THE KING WHO MEASURED TO GOD’S STANDARDS -HEZEKIAH-

SERIES: REVIVAL KINGS OF JUDAH

TEXT: 2^nd KINGS 18; 2^nd CHRONICLES 29:2

Of all the revival Kings of Judah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah and Josiah, King Hezekiah was the greatest. The only great king than Hezekiah was King David.

King David was “God’s Standard” Hezekiah’s revival was the greatest of the 5 revivals.

2^nd Chronicles tell the positive things that Hezekiah did to restore true worship.

2^nd Kings tells the negative things that he did to restore true worship.

True revival involves both turning from sin and turning to God.

Something to note is that Hezekiah’s father Ahaz was a very wicked king and Hezekiah’s son king Manasseh was the most wicked king Judah ever had. Let us learn:-

HEZEKIAH’S REFORMS- 2^nd Kings 18

1. He removed the high places of devil worship.
2. He broke the idols.
3. He broke to pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness.

• From these reforms, we learn:-

1. We don’t worship the past or past victories.
2. We don’t worship denominations, they are man-made.
3. We don’t worship the Bible (Bibliographies).
4. We don’t worship “programmes” God once used.

REFORMS OF HEZEKIAH- 2^nd 29

1. Hezekiah opened the doors of God’s house and repaired them. V. 3- his father Ahaz had nailed the doors shut.
2. There was return to Holy living- V. 4-5; 16.
3. Hezekiah restored true worship- V. 20, 21.
4. He took a public stand for God- 2^nd Chronicles 30:1.
5. He invited to come and worship (both Judah and Israel) – V.5.

• Some people mocked him for the reforms- V. 10.
• Some humbled themselves and came- V. 11.
• They were offered grace- V. 18-20.
• God looks at the heart.

THE RESULTS OF TRUE REVIVAL

1. The people, not just the leader are changed- 2^nd Chronicles 31:1.
2. They rebelled against the enemy-2^nd Chronicles 32:1.

• Returning to God means rebelling against the enemy.
• True revival does not take us out of the battle, it puts us in the midst of it.

3. Results of revival.

• We must fight the enemy to have the benefits of revival.
• God was with them- V.22.

HEZEKIAH’S ILLNESS AND RECOVERY- 2^nd Kings 20:1-3

1. Be careful what you ask for.

• God gave Hezekiah 15 more years but Hezekiah should have been better off without them.

2. Three bad things came out of the 15 additional years of his life.

• Hezekiah showed Judah’s treasures to Babylon- Isaiah 39:2.
• Hezekiah got a son, Manasseh who became Judah’s most wicked king.
• He became lifted up with arrogance and pride- Isaiah 39:5-7. Fulfilment of Isaiah’s warning- 2^nd Kings 24:10-13.
• Leaders cannot afford to be unwise, hasty and foolish- Deut. 17:14-20.

CONCLUSION

Checklist for God’s move in our life.

• Am I honest, do I have personal integrity?
• Am I truthful?
• Am I faithful? Can God depend on me?
• Am I pure, am I clean?
• Am I totally dedicated to God? Is there some part of my life that God does not have?