbled himself, and as a result, the Lord's wrath did not fall upon them during his reign (2 Chronicles 32:25-26). - What does 'recompense' mean and what follows? Since Hezekiah did not attribute all of God's grace, particularly his salvation and deliverance from hardships, to God as he should have, some human pride emerged within him, dividing the virtue he had received. It is evident that Hezekiah's gratitude did not match God's gifts, leading to pride and a lack of acknowledgment of divine grace. Therefore, all of Judah and Jerusalem faced God's anger because of Hezekiah's heart being lifted up.
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According to one interpretation, the wrath of God manifests as deep sorrow for those who are corrective. This sorrow burdens individuals by leading to involuntary trials. God often guides those who are prideful towards humility, revealing their weaknesses. Once they recognize their flaws, they abandon the vanity of their hearts. Scripture indicates that God's anger brought Hezekiah down from his pride, resulting in mercy for the inhabitants of Jerusalem during his time. Alternatively, God's wrath symbolizes the loss of divine grace, which afflicts every arrogant heart that boasts of God’s blessings as their own triumphs.
We should reflect on why God's anger was not solely directed at Hezekiah but also affected Judah and Jerusalem. This illustrates to those who strictly follow the text that believers should diligently delve into spiritual insights rather than a mere literal understanding of Scripture. If we focus exclusively on the text, we might accuse God of injustice, as if the guilty and innocent were being punished together. The Scriptures state that individuals are to face the consequences of their own sins (Deuteronomy 24:16, Ezekiel 18:20, Psalm 61:13). However, the Scripture specifically mentions Hezekiah's pride, omitting a similar indictment on the hearts of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah. Thus, the text leaves us questioning how the innocent faced punishment alongside the guilty when it doesn’t indicate their pride. Those who cling meticulously to the written Word and overlook its spiritual messages struggle to explain this conundrum. Consequently, we will turn to a spiritual interpretation of the text to uncover the truth behind the surface meaning.
In this understanding, 'Judah' signifies the practice of the commandments and the craft of repentance, flourishing as the mind aspires higher, while 'Jerusalem' embodies the serene state of being free from passions alongside divine insights. Put simply, the wise mind contains both active virtue ('Judah') and contemplative wisdom ('Jerusalem'). When the God-loving mind reflects opposing forces through acquired virtue, it stands empowered against deceptive spirits. However, if this mind fails to offer proper thanks to God—the source of its victories—and becomes prideful, it will endure God's wrath not only upon itself but also upon its actions ('Judah') and contemplative wisdom ('Jerusalem'). In such scenarios, negative passions rise against the individual's service, corrupting their previously pure conscience and intertwining false thoughts with their understanding.
God's providence exists to educate those who display ungratefulness during favorable circumstances, prompting them to think theologically and realize the divine power responsible for good. Without this awareness, pride leads individuals to believe that their virtues and knowledge are inherent, rather than gifts from God. This misunderstanding results in misusing good to produce evil, poisoning the very source that should uphold divine knowledge. Those who mistakenly assume they have achieved moral excellence will cease seeking their true source of goodness, inadvertently losing sight of God. Conversely, those aware of their need will tirelessly seek the One who can fulfill it.
Thus, divine anger justifiably descends upon the proud mind, manifesting as God’s withdrawal or permission for evil spirits to attack during both action and contemplation. This is intended to instill awareness of one’s weaknesses and the recognition of divine grace, fostering true humility by dismissing false pride. In this way, a second wave of wrath—symbolizing the loss of divine gifts—does not fall upon Hezekiah, who humbled himself after recognizing his shortcomings. The Scripture notes that Hezekiah's initial pride brought him and Jerusalem under God's wrath, but his subsequent humility spared them from further punishment or loss of grace.
The metaphor of 'days of King Hezekiah' likely refers to the various enlightenment experienced by any pious soul who engages with God’s wisdom through created things. As long as there is harmony between spiritual practice and contemplation, they do not lose their virtues, for the 'Sun of Truth' continually illuminates the minds aligned with Him.