Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, reigned as the 13th king of Judah from approximately 715 to 686 BC. His reign is noted for significant religious reforms and a return to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Hezekiah is often remembered as a king who prospered under God's favor due to his faithfulness and dedication to the Lord.

Religious Reforms and Faithfulness

Hezekiah ascended to the throne at a time when Judah was steeped in idolatry, largely due to the influence of his father, Ahaz. Determined to restore the worship of Yahweh, Hezekiah initiated sweeping religious reforms. He reopened the doors of the Temple, which had been closed by Ahaz, and repaired its structure (2 Chronicles 29:3). Hezekiah also removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles (2 Kings 18:4). Notably, he destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for the Israelites had begun to worship it as an idol, calling it Nehushtan.

Hezekiah's reforms extended to the observance of the Passover. He sent letters throughout Judah and Israel, inviting the people to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, which had not been observed in such a manner since the days of Solomon (2 Chronicles 30:1-5). This act of unification and return to the covenantal practices of the Torah was a significant step in re-establishing the spiritual integrity of the nation.

Divine Prosperity and Protection

Hezekiah's faithfulness was met with divine favor and prosperity. The Bible records that "the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook" (2 Kings 18:7). This divine blessing was evident in several key events during his reign.

One of the most notable instances of God's protection was during the Assyrian invasion. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, besieged Jerusalem, threatening its destruction. Hezekiah sought the Lord's guidance and prayed earnestly for deliverance. The prophet Isaiah assured him of God's intervention, and that night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw (2 Kings 19:35-36).

Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery

Another significant event in Hezekiah's life was his illness. The prophet Isaiah informed him that he would not recover, but Hezekiah prayed fervently, reminding God of his faithfulness. In response, God granted him an additional fifteen years of life and provided a miraculous sign: the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz moved backward ten steps (2 Kings 20:1-11).

Legacy and Impact

Hezekiah's reign is often viewed as a high point in the history of Judah, marked by a return to the worship of Yahweh and a period of relative peace and prosperity. His efforts to centralize worship in Jerusalem and eliminate idolatry had a lasting impact on the spiritual life of the nation. Despite his later missteps, such as showing the Babylonian envoys the treasures of his kingdom (2 Kings 20:12-19), Hezekiah is remembered as a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done" (2 Kings 18:3).2 Kings 18:7
And the LORD was with him; and he prospered wherever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 32:27-30
And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
Nave's Topical Index

Hezekiah
... Hezekiah and his associates instituted various reforms for the upbuilding of the
spiritual and temporal ... "Throughout all Judah" the king "wrought that which ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 28 hezekiah.htm

Words to Rest On
... his greatness, they "rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah the king of Judah.". ...
probable that it may happen to you, as it did to Hezekiah, that many ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/words to rest on.htm

Note F. --Chap. xviii the Whole Heart
... 3, 25): "The king and all the men of Judah made a ... There was no king like him, that
turned to the Lord ... And of Hezekiah it is written (2 Chronicles 31:21) : "In ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/note f chap xviii the whole.htm

The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
... the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent ... of Israel, and The Chronicles
of the Kings of Judah. ... Jehu history, temple records, a Hezekiah history, and ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/vi the growth of the.htm

A Miracle of Grace
... captains of the host of the king of Assyria ... Evangelical brethren, whose cause his
father, Hezekiah, had espoused ... long history of the house of Judah the people ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/a miracle of grace.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... himself "the subduer of far-off Judah." It is not certain that Ahaz was still King
of Judah; it was for a long time admitted that Hezekiah was already ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... The king, indeed, continued to offer sacrifices and prayer ... are told of idolatrous
practices in Judah under Rehoboam ... existence in the time of Hezekiah, at the ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... the XXIInd (Bubastite) dynasty"Sheshonq I. as king and his ... The two Hebrew "kingdoms";
the fidelity of Judah to the ... in some cases to have been a god for whom ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... Jerusalem, he was to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem ... put into the heart of
the king by the ... Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah did both sometimes bring trouble (2 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

Who was Hezekiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Sennacherib in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was Nehushtan? | GotQuestions.org

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