A God-truster: King Hezekiah 2 kings 18:1-8

Reading through the book of Kings you can fall into the danger of hearing repetitive lines. A king would be introduced from either the Northern Kingdom of Israel or the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Along with this, the name of king is given and their pedigree. If it is a Judahite king then there will be mention made of the length of their tenure in office along with the name of the king’s mother. Finally, an assessment of whether this king was faithful or unfaithful in the eyes of the LORD. This kind of introduction of Israel’s kings gives a surprising and inspiring one with the mention of King Hezekiah.

In 2 Kings 18 we are nearing the end of a tumultuous narration of Israel’s history. The repeated pattern of unfaithfulness represented in idolatrous worship of foreign gods makes for lamentable reading. The Northern Kingdom of Israel in 2 Kings 17 has just gone into exile at the hands of the Assyrians (this was God’s doing). Now in chapter 18 we have Ahaz’s son from the Southern Kingdom introduced. We heard the details of Ahaz’s wickedness and the idolatrous practices he instituted (see 2 Kings 16). In light of this double dark theme we are fully expecting in 2 Kings 18 yet another wicked king met with God’s remarkable patience with His people. But Hezekiah is not that kind of king.

The summary description of Hezekiah’s heart and acts is uplifting. There are three cycles of overlapping detail of the king’s life. The first is that the king does what is right in the eyes of the LORD (2 Kings 18:3). He is compared to David his father. By this point we know that father does not mean biological because Hezekiah’s father is Ahaz not David. But it is given to us to highlight Hezekiah spiritually. It is covenantal language to demonstrate that like David who pleased God and followed the Torah, so too Hezekiah fulfills this requirement. The narrator shows us what Hezekiah did that was right in the eyes of the LORD by what he destroys. He takes away the high places where foreign idols are worshipped. Also, he tore down the pillars of Asherah, a female fertility goddess. And he did away with the bronze serpent that Israel treated like a relic and worshiped which Moses had used for healing in the wilderness when anyone was snake-bitten for grumbling against the LORD. What Hezekiah did right in the eyes of the LORD was dismantling centres of worship to anything other than the LORD God of Israel.

The second cycle of activity begins with Hezekiah trusting in the LORD, the God of Israel (v.5). The narrator says there was none like him before or after of all the kings of Judah. It stands to reason we are not talking about David but all the other ones from Solomon onward. What is of note are the three ways of reciting his trust in the LORD: (1) he held fast in his loyalty to the LORD; (2) he was consistent in following the LORD and did not drift away; (3) he kept God’s Word revealed in the Torah of Moses.

The third cycle is assurance of the presence of the LORD with Hezekiah. It is because of this that he prospered wherever he went (v. 7). Where Hezekiah goes is described in the negative first and then the positive. He does not serve the King of Assyria which has just taken Israel’s brothers to the north in exile. Rather he rebels against the powers of the empire. The positive rendering of Hezekiah’s ways that the LORD is with him on is his striking down of the Philistines. This old enemy of Israel reminds us of David and his exploits of destroying the neighbouring foes. Like David, Hezekiah has the presence of the LORD fighting Israel’s battles.

Hezekiah the King shows us what the whole task of image bearing is about. It concerns having faith in God's faithfulness as LORD and all others are liars and pretenders. Image bearing is about stewarding God’s creation faithfully, responsibly and wisely. Kingship portends to this reality. See then a king who walks with God and God walks close with him. Be encouraged to walk with the LORD by trusting in Him fully.    

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