Sermon: Hezekiah Highlights

Good evening friends as Kevin said tonight. We're starting a new sermon series on Hezekiah and Josiah. We're going to be kind of diving in the deep end of the Old Testament and the divided monarchy. And I wouldn't blame you if you wondered. Why are we doing that? That's kind of a little bit more obscure. There's all those kings we might feel like a school boy in England West to memorize all the kings of England and what you can remember is there's a lot of them and some of

them weren't very good. But I think we can do better than that. So let me suggest some good reasons why this is a good thing we're doing and some of these reasons will also correspond with some points that I'll make later in the sermon. As I just alluded, I think we can all grow in our familiarity with and our understanding of the Old Testament maybe especially the divided monarchy with almost 40 kings in the North and South there are some really important lessons

to learn from them. As Kevin mentioned Hezekiah and Josiah will look at Hezekiah tonight. These are the very best of the kings of Judah the best of the Kings and the divided monarchy and they give us good examples of what wholehearted Devotion to God looks like. About Hezekiah it says and he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all the David. His father had done. He trusted in the Lord his God about Josiah. It

said and he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father. And he did not turn aside to the writer to the left. Those are exemplary summaries. Third I think although these kings are exemplary as we'll see throughout this series. They're not perfect. And I think there's a lesson here too about how God views us how he views his imperfect people whom he uses. Sometimes very powerfully for the

advancement of his kingdom despite their flaws and failures. And I think we can all be encouraged by that and finally, Hezekiah and Josiah ultimately point us Beyond themselves to the glory of the true king the Messiah Jesus and his coming glorious reign. And this is what Paul calls our blessed hope. So before we jump in let's just pause right now and pray for God's help as we come to his word. Father it is so good to come together in unity

to worship. and to hear your word it's even better to come together and to have communion with you. You who are seated on your throne? Hi and lift it up as we heard this morning. Lord You Have Made A Way Through the blood of your son Jesus we are so thankful. And now Lord May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to you our great Rock and Our Redeemer. through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen

So we're going to jump in we're going to get to the passage in a few minutes. Um as we jump into the deep end, so to speak into the divided monarchy. I thought it's probably going to be helpful for me for you to do a little bit of a history review kind of a history of the Old Testament 101. I think for many of us when we think about these people and events. It's kind of like a fairy tale they happen long ago and far away and it's

not that we don't believe that they're real events. We just may not have a great template for when and where and how and so on So we're going to start with just kind of an overview of the whole Testament. Then I'll just say a couple things about the context of Hezekiah what was going on when he came on the scene and then we will look specifically at Second Kings 18. so I'm going to make this brief. Not everybody likes history lessons, but I want to at least

to have kind of framework to understand where we are in the Old Testament. So we're going to begin not with creation, but when God actually sets in motion his Plan of Salvation and that happens in Genesis 12 with the Call of Abram or Abraham as we know him better. That happened about 2,000 BC. So that that's an important date and just think 2000 BC. Then Jesus 2,000 years later and then us 2,000 years after that. So it's a nice little breakdown 2000. Jesus is

zero thousand and then we're 2000 ad. So God calls Abraham and then his next his son becomes the next patriarch Isaac and then Jacob becomes the next patriarch. And of course Jacob had 12 sons who become the heads of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Now one of those Sons there's several chapters devoted to him in the Book of Genesis. And that's his 11th. Son Joseph Joseph. You remember was sold as a slave into Egypt by his jealous

brothers and Rises to become the second most powerful person in the world under Pharaoh. Israel is saved from famine and the whole clan moves down to Egypt where they spend about 430 years. So that leads us to the next major event, which would be Moses and the Exodus. Now the date for this is somewhat disputed but I think about 1450 BC is a good date for Moses and the Exodus God raises up Moses. He leads Israel out of Egypt and Into

the Wilderness. They spend about 40 years in the desert. And then Joshua Moses successor leads them to conquer the promised land and that's around 1400 BC. And then after Joshua dies. There's this period of the judges which is described this way. There was no king in Israel in every man did what was right in his own eyes, which could be written about us today, right? So there's there's about 300 to 350 years of Judges several men raised

up to be kind of leaders and military leaders and that is about 1375 to 1050. Samuel is the last judge and then he anoints the first King Saul. And then we have the period of the United monarchy. Israel is one nation with one king. There's three monarchs in this time Saul David and Solomon and here's our next really big date. Okay, Abraham 2000. David's about 1,000. So now we've divided it a little further 2000 Abraham 1,

