Hezekiah was one of the five outstanding Kings, who ruled in the southern kingdom. 2 Chronicles 29:2 “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.” In the book of Kings. It is said that after Hezekiah was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. He tore down the high places, cleansed the temple, broke the bronze serpent which had become an idol and again did what was right in the eyes of God. Hezekiah even tried to get the northern kingdom to take part in a Passover celebration with the southern kingdom. Some of the northern inhabitants did come south, but many ridiculed Hezekiah.
The righteous King Hezekiah and the southern kingdom had a miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians. Although heavily outnumbered, Hezekiah rested in the assurance that He who fought with them was greater than the Assyrians. I have a grandniece who sings in what is called the “Cherub Choir” at her church. I mentioned to my brother that the cherubs were not as pictured, fat little babies with wings, but they were a force to be reckoned with as the Assyrians found out.
Later Hezekiah was told to get his affairs in order, as he was soon to pass away. There was great intercession to the Lord to spare Hezekiah and he was granted another 15 years of life. I’m currently reading a book written by Dr. David Jeremiah titled “What Are You Afraid Of” in which he includes a chapter on the fear of disease. Dr. Jeremiah refers to Isaiah 103:1-3 as a reminder that upon recovering from illness we must first thank Jehovah-Rophe, The Lord who heals us.
During the 15 years of extended life granted Hezekiah he lost favor with God as he became more obsessed wealth. He made the mistake of showing his treasures to a group from Babylon. Years later when the Babylonians would attack Judah they had a roadmap to the treasures. Isaiah foretold God's judgment on the nation, Isaiah 39:6-7, “Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Such was the fate of the righteous Daniel.
The 15 year extension of life granted Hezekiah accomplish two things, the continuance of the Davidic Dynasty and the birth of the wicked Manasseh. Manasseh reigned for 55 years and lead the people back into idolatry. While his father Hezekiah had cleanse the temple, Manasseh desecrated it.
From Hezekiah we learn to be careful what we wish for. The demand for unearned entitlements gifted the United States with our current administration.
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