Rev. E. Anderson
THE DYNAMIC IMPACT
2 CHRONICLES 29-32
Quite a bit is chronicled about Hezekiah who was one of the godly kings that reigned in and over Judah. When he came to the throne things were none too good from many angles but especially in the knowledge of God and reverence of Him. This was all to change in the advent of this man at 25 years of age. One can truly assume that it was his desire for God and his faith knowledge of him that made him act as he did during his reign. What sense and understanding he did possess made him take steps that left a glorious witness behind in Judah’s history. It provoked
1/. HIM TO PROMOTE THE LORD AMONGST HIS PEOPLE – 2 CHRON. 29: 10
He actually decided to make a sacred covenant with the Lord in his heart to honour Him because he wanted His wrath to be removed and His gracious favour and covenant to be known. History had both told and taught him that because the Lord had His rightful place in the nation during David’s reign, it went well, and he knew he must get the people back on track so that the Lord’s grace and blessing would be restored and so the challenge to all.
2/. HIM TO CLEANSE THE SANCTUARY AND URGED THE PRIESTHOOD TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES - 2 CHRON. 29: 11
The immediate requirement was to see the sanctuary purified and to call upon the priests to properly consecrate themselves to the Lord and discharge of their duties. He beheld their negligence and demanded that this should dramatically change. In no way was he going to allow the status quo to exist. The impact would be felt far and wide as he initiated a wholesale re-direction of procedure and there came also the emphasis on Passover Feast. People knew where his mind and commitment was focused.
3/. HIM TO DISPOSE OF ALL THE IDOLATRY IN THE LAND – 2 CHRON. 31
He made sure that the offensive idolatrous system that had been embraced by God’s people was removed, and it must have taken courage to have performed this. There was no room for the evil alongside of Jehovah. It had to go.
4/. HIM TO TRUST GOD AMIDST A DIFFICULT TIME – 2 CHRON. 32
Later events saw the Assyrians rise as a great power and they invaded the land, making great inroads and conquest in Israel and now into Judah. They were now arrogantly situated outside the Holy City but Hezekiah looked to the Lord in this extreme crisis, and was not to be disappointed. What a turn around occurred!
5/. HIM TO EXPERIENCE A PERSONAL HEALING – ISAIAH 38
There came the time and moment when the he was sick and informed that he was to die but before doing so was to set his house in order. He prevails in prayer and receives an immediate answer and healing. Because he knew the Lord he was able to enjoy this special blessing. The only problem, he did not use the fifteen years to maximum effect for God. Surely a lesson to take note of.