000 David and then about a thousand years later Jesus. So the United monarchy is between about 1050 and 9:30, BC. At the end of that time at the end of Solomon's Reign is increasing apostasy and idolatry and Disobedience causes God to divide the kingdom into as an act of judgment. Israel will be the northern kingdom. They have 10 tribes. Judah is the southern Kingdom with two tribes. The Divided monarchy takes from about 9:31

to 586 BC Israel the northern kingdom the capital is in Samaria. They have about 19 Kings which range from not very good who downright terrible. The two worst are jeroboam and rehoboam, I'm sorry jeroboam and Ahab. Jeroboam being the first king of Israel. Because of their increasing wickedness God raises up a Syria and Assyria conquers the northern kingdom in 722 BC. Judah the southern Kingdom the capital is in Jerusalem.

They have about 20 Kings and the range of goodness and Badness is a little greater. There are two exemplary Kings the ones we're going to be looking at Hezekiah and Josiah. There's several what we could call pretty good Kings. They followed God. But it always has this phrase in their summary. But the high places were not removed. Now, the high places was where Israel engaged in Pagan worship. So what it means is several of

these Kings, maybe five or six of them. Sort of followed God pretty much but we're not aggressive in rooting out sin. The rest of the kings of Judah were bad and ironically hezekiah's son is the worst. His name is Manassa. because of their increasing wickedness God raises a Babylon and they destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and take many of the Israelites into captivity in Babylon in 586. So if you want the simplified version Abraham 2000

David 1000 good to remember the fall of Israel in 722 and the fall of Judah in 586. So that's kind of the overview what's going on around the time Hezekiah comes to power. He becomes the outright Soul ruler of Judah in about 7:15, but he had already served probably as co-regent with his father ahaz for some years. So that means that Hezekiah was probably a cold ruler of Judah during the time when the northern King was destroyed.

so Hezekiah was very aware of the corruption and rebellion in the north that caused the Lord to bring judgment and destruction and His own father ahaz was not a good King. So a Hezekiah has a bad father and a bad son. Make of that what you will his own father ahaz had led Judah into the same evil practices of Israel. It says in second king 17 Judah also did not keep the Commandments of the Lord their God but walked in the Customs that Israel had

introduced. So there's Covenant breaking rebellion and Disobedience all around Hezekiah both in the northern kingdom and in the southern Kingdom and this pervasive spiritual Darkness has about been about a hundred and fifty years in coming. But as I said, it's actually worse than has a guy knows because his own son is going to be the worst of the kings of Judah. So Hezekiah stands in between an evil past is living in an evil future present rather

and there's going to be an evil future. This makes his righteous and successful Reign all the more striking. So let's take a look now. It's second Kings chapter 18. We're going to read verses 1 through 12. And we're going to look at this summary of a king who literally bursts on the scene like a second David. He fears God and he brings great blessing to God's people. so Second Kings 18

in the third year of josea. son of elah king of Israel Hezekiah the son of ahaz King of Judah began to reign He was 25 years old when he began to Reign, and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was ABI the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the Lord eyes of the Lord according to all the David his father had done. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the asherah.

And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made for until those days. The people of Israel had made offerings to it. It was called nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord the god of Israel. So that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him. nor among those who were before for he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him but kept the Commandments that the Lord commanded Moses and the

Lord was with him wherever he went out. He prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria. And would not serve him. He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory from Watchtower to fortified City. In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hosea son of Ila king of Israel. Shall manassur king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it and at the end of these three years

he took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Jose king of Israel Samaria. Capital was taken. The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in challah. And then the hayborg the river of goes on and in the cities of the medes. Because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed his Covenant. Even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened nor obey.

