Who was Hezekiah in the Bible?
The past plays an important part of today’s actions and tomorrow’s plans. The people and kings of Judah had a rich past, filled with God’s action, guidance and commands. But with each passing generation, they also had a growing list of tragedies tat occurred when the people forgot that their God, who had cared for them in the past, also cared about the present and the future and continued to demand their obedience. Hezekiah was one of the few kings of Judah who was constantly aware of God’s acts in the past and His interest in the events of every day. The Bible describes Hezekiah as a king who had a close relationship with God.
As a reformer, Hezekiah was most concerned with present obedience. Judah was filled with visual reminders of the people’s lack of trust in God, and Hezekiah boldly cleaned house. Altars, idols and pagan temples were destroyed. Even the bronze snake that Moses had made in the desert was not spared because it had ceased to point the people to God and had also became an idol. The temple in Jerusalem, whose doors had been nailed shut by Hezekiah’s own father, was cleaned out and reopened. The Passover was reinstituted as a national holiday, and there was revival in Judah.
Although he had a natural inclination to respond to present problems, Hezekiah’s life shows little evidence of concern about the future. Hezekiah took few actions to preserve the effects of his sweeping reforms. His successful efforts made him proud. Hezekiah unwise display of wealth to the Babylonian delegation got Judah included on Babylon’s “Nations to conquer” list. When Isaiah informed Hezekiah of the foolishness of his acts, the king’s answer displayed his persistent lack of foresight. Hezekiah was thankful that any evil effects of his actions were delayed until after his death. However the lives of the three kings, Manasseh, Amon and Josiah that followed him were deeply affected by Hezekiah’s accomplishments and his weaknesses.
The past will affect your decisions and actions today, and these actions in turn affect the future. There are lessons to learn and errors to avoid repeating. The successes of your past will be measured by what you do with it today, and how well you use it to prepare for the future.
Have you asked God to strengthen and guide todays actions? Do you know God? Do you know Jesus?
Are you certain that you are going to heaven? If the answer is no or you’re not really sure and there is something stirring inside you at this very moment to do this, then all you have to do is say a small prayer and you can be assured of your name being added to the Book of Life. Go to the prayer of salvation and pray the words out loud and believe in your heart and you will be saved.
Hezekiah’s story is told in 2 Kings 16:20 – 20:21; 2 Chronicles 28:27 – 32:33 and Isaiah 36:1 – 39:8. He is also mentioned in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; 26:18, 19; Hosea 1:1 and Micah 1:1
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