Life Lessons: King Hezekiah
By Capazin Thornton
Hezekiah was a great leader who trusted the Lord more than any king of Judah before or after him. (2 Kings 18:2-5). Here are some life lessons from King Hezekiah.
Life Lesson 1: A great leader encourages respect for God.
Hezekiah “worked very hard to encourage respect for the temple, the law, and godly living, and was very successful” (2 Chron 31:21, TLB).
Hezekiah cleansed and sanctified the temple, restored the priests to their duties, and reinstated the sacrificial offerings. He also brought back vibrant praise and worship to the temple.
So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. —2 Chron 30:26
Then, after the temple was fully set in order, Hezekiah and the children of Israel went out to the cities of Judah and broke down all the pagan pillars, images, and altars.
Life Lesson 2: When you do something great for God, the enemy will always show up to try to shut you down.
After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself.—2 Chron 32:1
For 14 years, King Hezekiah built up Judah and brought about great spiritual reform. He defeated the Philistines. He also refused to pay tribute to Sennacherib, king of Assyria. (2 Kings 18:7)
King Sennacherib then encamped around the fortified cities of Judah. Having already defeated the 10 northern tribes of Israel, Sennacherib boasted that he would overthrow the fortified cities of Judah as well.
Life Lesson 3: Never give the enemy what belongs to God.
Wanting to appease Sennacherib, King Hezekiah decided to pay him tribute money. Unfortunately, he used the treasures of silver and gold from God’s temple to do so. We must never give the enemy what belongs to God. Despite all that King Hezekiah gave him, Sennacherib remained determined to make Judah his conquest.
Life Lesson 4: Always be prepared for battle.
After seeing that Sennacherib did not relent in his plan to war against Jerusalem, King Hezekiah held a summit conference with his top advisors. He then prepared for battle.
Hezekiah immediately plugged up the water springs outside Jerusalem so the enemy would not find a water supply. Then he fortified a broken wall and reinforced Fort Milo in the City of David. After that, he made weapons and shields for war and appointed officers over his army.
Life Lesson 5: Be encouraged by eternal light and truth
Finally, Hezekiah gathered the people in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words.
“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.—2 Chron 32:7-8
Life Lesson 6: Do not be let the enemy intimidate you with vainglorious words.
Sennacherib sent ambassadors to intimidate the people of Judah. His servants spoke evil of God, putting Him in the same category as the carved images that Hezekiah had destroyed.
Oh how the devil tries to get people to believe there is no difference between God (who created the universe and every living thing) and idols made with men’s hands. Sennacherib even boasted that no god or nation had been able to defeat him or any former king of Assyria.
Hezekiah told the people not to answer Sennacherib’s taunts and threats.
Life Lesson 7: Pray in faith.
Hezekiah then went into the temple to pray. (2 Ki 19:15-19)
To paraphrase, King Hezekiah said, “God, listen to this arrogant heathen defy you. Deliver us from him. Manifest yourself in such a way that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone are God.”
Life Lesson 8: Heartfelt, faith-filled prayer can change everything.
Hezekiah teaches us that heartfelt, faith-filled prayer, praise, and declarations can touch heaven and change events on earth.
In response to Hezekiah’s prayer God sent an angel who wiped out 185,000 of Sennacherib’s army. In addition, when Sennacherib returned home he was slain by his two sons while worshipping in the house of his god. (Isa 37:36-38)
Remember, no matter how menacing the enemy, God can neutralize his plans, strategies and attacks in a nanosecond.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.—1 Pet 3:12
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Which life lesson is most meaningful to you, and why? Please feel free to post your comments.
Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker and author in Orange County, California.
One Response
Life lesson 8 is my favorite because when we PRAY and believe the Lord always comes through for us. I have watched Him create something out of nothing in my life for over 40 years. How He does it is beyond me but as I pray and believe He has never failed me not even once!!