But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33
I find it somewhat interesting that, during the long succession of the kings in Judah, a good king would sometimes be immediately followed by a bad king or a bad king followed by a good king. Seeing that these kings were part of a continual family line extending back to David, they were always father and son. Here’s the point… just because someone was a good king (and presumably a good father), it didn’t always mean that their son would turn out that way. Conversely, it was also possible that a bad king’s son might turn out to be a good, honorable, and upright leader. Such stark contrast is evident in today’s sermon on Hezekiah.
There are 3 chapters devoted to Hezekiah in 2 Kings and 4 more in 2 Chronicles. That said, the content of these chapters is somewhat different between the 2 books. In most cases, the information in Kings and Chronicles is, for the most part, similar, but not in the case of Hezekiah. Seeing that I’ve chosen Kings as our primary text for this series, I will summarize much of the information in Chronicles for the sake of time.
I. THE TEMPLE IS CLEANSED (2 KINGS 18:1-3, 5-6; 2 CHRONICLES 29)
During the 3rd year of Hoshea’s reign in Israel, just a few years before the fall of the northern kingdom (which we discussed last Sunday), Hezekiah replaced his wicked father Ahaz as the new king of Judah. He was 25 years old when he became king and he ruled from Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother’s name was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah, the high priest. Although his father was an unrighteous ruler, Hezekiah was a godly kingly who faithfully revered and served the LORD, probably due in large degree to his mother’s influence. He trusted deeply in God and is widely upheld as the best king of Judah during the divided kingdom era. He clung to the LORD, kept His commandments as written in the Law of Moses, and did not depart from them.
According to the book of Chronicles, in the 1st year of his reign and in the first month, Hezekiah repaired and reopened the doors of the temple which had been closed previously by Ahaz. He had the priests and Levites consecrate themselves and resume the temple work that had been halted for some time. He instructed them to thoroughly cleanse and purify the temple, explaining that the vile, profane actions of the previous administration had provoked the LORD’s anger and incurred His judgment. He commanded them to be diligent, not negligent, in their duties and religious service.
After the temple had been cleansed and consecrated, Hezekiah held a great assembly there. The people brought bulls, rams, lambs, and goats for the priests to sacrifice. The Levites played instruments and singers sang to the LORD while the burnt offering was being made, like in the days of King David. They joyfully sang the psalms, praising, worshiping, and bowing before God. Then they began sacrificing thank offerings, and there were more given than the priests could handle alone, so the Levites helped. Thus, Hezekiah restored the temple service and everyone rejoiced at Judah’s abrupt and sudden turn back to God.
II. THE PASSOVER IS RENEWED (2 CHRONICLES 30)
Hezekiah decided to celebrate the Passover, an annual Jewish holy day that had been neglected for some time. He scheduled the celebration a month later than it would normally be held (Exodus 12:2, 6), because the priests, Levites, and temple itself had not been consecrated in time. He sent out a decree inviting all of Judah and Israel to the Passover celebration, an indication of his concern for all of God’s chosen people, not just the southern kingdom. Couriers traveled throughout the various cities of Israel urging their brothers to repent and turn back to God, but their message was largely rejected. Only a few men from the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun came to join the people of Judah for the celebration.
When the time came, the people gathered to observe the Passover and the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread. There were many present, including some priests and visitors from the northern kingdom, who had not properly consecrated themselves in order to participate. Hezekiah prayed that God would forgive them in this instance, as their hearts were in the right place. The LORD granted the king’s request allowing everyone to join in the celebration. The festivities were so successful that Hezekiah extended them for an additional week. There hadn’t been an event like this in Jerusalem since the time of David and Solomon.
III. THE IDOLS ARE REMOVED (2 KINGS 18:4; 2 CHRONICLES 31)
After the Passover celebration ended, the people returned to their home cities and pulled down all of the pillars, Asherim, high places and altars throughout Judah and even some in Israel. Hezekiah appointed divisions of priests and Levites. He set up an ongoing provision of the king’s portion for routine burnt offerings that were being made in the temple, and ordered the people to provide their due share to the priests also. As the king’s order spread, the people responded with such generosity that great heaps of surplus offerings began piling up in the temple. Rooms were prepared for the priests in the temple and the abundant contribution was distributed appropriately among them.
