Hezekiah
Hezekiah was a King who rid Judah of idols and shrines. He was known for "doing right in the eyes of the Lord." In one of the oft-cited old testament miracles, we see the Lord cause a shadow to reverse direction on stairs to prove to Hezekiah that the Lord will extend his live another 15 years.1 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.
The first few verses follow the format of the rest of Kings. In these books, Kings (primarily the successors to David), are noted for their linage, their age, and the length of their reign. The one description to take note of is how their reigns are summed up in a single phrase: either they "Did right in the eyes of the Lord" or they "did evil in the eyes of the Lord."3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)
In Numbers 21:9, While the Israelites are wandering around in the desert, they begin to complain and the Lord sends a venomous snake to bite some of them as a reminder/punishment. Some of them die, but later God has Moses hold up a staff and he turns it into a bronze snake. Whoever looks at this snake, became healed. Apparently, the Israelites had grown to worship this snake over time, burning incense to it- making it an idol. We see that Hezekiah put an end to that quickly.
- How would the author of Kings sum up your life, were you to be listed as a King(Queen) in this book?
5 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. 7 And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.What a life! Notice how he was granted success in all that he did, and why he was marked as such a great man who was one-of-a-kind:
- He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him
- He kept the commands the Lord had given Moses
- He rebelled against those that opposed the Lord and did not serve them
- He defeated the Lord's enemies and protected his people
- How can we do each of these? Hold fast to the Lord, keep his commands, stand up against those that oppose the Lord, and defeat his enemies thus, protecting his people.
To be continued....