Rarely will you find more than a chapter or two devoted to a particular king. But, the Bible records three lengthy chapters for Hezekiah, and for good reason.
The Bible narrative tells us that King Hezekiah lived according to God's plan throughout his lifetime. Some of the kings before him had followed God while others didn't. Those who did still managed to make some spiritual errors that hurt the people.
One of the common themes you will find in 1 and 2 Kings is the worship of false Gods at the "high places." Past "good" kings might get rid of some of the sites, but they always left the high places. Scripture tells us that Hezekiah destroyed ALL of these worship sites, and turned the people back to the Lord.
This was likely a dangerous political move for the king. If his day was anything like ours, public opinion can sway negative when cultural items are changed or taken away. Regardless, the king forged ahead with his ideas, and it payed off.
Scripture records that Assyria, which had just wiped out Israel, was on the verge of doing the same to Judah. Hezekiah shows great strength and wisdom to his people by seeking God personally and through consulting the prophet Isaiah.
Here are some thoughts I pull from this king's story:
- Prayer should be an integral part of your life whether it is a good time of life or a bad one. Hezekiah had learned to pray effectively, and the Bible records the results.
- People will follow a man of conviction. Because of the manner in which he lived his life and led his country, Hezekiah had developed a trustworthy reputation. The people respected him enough to follow his commands in the face of a major threat.
- Hezekiah was quick to admit that he didn't have it all together. We get the impression that he regularly sought guidance and instruction from the prophet Isaiah. Most kings of his day would never let go of their pride to do such a thing.
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