Now as we consider these 12 verses you notice, there's two paragraphs with two very different story lines. The first eight verses are a glowing summary of Hezekiah is Godly character and His stunning achievements. It's a remarkable portrait of a man a king. fully devoted to God Now what we would expect in verse 9 is the further exploits of Hezekiah or a more detailed description of what he did but we have this paragraph verses

9 through 12, which kind of interrupts that narrative it will Begin Again in verse 13 and recounts. the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel Now the whole of chapter 17 right before where we started is a long version of the fall of Israel and then you have Hezekiah this bright shining. Summary, and then you have a short version. So why are we reading about the fall of Israel again? I think the reason is because the writer

of Kings. once to highlight hezekiah's positive Story by sandwiching it in between the longer and shorter versions of God's judgment on Israel. He wants this story that we're going to look at tonight to really shine out. And so you put it against a dark background and he may also be ominously hinting. At the coming judgment that's going to come on Judah as well. so the story of Hezekiah Is the story of an unexpected Revival?

An undeserved display of God's mercy and a prophetic promise of the Triumph of God's coming Messiah. So that's our overview now, we're going to go through. verses 1 through 8 pretty much line by line We're going to look at this description of hezekiah's character and along the way I'm going to make some applications by asking you some questions. You're not going to have time to really think about it much now, but if you're taking notes,

it might be good to just jot down the questions. So the application some of the application will come as we proceed through the sermon. So some descriptions of Hezekiah. First thing it says is and he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father. David has done. Now David and he was part of the United monarchy the second king. He's the gold standard that everyone is compared to for godliness.

So Hezekiah keeps Covenant with God and also follows the example of David the gold standard of a Godly King. Now to contrast that with some of the other kings of Judah. Here's what it says about some of the other kings so you can just get this idea of how has Hezekiah is different. Jehoram walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel. That's bad. Amazon ahaziah walked in the ways of the House of Ahab. That's really bad because they had like the worst of the bad kings

in Israel. Amazoniah did was right. What was right in the eyes of the Lord? But not like David his father. Notice that's different from what it says about Hezekiah. Azariah and jotham two kings Father and Son did what was right according to all that his father had done. So these two kings lived up to the kind of standard of their fathers nevertheless the high places were not taken away. So again, that's pretty good. Maybe a little better than

pretty good. And then a has has the kindest father listen to this. A has did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He even burned his son as an offering. That's over the top bad. So you see how hezekiah's? summary of his life stands out against all these other kings Hezekiah served God wholeheartedly by following the highest example of godliness and devotion that he knew which was David. So here's a question for you.

question to think about who are your examples? of godliness and devotion What do you look up to? Who do you think are Godly models to follow? Second thing it says about Hezekiah. He removed the high places. And broke the pillars and cut down the Ashura. This is meant to show not pretty good devotion, but radical Devotion to God. He not only followed God in a general way. He exposed and destroyed the heart of pagan Worship in Israel, even

though it would have been very unpopular. Here's another question. What do you see as the heart of paganism today? What are the crucial spiritual and cultural issues? And where do you line up? Third is kind of cryptic mysterious little sentence. He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made. We might be thinking what's that about? Well, you remember back in the book Numbers? Moses is leading Israel through the desert.

And they do what they often did they grumbled and complained and God sent fiery snakes to bite them and they got sick and some of them died. They cried out to the Lord. And the Lord in his Mercy told Moses make a make a bronze serpent kind of a symbol or replica of these fiery snakes put it on a pole and lift it up. And whoever looks to that bronze serpent will live. And they did. So the bronze serpent becomes a symbol of

God's mercy and Power. But they made an idol out of it. And increasingly it says they actually made offerings to it. And it's a reminder to us the good things. And become idols. It's possible to idolize spiritual experiences we've had. It's possible to idolize people good people whom God has used in our life. or to idolize beloved traditions So here's another application question to think about. as anything or anyone or any gift of God

become a God's substitute in your life. The next thing it says is he trusted in the Lord the god of Israel. So that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him nor among those who were before him. This seems to be the heart. Of Hezekiah his trust in the Lord. There's a crisis. with a Syria in hezekiah's life and it seems that Hezekiah was tempted to form a treaty with Egypt which was another powerful country in order to

ward off a Syria so he was tempted to trust in Egypt and not in the Lord, but he refused to rely on Egypt and he chose to rely on God. It says he trusted in God. There's no one like him. Here's another question. when things get hard or scary or difficult Who do you trust? Where do you run to first? Finally it says Hezekiah held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him. some of the kings of Judah Like Joe Ash and a messiah it says in their

