Topic: Good and Godly (King Hezekiah)
II Chronicles 29-31
Hezekiah was a good king and a godly man. One may think that Hezekiah had a good start in life, but this was not the case. His father Ahaz was one of the wickedest kings in Judah's history, and during his reign the religious life of the nation reached an all-time low (Read 2 Kings 16:2-4). Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king and he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed in the steps of previous corrupt kings and even sacrificed his son in the fire. He followed the detestable ways of the nations that the Lord had driven out. He offered up sacrifices and burned incense at the high places on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. This was the type of father King Hezekiah had. With a father and a background like that, we may wonder how Hezekiah became such a noble and spiritually minded man. Where did his faith in God and his spiritual character come from? Certainly not from his home background as we have seen. It can only have been that Gods’ spirit had worked directly in his life.
Not everybody has the blessing of being brought up in a godly home, in surroundings where the Bible is being read and prayers are being said. This shows us that God is a personal God, sovereign and unrestricted. Your character and your relationship with God does not depend on someone else. It doesn't depend on your family background or culture. Your walk with God, your faith in God and relationship with Him does not depend on your parents’ or grandparents’ relationship with God. If your parents have a close relationship with God that doesn't mean that you will have a close relationship with God too. Likewise, if your parents are far from God that doesn't mean that you will be far from God. Your relationship with God depends on you and more so on God, it depends on nothing else and no one else.
Hezekiah stayed close to the Lord and listened to Him. What were the keys to King Hezekiah’s godly life?
1. King Hezekiah followed the heart of King David. Hezekiah had a godly mentor who was able to give wisdom and guidance. Some mentors are alive while others have passed away, like King David. The point is that a godly mentor is one who can be leaned on to provide spiritual support.
2. King Hezekiah did the right things. The idols needed to be torn down and the temple needed cleaned up. Once Hezekiah had the temple in order, he then opened the temple to the public and started the services in the temple with the reestablishment of the Passover.
3. King Hezekiah prayed. II Chronicles 7:14 says, “My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Hezekiah faced the Assyrian army who was like a war machine. He knew that no one could help him, not his army, not his commanders, not Isaiah the prophet, but only God. So, he fell into the hands of God and cried for help. Hezekiah prayed to the Almighty God, and he saw an almighty deliverance from this powerful army.
In all that King Hezekiah learned from King David, acted in ways that would bring Judah back to the worship of God, and experienced answered prayer; the last fifteen years of his life were not spiritually directed.
Beware of becoming too comfortable with past spiritual victories that you begin to lean on your own understandings and not seek God.
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem