Day 197 – Hezekiah (Southern King 29 years) #3

• Today we continue to consider the life of king Hezekiah, whom yesterday we learned had been doing a good job at standing firm for God during a tumultuous time. Will he continue standing firm for God in his old age? Let’s find out! It’s worth mentioning first, however, that the events of 2 Kings 20 passage are actually a flashback. They happened about 12 years before the events we read about yesterday with Sennacherib’s invasion, not afterwards.
• What sad news was brought to Hezekiah in the opening verses of 2 Kings 20, and how did Hezekiah’s prayer change the circumstances? What do you think of Hezekiah’s prayer?
• Hezekiah remained ill for some time. Who came and visited him?
• Hezekiah’s prayer during his time of illness were answered, as you might have spotted in 2 Kings 20:5-6. What did God give to Hezekiah? What disappointing response did Hezekiah make in verses 8-11?
• In 2 Kings 20:12 onward, Hezekiah had visitors from Babylon. What poor choice did Hezekiah make when he entertained his visitors? What do you think caused Hezekiah to want to show the guests all that he had? Why would this have been unwise?
• Isaiah brought a sombre warning to Hezekiah in verse 16, doesn’t he? But look at Hezekiah’s reaction! He doesn’t seem particularly bothered, seemingly because the warnings related to a period of time that would come after his death. This reaction was rather self-centred, isn’t it?
• Hezekiah seemed to get proud in his old age. The details in the 2 Chronicles passage detail this more. What material wealth did he accumulate?
• Do you think the extra years God gave to Hezekiah were used wisely? Consider the events of yesterday as well as those we read about today. Undoubtedly God gave Hezekiah his extended life for His good reasons, but it’s interesting to consider whether all the prayers we pray are ones that are good for us. Have you ever prayed a prayer that you later thought wasn’t wise, and were perhaps thankful that God didn’t answer it?

Hezekiah reminds me a little of Solomon, who started well and finished not so well. Pride, as well as his selfish reaction to Isaiah, shows us that Hezekiah made poor choices in his life, despite the many good things he did. Perhaps, after illness and in his older age, he was just tired. We can all feel that tiredness sometimes.

I’m so thankful, therefore, that Jesus didn’t just “start well”. Imagine if Jesus had said and done all the things he did, but then gave up at the end, when things got *really* tough? What if he had just settled for the easy life after a couple of years of teaching? What if his attitude, after doing his Sermon on the Mount, had been “I’ve done my bit now”?

Of course, he didn’t, for which we can be so grateful. Jesus had a mission to accomplish, and he did it – to the bitter (and then glorious!) end. We have a mission too – and that’s to follow Jesus, and never give up!

If you ever feel like you’re coasting, or your actions are slowly slipping away from godly ways into a pattern of comfortable sin, what can you do to put the focus back on God?