The Fool Who Breaks Through His Own Wall

This passage deals with the effect a ruler's wisdom or folly has on the nation and its people. When those in power lose discernment and make foolish judgments, the fate of the nation is put at risk, and those who love the truth end up suffering instead. Yet believers must show a faith that keeps its place and prays even amid the world's unreasonable situations.

Through the example of King Hezekiah, the sermon warns of the spiritual crisis that comes after hardship. He prayed earnestly and experienced miracles, being healed of his illness and seeing an army driven back, but after he gained peace he grew proud and forgot God's grace. As a result he fell into Satan's trap by showing off his treasures, and in the end his faith was corrupted and he committed the folly of fathering his son Manasseh. Once hardship has passed it is easy to forget to give thanks and to put forward our own righteousness, but the sermon stresses that this is exactly when Satan attacks most.

Believers must live humbly, not forgetting God's grace, and must keep the blade of their faith sharp to protect themselves from Satan's temptations. What are we holding on to, so that we do not become fools who break through their own walls, but wise believers who rely on Christ and build a strong spiritual hedge?