summaries of their rain they did what was right in their youth. But did Evil later in life. But Hezekiah persevered in clinging to the Lord and following him. This summer is a picture of wholehearted devotion. And it's meant for our instruction. So that's one takeaway on the book of Hezekiah. What is wholehearted devotion look like a second point from this summary of Hezekiah is it shows that sometimes God sends his light and

his salvation into the very darkest and least hopeful times. And that's encouraging too. Kevin again mentioned a commentator this morning Dale Ralph Davis as some of us really like and he has a commentary in Second Kings and a chapter on Hezekiah and the chapter title is fresh air dark days Brush air dark days and here's what Dale Ralph Davis writes about hezekiah's reign. So David Reigns again? it was almost too much to hope for

Is this not typical of God's way with his kingdom and people either from enemies without or danger within? The church sometimes looks like there is nothing that can stop its Extinction. And then God sends a recovery a recovery time one of those Hezekiah interludes God's relief surprises us. And we can only be grateful. And I'm sure we can all see times like that in our own lives. So why not take some time later this week to

think back? And call to mind some of those Hezekiah interludes in your own life Hezekiah recoveries. Maybe it was for you or someone you love a recovery from serious illness. Or maybe reconciliation in a broken relationship. Or maybe just some very clear answer to prayer in a time of desperation. Think about those and be grateful. And be hopeful. And why not? Join Pastor Jason and what he's always calling us to to pray for Revival.

Pray for Revival in our church at Michigan State throughout Mid Michigan across the USA and across the world.

third takeaway from hezekiah's life Hezekiah is glowing report. Shows how God views is imperfect Saints in Christ. Verses 1 through 8 describe a blameless. devoted radically committed totally successful man of God Billy No flaws. No fears. no failures I confess if that were true. That would be a hard sermon for me to preach and I think it would be hard for us to hear because we might say well good for you Hezekiah. God really blessed you but

It Ain't Me Babe Doesn't doesn't resonate with my life. But here's the thing. If you read the whole story of Hezekiah and I don't want to steal the Thunder of people who are going to be preaching after me, but the whole story is in Second Kings 18 through 20, and then the companion verses in second chronicles 29 through 32. You will see this. That while Hezekiah did show all of these exemplary qualities and successes. It was a true the things that it says

in those eight verses are all true. But he was far from perfect. Here are some things that says if you read ahead and again, my my point here is not to poke holes in his life, but just the word of God tells us the whole truth. although Hezekiah eventually rebelled against Assyria in a very very dangerous time at first he fearfully capitulated to the king of Assyria. And he foolishly gave him all the precious things of the Lord that were

in the temple and in the king's Treasury and this later brought great trouble. when Hezekiah was probably in midlife. He got very very sick. And he cried out to God because God told him get your get your Affairs in order you're going to die. And Hezekiah cried out to him and God sent Isaiah the prophet back to him and said God has promised to heal you. but as a kayak demanded a sign from the Lord. At what he promised was actually going to come true.

At the end of his life because of some things that weren't exemplary. God told Hezekiah, there's going to be in the coming generation or two. There's going to be some very hard things that are consequences. And Hezekiah seemed to show. Kind of an indifference about what was going to happen in the future as a consequence of his failures as long as and this is a quote. There will be peace and Security in my day. And then finally it says that when Hezekiah was

healed of this sickness he responded with pride. So how what are we to make of this? What are we to make of this? perfect report of an imperfect man Why her why are his failures not included in the summary of his life? I think this is a Wonder. and a glory Now I confess that my explanation of what I just said is more is rather less. Than a specifically stated biblical truth and more of a gospel related biblical Instinct, but

I still think it's true. And I'm going to give you some some scriptures. They don't they don't prove it. But I think they help me lean in the direction of what I'm going to say, but I'm going to let you judge for yourself. So I believe that Hezekiah is perfect report is ultimately related to the fact that all of God's Saints are seen by God as perfect in Christ. Through his imputed righteousness. now here are some verses from the gospel from the

