Neal Pollard

There have been heroes who came along at just the right time—Abraham Lincoln, Winston Church, and Ronald Reagan, just to name a few. But imagine living in a nation torn apart by Civil War and watching the other half invaded and destroyed in brutal fashion. You would receive reports and even eyewitness accounts of dismembering, beheading, flaying, staking, impaling, castrating and starving. Add to that the fact that your father was one of the most wicked rulers to ever lead your nation, who actually tried to ally himself with those brutal people, sacrificed children to idols and “shut up the doors of the house of the Lord and…made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.” That was the fate of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The situation was grim and things were looking worse than ever when Hezekiah came to powerr. But he immediately goes about repairing the spiritual damage done by his father Ahaz. He makes some mistakes, but we find him usually involved in restoring God’s ways and depending on God’s help to rule as king. He was a big reason God allowed Judah to continue free for 150 years after Israel had fallen to the Assyrians described above.

Here is how the Bible summarizes King Hezekiah’s life. “Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the Lord his God. Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered” (2 Chron. 31:20-21). What a way for God Himself to remember someone’s life. Have you given thought to how you will be remembered when you leave this life? Wouldn’t you want to be remembered as one who was good, right, and true before God? Let’s see what Hezekiah did to receive such a commendation.

• He was stedfast—“Every Work Which He Began, He Did.”
• He was submissive—“Every Work Which He Began In The Service Of The House Of God In Law & Commandment, He Did”
• He was a sincere seeker—“Every Work Which He Began, Seeking His God, He Did With All His Heart”

The summary of his reign? He prospered! That seems to refer to the rest of his reign and a literal, material prosperity. Jesus came and taught a different kind of potential prosperity. It’s a treasure in heaven (Mat. 6:20-21) and an investment in the Father’s house (John 14:1-4).