Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.2 Chronicles 29:1 NIV
When Hezekiah began to reign, the country was a mess! His father, King Ahaz, had not been faithful to the Lord, instead, he led the nation into extreme idol worship, including the sacrificing of children, burning them to idolatrous gods. It was detestable in the eyes of the Lord, therefore the Lord stopped defending Judah against enemy attack. The land was war ravaged and spiritually bankrupt when Hezekiah was thrust into leadership. He had a choice to make. He could follow in his father’s footsteps or he could follow the Lord.
In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.” 2 Chronicles 1:3-11 NIV
Notice the steps Hezekiah took to get the nation back on track.
- He opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. His father had shut the Lord out of his life; he didn’t see the importance of maintaining a close relationship with God, and saw no purpose in going to the temple. Maybe you’ve been raised in a home that shut the Lord out, by a parent who set that example for you. Or worse yet, maybe your parent kept the door open to spiritual truth, but lived a life of hypocrisy; went to church, but didn’t live a life of faithfulness to God. If that’s the case, you may need to do some “temple repairs” of your own.
- He brought in the priests and the Levites. These were the ones that God had chosen to be the spiritual leaders. Hezekiah was wise to put them back in place. We all need people in our lives who can lead us and our loved ones to spiritual truth. Who might God be directing you to bring into your life for that purpose?
- Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Hezekiah realized that certain things had gotten in the way and were hindering the people from being what God intended them to be. Those things had to go! Can you identify the things in your life that are dragging you into sin or keeping you from seeking God with all your energy? What things, relationships, or activities in your life are standing in the way of you becoming all God intends you to be?
- Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him…This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. Hezekiah took a spiritual inventory and realized why the nation was in such a mess. He was smart enough to realize that life just doesn’t add up when God is left out of the equation. I challenge you look at your life, your upbringing, and make an honest spiritual assessment. Has God been given His rightful place? If not, might that be the problem?
- Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord. It’s never too late to serve the Lord and ask Him to fix what’s broken! Regardless of your childhood, even if it was severely dysfunctional, regardless of the mess your life may be right now, you can turn it all around with the help of the Lord! Healing and restoration begins with an intentional commitment to walk in faithfulness to God. You have the opportunity to know God and to live in right relationship with Him. He secured that opportunity for you when He willingly died on the cross. Will you, like Hezekiah, make a covenant with the Lord?
- Do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him. This could be your time to get it right, to turn your life around, to stand before God, completely forgiven, and start a new life serving Him. There is nothing better and nothing more satisfying. He has chosen you. He loves you. Hezekiah was dealt a mess, but He intended to get his life, his family and the nation he led back on the right track. Will you follow his example?