New Testament that caused me to lean in that direction that explanation Hebrews 10:14. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. We are seen as perfect. While we're still imperfect being perfected. Romans 4 6 through 8 David also speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works. Blessed are those whose Lawless Deeds are forgiven? Whose sins are covered blessed is

the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. So God doesn't count our sin toward us. But counts Christ's righteousness toward us. Hebrews 12 Which is a quote from Jeremiah 31. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities. And I will remember their sins no more. Part of the glory of the New Covenant is that God forgets our sins. Now Hezekiah wasn't living at the time of the New Covenant. But that Covenant shines

its light backwards on the Old Testament Saints as well. Let me give you two other examples of men who were. flawed and yet received a really good report. in the New Testament Two Old Testament men David David remembers the gold standard That you're compared to for godliness. But we know David was rather flawed. At one time he committed two capital offenses. He could have been executed twice for adultery and murder. He sinned greatly including adultery and

murder, but when his life is summarized in Acts 13:22. God says about David. I found in David the son of Jesse. a man after my heart Who will do all my will? No mention of his heinous crimes. Or Abraham Abraham is the father of Faith the man of faith. And he was first given a promise in Genesis 12 that he would be the father of many nations and then in Genesis 15, he would have descendants as many as there are stars in the sky.

But Abraham and Sarah had to wait 25 years. For the first part of that promise to come with the birth of Isaac. So how did he do as a man of Faith? Well, we know that his faith was inconsistent and a bit wobbly because he and Sarah tried to fulfill the promise themselves. Because God was taking his time. And so Hagar was given to Abraham and they had Ishmael was an act of unbelief. And it caused trouble within his offspring that

is still going on today. and yet When Paul describes Abraham in Romans, 4:19 through 22, here's what he says. He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old or when he considered the bareness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief, made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. Fully convinced that God was able to do what he

had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him. as righteousness So Abraham's unbelief is forgotten. And he is held up as the model of faith. To these examples if we went to Hebrews 11. Of men who were flawed and who are given very positive reports in the New Testament. We could add Isaac Jacob Moses Gideon Barack Samson and jephthah Tears the point. While God is fully aware of all our flaws and failures. the final report on your life

will be blameless. Because we are united to the perfect one through faith. And all our sins and failures will be forgiven. and covered and forgotten and this is stunningly good news. to imperfect people like you last takeaway from hezekiah's life Hezekiah is godliness. and Glory ultimately points to the first and second coming of Jesus the Messiah the final King of Kings so that we might learn. to glorify and enjoy him forever

So Hezekiah points Beyond himself to a King who truly is perfect. And we know that Hezekiah relates to Jesus and points to his glory because Jesus himself told us that in Luke 24:27. And beginning with Moses and all the prophets. He interpreted to them in all the scriptures including Second Kings 18 the things concerning himself, so we know that this points to Jesus because Jesus told us We also know this because our eyes have

been spiritually opened. to the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ Here's how Paul said it. Indeed. I count everything is lost because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake. I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. Here's how Peter said it. Though you have not seen him you love him. Though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is

inexpressible and filled with Glory obtaining the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. We have seen enough of Jesus Through the word. Through the spirit through his people. to capture our hearts forever Now if you're like me you would you would say my glimpses of his glory are intermittent. And probably very weak. They're just glimpses. But enough to capture our hearts forever. I'd like to close. In prayer, I'm going to use a prayer.

That John Piper wrote in his book seeing and savoring Christ. I think it brings together some of the big points of tonight and I think it expresses for us the yearning of our hearts. So if you will bow with me in prayer, and after that Grace will come up and lead us in our final year. Let's pray.

Eternal Father Our Hearts Leap up with gratitude that you have opened our eyes to see and know that Jesus Christ is your Eternal Divine son. Begotten not made and that you owe father and he your son are one God. We tremble even to take such glorious truths on our lips. For fear of dishonoring you with withering and inadequate words. But we must speak because we Must Praise You. Silence with shame us and the Rocks themselves

would cry out. You must be praised for who you are in the world you have made and we must thank you because you have made us taste and see the glory of Jesus Christ your son. Oh to know him father. We long to know him banished from our mind low thoughts of Christ saturate our souls with the spirit of Christ and all his greatness. And large our capacities to be satisfied in all that you are for us in him. Where Flesh and Blood are impotent revealed to

us the Christ and rivet our attention and our affections on the truth and beauty of your all glorious, son. And weather and grant us whether rich or poor. Sick or sound we might be transformed by him. And become an echo of his excellence in the world. In Jesus name we pray. amen