It Brought Down a King, It’ll Do the Same to You (2 Kings 20): Hezekiah

Sermon by Dr Andrew Peh

It Brought Down a King, It’ll Do the Same to You: Hezekiah

V 1-11   Describes his physical malady: Hezekiah had ascended the throne at 25 years of age. Into his 14^th year as King, he was struck down with this illness. A man only 39^th years’ old, he did not want to die. He had hoped to father a son who would carry on his reforms in Judah. He appealed to the Lord on the basis of his life of obedience. In many ways, the prayer was a self-centred one. He should have appealed to the Lord on the basis of the Lord’s grace and mercy. There were many “I”’s in his prayer for healing. Instead of being carried to the temple, his strength returned to him so that he could climb the steps to the temple to offer sacrifices. God extended 15 years to his life.

V 12-21 Describes his spiritual malady: The Babylonians visited him unexpectedly upon his recovery. They were seeking allies for their expansion into this part of the world. Hezekiah was flattered, threw caution to the wind and revealed his state secrets to the envoys. God had specifically forbidden his people to become allies with foreign nations. Instead of trusting in the Lord for the security of his nation, he trusted in the horses and chariots of Babylon to keep him safe. What Hezekiah did displeased the Lord (James 1:8).

God judged Hezekiah

John Wesley has this to say, “This judgment is denounced against him for his pride; for his ingratitude, whereby he took that honour to himself which he should have given entirely to God; and for his carnal confidence in that league which he had now made with the king of Babylon, by which, it is probable, he thought his mountain to be so strong, that it could not be removed.”

He provoked the Lord to anger when he chose not to make mention of God to his visitors. There is in his heart a certain foulness in his pre-disposition, a sense of ambivalence towards God in more ways than one, that reveals his ambition.  He would push the boundaries that are clearly laid down by God.  He would use his skill of equivocation, add shades of grey to what is black and white to mask the severity of his sin. He would blur the distinction between what is fairness and what is foulness.

Hezekiah and his predecessors fall prey to the tyranny from sin. They had allowed Satan a foothold or even a toe-hold in their lives.

2 PRACTICAL REMEDIES to avoid finishing badly

1.       Keep short accounts with God: We want to confess and seek forgiveness from the Lord frequently because this will sanitize us from sin and sensitize us to the works of the Spirit in our secret recesses of our hearts. We have diluted the concept of provoking the Lord in our sin by calling it, a “weakness” or a mere “failing”. The Sunday School chorus, “Read your Bible, Pray everyday” continues to be a good reminder of some basic housekeeping practices that will be good for our souls.

2.       Be accountable to someone as this will prevent us from sin. That’s the reason why John Wesley employed class meetings and made that the building block of his church. In the presence of another, as we express our deepest struggle, our habitual sins. That would involve a certain sense of maturity, vulnerability and sincerity so that everyone of us are kept to finish well in our journey of faith.

Reflection Questions:

1. Am I ambivalent towards God, often pushing the boundaries laid down by Him? Do I knowing blur the lines between what is right before God and what is wrong? Can you think of 2 situations where this is true?

2. What are some things that I need to start confessing to God about? What does the Holy Spirit bring to mind?

3. Do you have an accountability partner with whom you can share your struggles? If you do not have one, ask the Lord. He will direct you to one. Begin the habit of talking about how you are doing in your journey of faith.