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With the introspection one needs as we approach Passover each year, it seems timely to refer to the example God has given us in the Bible of King Hezekiah. The main accounts of Hezekiah’s reign are found in 2 Kings 18-20, Isaiah 36-39, and 2 Chronicles 29-32.
Remember Hezekiah came to the throne of Judah at the age of 25 years. He ruled with his whole heart by zealous enthusiasm for God, which spread to the people of Judah and throughout Israel. He showed great humility and wisdom and God caused him to prosper through tremendous blessings.
Hezekiah became famous for many things, but I want to look at just one of the reasons why God blessed Hezekiah so abundantly.
Ironically Hezekiah grew up under the rule of his wicked father Ahaz, so he didn’t exactly have a good role model to look to. King Ahaz faltered in every conceivable way against God, even sacrificing one of his sons to Molech through the fire (2 Kings 16:1-4). Perhaps Ahaz had no time or interest in his son and instead Hezekiah was influenced by his mother Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. In any event, Hezekiah immediately changed everything once he assumed the throne and had the power to do so. God did not expect Hezekiah to take on the huge task of turning the kingdom around by himself. God gave Hezekiah the Hebrew prophet Isaiah to help him throughout his life.Hezekiah immediately destroys pagan idols
In the first month of his reign, Hezekiah immediately got to work and smashed all the pagan altars and wooden images throughout the hills of Judah. He began to clean out and repair the temple and restored temple worship. The temple had been neglected for many years to the point where the rooms were full of junk and rubbish, including idols in the sanctuary. Hezekiah gave orders for the Levites to begin the sanctification of the Lord’s house, for them and the animals slaughtered for sacrificial atonement of the sins for all Israel, and this was carried out quickly over 16 days, but not in time for the Passover. There was just so much to do in such a short period of time to be ready for the Passover. You can read about all the details in 2 Chronicles 29 and 30. Hence, King Hezekiah and his people kept a second Passover (Numbers 9:10-12) and did so with such joy and enthusiasm that they kept the Days of Unleavened Bread for an additional seven days. Hezekiah began his reign with total heartfelt dedication and obedience to God. He also showed a godly attitude and concern for his people.
In 2 Kings 18:5-7 we are told, “He (Hezekiah) trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went” (New King James Version). Despite the many accounts of others attempting to overthrow his rule, God blessed Hezekiah for success in conquering his enemies despite seemingly overwhelming odds, and so he conquered the Philistines and the relentless evil Sennacherib, ruler of Assyria.
Hezekiah seeks God to fight for the people of Israel
The famous account of Sennacherib, king of Assyria in approximately 701 B.C., who attempted to overthrow and capture Jerusalem, is a very interesting read, in 2 Kings 19. God intervened for Hezekiah by sending an angel to destroy 185,000 Assyrians in one night. Why did God do this? Hezekiah was faithful and sought God through prayer. Hezekiah listened to God through the prophet Isaiah despite Sennacherib’s false words and lies, trickery, cunning, deceit, ridicule, taunting, intimidation and reputation for severe cruelty. In 2 Kings 19:14-19 and Isaiah 37:14-20 you can read exactly what Hezekiah did when faced with these threats in the form of a delivered letter. His prayer was so heartfelt, humble and praiseworthy to God. God indeed listened to Hezekiah’s prayers and delivered His people.
Arrogant Sennacherib was feared by so many due to the abject terror he displayed, but as soon as he returned home to Nineveh he was brutally killed by his sons and his untimely end can be read about in 2 Kings 19:36-37.
God extends Hezekiah’s life
At some point after this Hezekiah became ill and was near death. Isaiah came to Hezekiah in the palace and told him that he must set his house in order, as he will shortly die. Upon hearing this proclamation Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God and wept bitterly, asking nothing more than he be remembered for his loyalty (2 Kings 20:1-3). Even before Isaiah left the building, God told him to return and tell Hezekiah that He saw his tears and He would heal him and add 15 years to his life. Isaiah returned and put figs on the boil of Hezekiah’s flesh and he was healed.
