Right Leadership & A Prepared People: Hezekiah
Stephen emphasizes the importance of spiritual leadership and personal responsibility in restoring and maintaining God's house and worship. Using King Hezekiah as a prime example, he highlights how Hezekiah, despite his wicked father Ahaz, was influenced by his godly mother and chose to follow God's ways, restoring the temple and reviving worship practices. Stephen underscores that God's standards are measured through Christ, urging believers to humble themselves and continually seek to align their hearts with Him. He recounts Hezekiah’s swift and effective reforms, which were possible because of good leadership and a prepared, cooperative people. The narrative illustrates that when God's people unite under righteous leadership, restoration can happen quickly, even from years of neglect. Stephen also discusses the spiritual battles that follow such revival, exemplified by Sennacherib’s attack on Judah, which God miraculously defeated through prayer. He warns against pride and disobedience, as seen in Hezekiah’s later pride and the tragic rise of Manasseh, which led to Judah’s downfall. Concluding with a call for humility, repentance, and active participation in God's work, Stephen prays for God's continued guidance, emphasizing that His work prepares the way for Christ’s return and the ultimate restoration of His house and people.
Outline of Main Points
- Hezekiah’s righteous reign and restoration of worship
- Influence of his godly mother and the importance of early spiritual upbringing
- Measurement of righteousness through Christ’s standard
- Swift and effective spiritual revival under good leadership and prepared people
- Spiritual warfare and divine deliverance, exemplified by Sennacherib’s attack
- The dangers of pride and disobedience, as seen in Hezekiah’s later years and Manasseh’s reign
- The necessity of humility, repentance, and active service in God's work
- Prayers for God's guidance and the hope of Christ’s return and full restoration
24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. 3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, 5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. 7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. 8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.
