King Hezekiah

King Hezekiah, who reigned over Judah from approximately 715 to 686 BCE, is one of the most remarkable figures in biblical history. Hezekiah's reign is recorded in 2 Kings 18–20, 2 Chronicles 29–32, and Isaiah 36–39, revealing his commitment to Yahweh, his trials with Assyria, and God's miraculous interventions.

Hezekiah's father, King Ahaz, led Judah into deep spiritual corruption by promoting idolatry, sacrificing to false gods, and even burning his sons in pagan rituals (2 Kings 16:3). However, God, in His sovereign grace, raised up Hezekiah to bring Judah back to covenantal faithfulness.

Upon ascending the throne, Hezekiah immediately pursued religious reformation. He cleansed the Temple (2 Chronicles 29:3-17), restored proper worship, and reinstated the Passover (2 Chronicles 30). He also destroyed the high places, idols, and even the bronze serpent (Nehushtan), which had become an object of idolatry (2 Kings 18:4).

The most defining moment of Hezekiah’s reign was the Assyrian invasion under King Sennacherib. Assyria had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel (722 BCE) as judgment for their covenant unfaithfulness. When Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, he attempted to shake Hezekiah’s faith by mocking God, saying, “Has any god of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?” (2 Kings 18:33).

Instead of relying on military alliances or his own wisdom, Hezekiah turned to God in prayer and sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah. God responded by sovereignly delivering Judah, as an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (2 Kings 19:35). This miraculous deliverance underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations and rulers. As Proverbs 21:1 states, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will."

When Hezekiah fell terminally ill, he prayed, and God mercifully extended his life by 15 years (2 Kings 20:1-6). However, in his later years, Hezekiah showed pride when he boasted of his wealth to Babylonian envoys (2 Kings 20:12-18). Isaiah rebuked him, prophesying that Babylon would one day carry Judah into exile—foreshadowing God’s judgment for future generations. This serves as a reminder of human frailty and the need for humility before God.