The young man began his pathway of faith with admirable energy and courage.
He did what was right in the sight of God.
He followed the example of godly men who went before him.
He removed idolatry from his life and sphere of responsibility.
He trusted fully in God.
He walked in fellowship with God, obeying Jehovah’s commands.
He refused to submit to an enemy of God.
He smote another enemy of God’s people.
Hezekiah’s godly reign was a very happy time in the kingdom of Judah (two tribes see 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32 and Isaiah 35-39). But he faced difficulties, failures and constant attacks all of which provide valuable moral principles much needed today for those who seek to live for God’s glory.
Discouragements and Difficulties
During his reign, the people of the kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) under the reign of Hoshea (2 Kings 17) were carried out of the land and lost among the nations (until a future day when they will be restored).
After this, the king of Assyria who had carried them captive also came up to besiege Hezekiah and the kingdom of Judah. Though Sennacherib’s attack caused Hezekiah’s faith to fail for a time (2 Kings 18:9-169And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. 10And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: 12Because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them. 13Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 14And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house. 16At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 18:9‑16)), God used the trial to ultimately increase his faith. The blasphemous words of the Assyrian king—“Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” (2 Kings 18:1919And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? (2 Kings 18:19)) became the stage upon which the infinite love and power of Jehovah was gloriously and solemnly displayed on behalf of His people.
Hezekiah’s cry to Isaiah the prophet shows how deeply he felt his powerlessness to withstand the awful foe: “This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth” (2 Kings 19:33And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. (2 Kings 19:3)).
What a fitting and needed spirit of brokenness and humility for the people of God today! We too have an enemy Satan against whom we have no might (within ourselves) to withstand. Confidence in ecclesiastical position or personal holiness is dangerous because it rests in something other than the person, power and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Right Spirit
Hezekiah clearly saw the real condition of the people of God. He cast them the kingdom, his hope of future happiness and peace all on Jehovah. “Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech Thee, save Thou us out of his hand [Sennacherib’s], that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the Lord God, even Thou only” (2 Kings 19:1919Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only. (2 Kings 19:19)).
Do we really understand the character of the enemy’s opposition and that only in Christ is deliverance found not in our faithfulness, and surely not in the world nor in its vain religious traditions?
It was in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances that Jehovah brought miraculous and total victory to His beloved, helpless and dependent people. “I will defend this city, to save it, for Mine own sake.... And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and... in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses” (2 Kings 19:34-3534For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 35And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 Kings 19:34‑35)).
May we too learn to trust in none but our God!
An Even Stronger Test
But another, more severe test of dear Hezekiah’s faith was coming. Immediately after that mighty victory over the Assyrian, Hezekiah received another message. “The prophet Isaiah... came... and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live” (2 Kings 20:11In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. (2 Kings 20:1)).
What a solemn message to receive after the glorious victory Jehovah had given! Yet this message one which we fear may not be given due consideration in our lives it is vital to understand.
Are we setting our house in order in view of the time when we will be gone? Are we considering what heritage we will leave to our loved ones? Will precious treasures of truth regarding His Person and His assembly be passed on (through our lives rather than just our words) to our sons? Besides those earthly possessions we leave, will there be anything of eternal value left for our houses to enjoy?
It is gloriously true that the Lord may come today (1 Thess. 4), and we ought to eagerly look for Him. But, if He tarries, will we leave houses set in order?
The Danger of Complacency
How happy and thankful Hezekiah must have been when Jehovah graciously added fifteen years to his life. He gladly enjoyed that blessing personally but forgot to use those years in preparing his house and kingdom for the future. Another enemy then offered friendliness as a way to gain entrance to Hezekiah’s household, and, sadly, the king accepted that offer.
“At that time Berodach-baladan... king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things.... There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not” (2 Kings 20:12-1312At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. (2 Kings 20:12‑13)).
Careless Hezekiah! He wasn’t to show off his house; he was to set it in order as should believers today. We must prepare our children for the future, arming them against enemies that never give up. Today, through the labors and battles of others, we enjoy a house full of riches. Will we, in turn, order our lives so as to pass them on or, like Hezekiah, enjoy them without taking thought for the future?
A complacent spirit may easily dull our senses. We may look at the world as a friend rather than an enemy. We may open our homes and allow it (in its many, harmless-appearing forms) entrance and access to our children and to every precious treasure of Christian truth and liberty God has given. If this is so, let us soberly consider Hezekiah’s end.
The Results of Complacency
These words have very solemn application to us: “Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house [the blessings of God’s grace], and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day [truth that others have passed down], shall be carried unto Babylon [the religious world]: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee [spiritual strength to support and grow families and assemblies], which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs [unable to produce fruit or blessing] in the palace of the king of Babylon” (2 Kings 20:17-1817Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. 18And 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. (2 Kings 20:17‑18)).
The Selfishness of Complacency Hezekiah’s answer to Isaiah’s solemn word is sad and selfish. “Good is the word of Jehovah.... Is it not so? if only there shall be peace and truth in my days!” (2 Kings 20:1919Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? (2 Kings 20:19) JND). As long as he was assured of peace in his day, he does not seem concerned for what would happen after he was gone! What was the result? He lost sons into Babylon, while his son Manasseh (who became king after he died) was the most wicked ruler in the history of Judah.
Let’s diligently set our house in order that our sons not become worldly or fruitless slaves in the palace of Babylon. Passing on the spiritual treasures and blessings we have enjoyed to those who come after will require faithfulness and purpose of heart.
We’ll also need the heart of David (a heart that was lacking in Hezekiah): “As for these sheep, what have they done? let Thine hand, I pray Thee, O Lord my God, be on me... but not on Thy people” (1 Chron. 21:1717And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. (1 Chronicles 21:17)). What a beautiful, humble spirit David displayed-broken and contrite and divine mercy came in to spare the people (2 Sam. 24:1616And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. (2 Samuel 24:16)). May such a tender spirit be ours!
Ed.