The Reformer

(2 Kings 18, 19 and 20)

Hezekiah was a son of Ahaz and he took over the kingdom from his father at the age of 25 in 715 B.C. He ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years.

It was about this time that Assyrians had defeated Israel and occupied their land as well. He also took over the kingdom when Judah was still in alliance with Assyria.

Hezekiah is referred to as a reformer. He followed the example his ancestor David. He did what was pleasing to the Lord.

When he became a king, he carried out reforms and changed most of what his father had left behind.

THE REFORMS (ACHIEVEMENTS) OF HEZEKIAH

Hezekiah revived theocracy in Judah. As a person, he placed his confidence in the Lord, his God.

Hezekiah denounced Judah's alliance with Assyria thereby making the kingdom to regain her independence

King Hezekiah stopped paying tribute to the Assyrian emperor. This was an indication that he had learnt from the mistakes of his father.

Hezekiah destroyed the pagan places of worship that had been famous during the time of his father.

Hezekiah re-opened the Jerusalem temple for the service of the Lord. This helped to restore monotheism in Judah.

Hezekiah centralized worship in Jerusalem. He later encouraged his brothers and relatives to renounce Samaria and Israel to go to Jerusalem and worship the Lord.

Hezekiah broke the stone pillars and cut down the images of goddess Asherah. By doing so, he purified Judah from pagan practices.

King Hezekiah invited the Levites (house of priests) to purify the Jerusalem temple. In this way, he prepared the temple for worshipping the Lord once again.

Hezekiah ruled Judah in consultation with the Lord's servants. He consulted the priests and prophet Isaiah before taking any action,

Hezekiah dismissed all the Assyrian political officials that his father had invited and settled them in Israel.

Hezekiah was faithful to the Lord. He was always careful to keep the Lord's command without any act of disobedience.

King Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel more than any king had done since the time of his ancestor David.

Hezekiah re-established the liturgical singing in the Jerusalem temple. This was by allowing the return of the musical instruments and groups that his father had thrown away.

Hezekiah defeated the Philistines and raided their settlement from the smallest village to the largest city.

King Hezekiah kept praying to the Lord to give him the strength he needed to deal with the threat from the Assyrians.

WEAKNESSES OR FAILURES OF KING HEZEKIAH

King Hezekiah later submitted easily to the Assyrian forces upon being attacked begging them to stop their aggressiveness.   

King Hezekiah renewed Judah's alliance with Assyria despite prophet Isaiah's plea for him to stay away from it.      

Hezekiah also paid tribute to the emperor of Assyria. He sent to the emperor all the silver in the temple and the palace treasury.

Hezekiah conflicted with prophet Isaiah who had condemned him for his making an alliance with Assyria.

Hezekiah became a hypocrite for he knew the requirement in serving the Lord but behaved to the contrary.

King Hezekiah took Yahweh for granted by thinking that the Lord would spare him despite his continued alliance with Assyria.

Hezekiah became proud and unrepentant particularly when prophetic work of Isaiah became more pronounced.

Hezekiah was boastful when he displayed his wealth before the pagan and the foreign visitors from Babylonia.

ISAIAH'S PROPHESIES TO KING HEZEKIAH

Isaiah prophesied to King Hezekiah when it became evident that the king was about to engage in the second alliance with Egypt. It was also about this time that Judah and Assyria had become enemies.

Isaiah told Hezekiah to forget about any political alliance and trust in the Lord for his protection.

Isaiah told Hezekiah that the Egyptian king he was trusting would also be destroyed and therefore, it was useless for him to go in the alliance with him.

Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would make the Assyrian emperor to withdraw his army without attacking Judah. He therefore advised the king to stay calm.

Isaiah told King Hezekiah that the Lord was determined to assist his people in times of any crisis.

He prophesied that the Assyrian king would die in his own city and would not have any chance to fight any war with Judah.

He told Hezekiah that it was Yahweh responsible for the strength of the Assyrians and weaknesses of her neighbours.

Isaiah assured King Hezekiah that the Lord would see his people through their difficult period.

Isaiah said that the angels of the Lord would attack the Assyrian camp and kill a number of her soldiers.

Isaiah told Hezekiah that God would fulfill the promises he had made to his ancestor David. He would protect David's descendants in order for his name to be glorified.

Isaiah assured Hezekiah that time would come when Judah would eat fruits from her own gardens.