God did even more than this for Hezekiah. He gave him a sign of his own choosing to know that he would be healed. Through the prophet Isaiah, God offered Hezekiah a choice of whether he wanted the shadow on the sundial to move forward or backward by ten degrees. Hezekiah reasoned that moving time backward would be more difficult, as time always moves forward. This is spoken of in 2 Kings 20:8-11. Imagine God turning back time for one of us if we asked Him to!
News of Hezekiah’s illness reaches Babylon
In 2 Kings 20:12-19 we see that Berodach-Baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, and the Bible says that Hezekiah was responsive to this attention. So much so that Hezekiah welcomed him without regard to intent or purposes, and readily showed him everything he had in his treasury house, his entire armory, and all within his dominion. In fact, there was nothing that he did not show Berodach-Baladan.
Obviously this was not a wise thing to do. Hezekiah got caught up rather naively in thinking that the king of Babylon and his son meant well and wanted to bring gifts as part of genuine concern for his health and well-being, and to show kindness and peace. Having had God work so miraculously in fighting his battles, news of Hezekiah and his success over the “undefeated” king of Assyria would have spread to far-off lands. It would appear that Hezekiah was caught in a weak moment of pride while abundance and peace prevailed. God allowed for Hezekiah to be tested so he would know exactly all that was in his heart. In 2 Chronicles 32:25-26 we are told that Hezekiah’s heart was lifted up and that wrath was impending over him, Judah and Jerusalem. But “then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”
When Isaiah confronted Hezekiah by asking what the visitors had seen in his house, Hezekiah responded truthfully and told him that not one thing was held back from their sight. Isaiah then declared from the word of the Lord that everything Hezekiah and his fathers had accumulated until this time would be carried off to Babylon. Not only that, but some of Hezekiah’s sons would become eunuchs in the king of Babylon’s palace.
There are always consequences to each and every decision we make. God chose not to punish Hezekiah directly because of his repentant attitude, but the consequences would be put onto the forthcoming generations.
Some lessons for God’s people today
As soon as we understand we must show God obedience. If we put it off for tomorrow that is not being obedient. Be like Hezekiah. He went straightaway in prayer with the letter from Sennacherib and again when told he was about to die. Deal with all things in a timely and humble way. Go to God straightaway. Don’t be tempted to lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
God will always be there for us. We may not have Isaiah, but He has given us another, greater Helper. Read John 14:16-17. The Helper is referred to as God’s Holy Spirit in John 14:26.Of course we know that the Holy Spirit is the very essence of the Father and the Son. Jesus was telling the disciples that He would help them.
If for some reason, through no fault of your own, you are unable to partake in the Passover despite making every effort to be ready, then God will accept you through the institution of the Second Passover. Do not be disappointed, depressed, sad or angry, but be ready and willing to wholeheartedly join in this celebration as God instructed in Numbers 9:10-12. God is watching every one of us to see the manner in which we prepare for and keep His Feasts. Prepare well and thoroughly. Keep them in visible joy.
Pray
Prayer cannot ever be underestimated. Like Hezekiah, if we seek God out, He will be found. Do not take matters into your own hands like we sometimes want to do. Lay down your evidence from those against you before God and humbly state your case. He will justify you as long as you have and show total faith and trust in Him.
Show God a humble, repentant attitude and heart. This is what pleases Him. Be like King Hezekiah and King David, both of whom had passionate humility, deeply feeling sorrow for their inappropriate actions to the very core of their hearts. God’s mercy is always available to people with a sincere and fully repentant attitude.
Don’t let your guard down. Despite the many blessings God gives to us each and every day, and the mighty battles He fights for us whether through trials and testing, or through vanquishing our enemies, be alert. Not all is as it appears. In Matthew 10:16 God tells us, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”