Today we find a breath of fresh air with the rise to power of the good king Hezekiah. I love the story of king Hezekiah and how he deals with the threatenings of Sennacherib and the armies of Assyria. But for this morning's reading, I'm just going to mention briefly why he was considered a "good king" set apart from those that had come before...
1 Kings 18:4 says clearly: "He removed the high places, and break in the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it."
Here's some comments from Inspiration on the changes that King Hezekiah sought to bring to the Kingdom. This is why he stands out in such contrast to many that came before him.
In sharp contrast with the reckless rule of Ahaz was the reformation wrought during the prosperous reign of his son. Hezekiah came to the throne determined to do all in his power to save Judah from the fate that was overtaking the northern kingdom. The messages of the prophets offered no encouragement to halfway measures. Only by most decided reformation could the threatened judgments be averted.
In the crisis, Hezekiah proved to be a man of opportunity. No sooner had he ascended the throne than he began to plan and to execute. He first turned his attention to the restoration of the temple services, so long neglected; and in this work he earnestly solicited the co-operation of a band of priests and Levites who had remained true to their sacred calling. Confident of their loyal support, he spoke with them freely concerning his desire to institute immediate and far-reaching reforms. “Our fathers have trespassed,” he confessed, “and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord.” “Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.” 2 Chronicles 29:6, 10. (Prophets and Kings, p. 331)Praise God for kings like Hezekiah who are willing to go against the norm and stand for God, who are willing to stand strong for God. Let's pray for more men and woman like Hezekiah today. Let's be this person who will call people back to the One true God!
[Personal notes: Philippines Youth for Christ has come to an end (sadly -- what a great conference PYC was), and I am now back in Manila. Early tomorrow I will be getting on my flight back to the states. But I'm not flying back to Maryland. Instead I'm flying to Ontario California where I'm going for our upcoming ARME Bible Camp that's taking place this week at Camp Cedar Falls, up in the mountains above Loma Linda. So, I'm looking forward to many more blessings in the week ahead. However, I'm quite exhausted and my big prayer is that God will give me strength to withstand the "jet lag whip-lash" that I will most likely experience because I have no down time to recover. ARME starts the next day after I arrive. Thankfully, I know that the Lord, who has sustained me these past weeks, will continue to give me just what I need as I go forward, so I cling to Him!]
Tomorrow's Reading: 2 Kings 19,20 and 2 Cor. 8
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