Hezekiah also destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness during the days of the Exodus. Over the years, the people of Israel had esteemed it and burned incense to it, giving it the name Nehushtan (Numbers 21:6-9). Because of his faithfulness and his implementation of these many godly reforms, the LORD prospered Hezekiah and gave him great success.
VI. THE MILITARY IS STRONG (2 KINGS 18:7-12)
Hezekiah rebelled against the mighty Assyrians and did not serve them. He even defeated and drove out the Philistines who had encroached into Judah during the reign of Ahaz.His military was strong enough (with God’s help) to deter the ever expanding Assyrian Empire.
Unfortunately, this was not the case for the northern kingdom. As we learned last week, Shalmaneser laid siege on Samaria in 722 BC, during the 4th year of Hezekiah’s reign in Judah. After 3 years, Israel fell to Assyria, in 720 BC, the 6th year of Hezekiah’s reign. So, while the southern kingdom was experiencing a season of great renewal and revival, the northern kingdom collapsed and was carried off into exile.
CONCLUSION
As we wrap things up this morning, I want to highlight something that stands out to me about Hezekiah. Did you notice that the first thing he did as king was to cleanse the temple and reestablish proper worship there? Scripture tells us that he did this in his first year and in the first month. It was his main priority. He was not focused on himself, his own ambitions, possessions, power, or so forth. Rather, he was determined to return his kingdom and people to the LORD. As the result of his efforts, the LORD prospered him bountifully.
Beloved, the Bible is very clear. If we will put God first and seek Him with all our hearts, He will bless us in ways that we can’t even imagine. He will take care of our needs and even cause us to thrive. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying… I am not suggesting that we will become kings, CEO’s, or wealthy superstars. I am simply stating that those who make God supreme in their hearts and lives will receive and enjoy His abundant and oftentimes immaterial blessings. Trust in the LORD and He will take care of you.
I find it somewhat interesting that, during the long succession of the kings in Judah, a good king would sometimes be immediately followed by a bad king or a bad king followed by a good king. Seeing that these kings were part of a continual family line extending back to David, they were always father and son. Here’s the point… just because someone was a good king (and presumably a good father), it didn’t always mean that their son would turn out that way. Conversely, it was also possible that a bad king’s son might turn out to be a good, honorable, and upright leader. Such stark contrast is evident in today’s sermon on Hezekiah.
There are 3 chapters devoted to Hezekiah in 2 Kings and 4 more in 2 Chronicles. That said, the content of these chapters is somewhat different between the 2 books. In most cases, the information in Kings and Chronicles is, for the most part, similar, but not in the case of Hezekiah. Seeing that I’ve chosen Kings as our primary text for this series, I will summarize much of the information in Chronicles for the sake of time.
I. THE TEMPLE IS CLEANSED (2 KINGS 18:1-3, 5-6; 2 CHRONICLES 29)
During the 3rd year of Hoshea’s reign in Israel, just a few years before the fall of the northern kingdom (which we discussed last Sunday), Hezekiah replaced his wicked father Ahaz as the new king of Judah. He was 25 years old when he became king and he ruled from Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother’s name was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah, the high priest. Although his father was an unrighteous ruler, Hezekiah was a godly kingly who faithfully revered and served the LORD, probably due in large degree to his mother’s influence. He trusted deeply in God and is widely upheld as the best king of Judah during the divided kingdom era. He clung to the LORD, kept His commandments as written in the Law of Moses, and did not depart from them.
According to the book of Chronicles, in the 1st year of his reign and in the first month, Hezekiah repaired and reopened the doors of the temple which had been closed previously by Ahaz. He had the priests and Levites consecrate themselves and resume the temple work that had been halted for some time. He instructed them to thoroughly cleanse and purify the temple, explaining that the vile, profane actions of the previous administration had provoked the LORD’s anger and incurred His judgment. He commanded them to be diligent, not negligent, in their duties and religious service.
