Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Hezekiaha character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionKing Hezekiah is a perplexing, yet loyal character in the reign of the Davidic kings over Judah. He is thenext-to-last good ruler that the nation had before its demise following Josiah’s ill-fated reforms a centurylater. Three events in his life stand out to us and we will study them today (his purge of the idols in Judah,his near-fatal illness and his foolish decision to show off his wealth.DiscussionI. Hezekiah’s AdministrationA. Hezekiah’s Purge1. Hezekiah was 25 when he took the throne and had 29 years of reining to anticipate2. he was one of the very few loyal kings in Judah’s history, who did right in God’s sight andaccording to David’s example3. during his administration, Hezekiah sought to reform the nation by purging her idols andfreeing her of oppressors (Second Kings 18:4-8)a. he had more luck with Assyria than with the idols, as Sennacherib was killed by his sonsafter 185,000 Assyrian soldiers perished by the hand of God at the gate of Jerusalem (cf. 19:35)b. Judah could never completely purify herself from idolatryB. Hezekiah Turns Back Time (Second Kings 20:1-11)1. Hezekiah displays the weakness of his era, that fear of death that causes a man to cling to life atall expense; a lack of confidence in what awaits following death2. God hears the king’s prayer and heals him and works a miracle to signify that his health wouldreturn to him (he literally turns back time on the sundial to symbolize the added years to Hezekiah’s lifeC. Shortsighted Pride (Second Kings 20:12-19)1. the king played like a foolish gambler and revealed all his cards at once for the adversary to see(the Babylonians would so covet Judah’s wealth that nothing would stop them from taking it all2. upon getting this horrendous news and punishment for his proud display, Hezekiah replies,‘Whatever, but will there still be peace in my days?’3. as long as the tragedy will come after his death, he doesn’t care4. indeed, the shortsightedness became characteristic of his own son who led the nation to itsultimate demise by resurrecting its idolatry5. what lessons can we learn from Hezekiah?II. Practical ApplicationsA. Purge Out The Old Leaven1. Hezekiah’s heart was in the right place; he wanted to get rid of every offense in Judah2. when you truly hate sin, especially your own sin, you will desire to eradicate every trace of it3. Jesus sacrificed his own life that we might purge ourselves of sin (Hebrews 9:11-15, 22)a. he did not die that we could continue in sin without fear, but cleanse ourselves of iniquityb. Christianity is not a “come as you are, stay as you are” religion, despite the attitude of somany churches and preachers today4. we must purge out the old leaven of sin, the signs of spiritual cancer in our souls to be a usefulservant to our savior (Second Timothy 2:20-22)B. Turn Back Time1. Hezekiah prayed for and received an extra 15 years of life, more than a quarter of his life spanwas borrowed time2. he had the added gift or curse of knowing exactly how much time he had to live3. I think we would all live our lives differently if we knew how much time we had lefta. those with many years would be tempted to grow complacent and sin freely with themisguided assurance of the last day of life in which to repentCharacter Studies! 51