Topical Bible: Sincerity: Hezekiah

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Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz and the 13th king of Judah, is often remembered for his sincere devotion to God and his efforts to restore true worship in the kingdom. His reign is detailed in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah, where his sincere faith and reforms are highlighted as exemplary.

Reformation and Devotion

Hezekiah ascended to the throne at the age of 25 and reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. From the outset, he demonstrated a sincere commitment to the Lord, contrasting sharply with the idolatrous practices of his father, Ahaz. Hezekiah's sincerity is evident in his immediate actions to cleanse and restore the temple, which had been desecrated under his father's rule. In 2 Chronicles 29:3, it is recorded, "In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them."

Hezekiah's reforms were comprehensive, extending beyond the physical restoration of the temple to include the reestablishment of proper worship practices. He reinstituted the Passover, inviting all Israel and Judah to participate, as described in 2 Chronicles 30. His invitation to the northern tribes, despite their separation and apostasy, underscores his sincere desire for national repentance and unity under God.

Trust in the Lord

Hezekiah's sincerity is further demonstrated in his unwavering trust in God during times of crisis. When faced with the Assyrian threat under King Sennacherib, Hezekiah turned to the Lord in prayer rather than relying solely on military might or foreign alliances. In 2 Kings 19:15-19, Hezekiah's prayer reveals his deep faith and reliance on God: "And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: 'O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.'"

The Lord's response to Hezekiah's sincere prayer was swift and decisive. Through the prophet Isaiah, God assured Hezekiah of deliverance, and that very night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (2 Kings 19:35). This miraculous deliverance affirmed Hezekiah's faith and God's power to save those who sincerely seek Him.

Personal Sincerity and Humility

Hezekiah's personal sincerity is also evident in his response to illness. When he became terminally ill, he turned to the Lord in prayer, weeping bitterly and pleading for healing. The Lord heard his prayer and granted him an additional 15 years of life, as recorded in 2 Kings 20:1-6. This episode highlights Hezekiah's humility and his sincere dependence on God for life and health.

However, Hezekiah's life also serves as a reminder of human frailty. After his recovery, he displayed the treasures of his kingdom to envoys from Babylon, an act of pride that Isaiah rebuked (2 Kings 20:12-19). Despite this lapse, Hezekiah's overall reign is characterized by a sincere heart for God, as noted in 2 Kings 18:5: "Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah was like him, either before him or after him."

Legacy of Sincerity

Hezekiah's sincere devotion to God left a lasting impact on Judah. His reforms and reliance on God set a standard for future generations, demonstrating the blessings that come from sincere faith and obedience. His life serves as an enduring example of how sincerity in one's relationship with God can lead to personal and national transformation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 38:3
And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Hezekiah, the Praying King
... the Lord's reminder, and is putting Him in mind as to his sincerity, fidelity and ...
have walked in my integrity." This is not a prayer test with Hezekiah, nor is ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/vi hezekiah the praying king.htm

That we Ought to Give Ourselves to God with Regard to Things Both ...
... and day and deceive himself, but no man can be assured of his sincerity who does ...
The message of God to Hezekiah was: "Set thine house in order; for thou shalt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ii that we ought.htm

The New Testament view of the Old Testament
... above their contemporaries in purity of character, strength of intellect, sincerity
of purpose ... are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/chapter i the new testament.htm

Secondly, to Assign Some Reasons Why Christians must Make this the ...
... 2. The sincerity of our profession much depends upon the care we exercise in keeping ...
If with Hezekiah thou art humbled for the evils of thy heart, thou hast no ...
/.../flavel/on keeping the heart/secondly to assign some reasons.htm

Micah
... and unto Israel his sin, iii.8. In his ringing sincerity, he must ... is certain from
this reference that he prophesied during the reign of Hezekiah; whether also ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/micah.htm

From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... Did Hezekiah and all Judah put him to death ... or in indignation at the Prophet's claim,
while the princes are obviously impressed by his sincerity and apparently ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 from megiddo to carchemish.htm

Psalms
... It is the depth and sincerity of its emotion, coupled with this unrivalled simplicity
of expression that has given the ... v.), or the Psalm of Hezekiah (Isaiah 38 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/psalms.htm

It is Strange that These Delightful Promises Affect us Coldly...
... exclude none from first to last; only let there be sincerity of heart ... Thus Hezekiah
speaks, when asking the prophet to undertake the office of interceding (2 ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 14 it is strange.htm

The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts
... Rom. 1:16; Eph. 2:8,9. HYMN 35 PART 2 Truth, sincerity, etc. Phil. 4:8. ... Eph. 1:3ff.
HYMN 55 Hezekiah's song; or, Sickness and recovery. Isa. 38:9ff. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/

Jer. 6:16 the Good Way.
... and Joshua, and Samuel,"the paths of David, and Solomon, and Hezekiah, and Jehoshaphat ...
or the preachers of the gospel of earnestness, and sincerity, and cold ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter v jer 6 16 the.htm