After the temple had been cleansed and consecrated, Hezekiah held a great assembly there. The people brought bulls, rams, lambs, and goats for the priests to sacrifice. The Levites played instruments and singers sang to the LORD while the burnt offering was being made, like in the days of King David. They joyfully sang the psalms, praising, worshiping, and bowing before God. Then they began sacrificing thank offerings, and there were more given than the priests could handle alone, so the Levites helped. Thus, Hezekiah restored the temple service and everyone rejoiced at Judah’s abrupt and sudden turn back to God.
II. THE PASSOVER IS RENEWED (2 CHRONICLES 30)
Hezekiah decided to celebrate the Passover, an annual Jewish holy day that had been neglected for some time. He scheduled the celebration a month later than it would normally be held (Exodus 12:2, 6), because the priests, Levites, and temple itself had not been consecrated in time. He sent out a decree inviting all of Judah and Israel to the Passover celebration, an indication of his concern for all of God’s chosen people, not just the southern kingdom. Couriers traveled throughout the various cities of Israel urging their brothers to repent and turn back to God, but their message was largely rejected. Only a few men from the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun came to join the people of Judah for the celebration.
When the time came, the people gathered to observe the Passover and the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread. There were many present, including some priests and visitors from the northern kingdom, who had not properly consecrated themselves in order to participate. Hezekiah prayed that God would forgive them in this instance, as their hearts were in the right place. The LORD granted the king’s request allowing everyone to join in the celebration. The festivities were so successful that Hezekiah extended them for an additional week. There hadn’t been an event like this in Jerusalem since the time of David and Solomon.
III. THE IDOLS ARE REMOVED (2 KINGS 18:4; 2 CHRONICLES 31)
After the Passover celebration ended, the people returned to their home cities and pulled down all of the pillars, Asherim, high places and altars throughout Judah and even some in Israel. Hezekiah appointed divisions of priests and Levites. He set up an ongoing provision of the king’s portion for routine burnt offerings that were being made in the temple, and ordered the people to provide their due share to the priests also. As the king’s order spread, the people responded with such generosity that great heaps of surplus offerings began piling up in the temple. Rooms were prepared for the priests in the temple and the abundant contribution was distributed appropriately among them.
Hezekiah also destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness during the days of the Exodus. Over the years, the people of Israel had esteemed it and burned incense to it, giving it the name Nehushtan (Numbers 21:6-9). Because of his faithfulness and his implementation of these many godly reforms, the LORD prospered Hezekiah and gave him great success.
VI. THE MILITARY IS STRONG (2 KINGS 18:7-12)
Hezekiah rebelled against the mighty Assyrians and did not serve them. He even defeated and drove out the Philistines who had encroached into Judah during the reign of Ahaz.His military was strong enough (with God’s help) to deter the ever expanding Assyrian Empire.
Unfortunately, this was not the case for the northern kingdom. As we learned last week, Shalmaneser laid siege on Samaria in 722 BC, during the 4th year of Hezekiah’s reign in Judah. After 3 years, Israel fell to Assyria, in 720 BC, the 6th year of Hezekiah’s reign. So, while the southern kingdom was experiencing a season of great renewal and revival, the northern kingdom collapsed and was carried off into exile.
CONCLUSION
As we wrap things up this morning, I want to highlight something that stands out to me about Hezekiah. Did you notice that the first thing he did as king was to cleanse the temple and reestablish proper worship there? Scripture tells us that he did this in his first year and in the first month. It was his main priority. He was not focused on himself, his own ambitions, possessions, power, or so forth. Rather, he was determined to return his kingdom and people to the LORD. As the result of his efforts, the LORD prospered him bountifully.
Beloved, the Bible is very clear. If we will put God first and seek Him with all our hearts, He will bless us in ways that we can’t even imagine. He will take care of our needs and even cause us to thrive. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying… I am not suggesting that we will become kings, CEO’s, or wealthy superstars. I am simply stating that those who make God supreme in their hearts and lives will receive and enjoy His abundant and oftentimes immaterial blessings. Trust in the LORD and He will take care of you.