Hezekiah was the son of an evil King. His father did not honor God in anything. When Hezekiah came to the throne of Judah, he sought to restore Godliness to his kingdom.

2 Kings 18:3-7 “He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. ⁴ He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.^{a]”>[a]  5} Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. ⁶ He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. ⁷ So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.”

Hezekiah had things figured out. He loved God and he prayed for direction. When the King of Assyria threatened the city of Jerusalem, Hezekiah in humility went before the Lord.

2 Kings 19:1 “When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the Lord.”

Because of his humility, God sent an answer through the prophet Isaiah. That night the Lord sent an angel into the Assyrian camp and 185,000 soldiers were killed. The king of Assyria returned home. A few years later, Hezekiah became deathly ill. Isaiah told him that he would die. Again he sought the Lord.

2 Kings 20:2-3 “When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ³ “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.”

God again heard his prayer and granted him 15 more years of life. Often our lives are like that of Hezekiah.  We seek God when we are in trouble, but do not when we are experiencing times of prosperity in our lives. A few years into his last 15, an envoy form Babylon showed up. This time Hezekiah did not seek the Lord.

2 Kings 20:15-17 ““What did they see in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.”  ¹⁶ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord: ¹⁷ The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.”

Approximately 100 years later Judah fell to Babylon. Why because in that moment he allowed his pride to overshadow his need for wisdom. In the times that we feel everything is going well, we are most at risk for falling. Seek God in every area of your life and at all times.

Calvary Christian Center, Assemblies of God, Louisville, KY