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In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan)
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.
In King Hezekiah’s fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes. This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.
2 Kings 18:1-12
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As I enter into each day and pray for the Lord to use me as an instrument of His will, I often find myself ministering to those He brings my way. Often, those seeking to find spiritual bearing will ask questions that have a common theme: What’s the key to spiritual success?
Answers to that question as well as an example to reference can be found in our passage from 2nd Kings, chapter 18.
There we are introduced to Judah’s newest king, Hezekiah.
Now we learn right away that Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz, who was described as one who “did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God” as he “followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire”. He also “offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree”. Taken in sum, his actions were like “the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites”. (2 Kings 16:2-4)
So what could we expect from the son of this wicked king? More of the same?
Thank goodness the answer is “no”.
For we read that Hezekiah was quite different. Assuming the throne when he was twenty-five years old and reigning in Jerusalem 29 years, he “did was right in the eyes of the Lord”, removing the high places, smashing the sacred stones, and cutting down the Asherah poles. He also “broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it while calling it Nehushtan”.
What kind of reputation did these actions give Hezekiah?
Scripture tells us that “there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him”.
Wouldn’t you like to be known that way in your life? As someone who was seen as upright and true, serving the Lord so fervently and loyally that there was no one like you among all the people who had come before?
We can learn a lot by looking at Hezekiah and how he lived. For he showed us important keys to spiritual success.
What were the keys?
1st…”Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel”.
We can’t hope to stand out and be set apart by the Lord if we don’t first place our trust in Him. When we do this, we rely on Him for everything and don’t see anything in life that is not possible in and through Him. We discover like Paul, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) when we fully place our faith, hope and trust in Him.
2nd…Hezekiah “held fast to the Lord”.
This world we live in, where Satan seeks to destroy those who step out without the full armor of God, ever seeks to get us to conform to its ways and desires. We’re constantly tempted and enticed to turn from the ways of righteousness toward sin. How do we stave off these attacks? We hold fast to the One who will always bring us through any attack victorious. Once we place our trust in the Lord, we need to hold onto Him and hold on tight. When we do, He’ll never let go of us. Only we can break the bond by losing our grip. Spiritual success results when we don’t allow that to happen.
3rd…Hezekiah “did not stop following” the Lord and “kept the commands” He had given.
Once we place our trust in the Lord and hold on fast to Him, we need to consistently follow His way and keep His commands, ever striving to meet His expectations. When we do this, we ever seek to do what He wants us to do and His will literally becomes our own. And when His will is fully ours, we act, talk and think like the Lord because our actions are ordained by Him.
What was the result of Hezekiah’s commitment to holiness?
Scripture tells us that “the Lord was with him” and as a result, Hezekiah “was successful in whatever he undertook”. Spiritual success translated over to success in everything that Hezekiah did.
Contrast this with the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They “had not obeyed the Lord…but had violated his covenant”…neither listening to His commands nor carrying them out.
And what did they earn for their unfaithful, sinful behavior?
Destruction.
For we read where “Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it” and after “three years”, the Assyrians captured it, deporting the people of Israel to Assyria, never to return.
How well are you doing spiritually? Are you a success?
If not, the good news is that you can find your way there. Just follow the way of Hezekiah. Trust in the Lord, keep hold of Him with all your might, and make His will your own, following His commands and expectations. Then and only then, can you assure yourself that God is with you and will make you a success in whatever you do.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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