Hezekiah - Revival!

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Hezekiah’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

12th King of Judah (2Chr. 29:1)

Once again not counting Queen Athaliah

Traditional counts would add one more to this and one more to the kings of Israel than what I do. As I do not count Queen Athaliah for the southern kingdom nor do I count Tibney for the northern kingdom.

Ascended the Throne at 25 years old, reigned for 29 years (2Chr. 29:1)

This would put his death at 54 years old.

Of course if you know anything about Hezekiah, that's 15 more than what he was intended to have.

During the 3rd Year of Hoshea King of Israel - through the Fall thereof (2Ki. 18:1; 9-12)

As we read here Hezekiah would come to the throne in the third year of Hoshea, who was the last king of Israel, and would reign through the fall of the northern kingdom.

This is important to know because it helps us understand the climate and some of the decisions that he would have made.

He began to rain in the third year of Hoshea and through the fall of Israel.

Son of Ahaz, Father to Manasseh

He was, of course, the son of a king and would leave behind a son for a king.

Son of King Ahaz and father to King Manasseh.

Contemporaries with Isaiah; Hosea & Micah

Hezekiah had intimate dealings with Isaiah in that he would seek Isaiah's prayer and counsel and he would generally be instrumental in his life.

Given that God had sent prophets of warning toward the end of the Northern Kingdom, He was also there at the same time as Hosea and Micah.

In Isaiah 36-39 we get a third account of Assyria's siege on Jerusalem. (Which we'll speak about in a moment.)

Contemporaries with Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah

II. Hezekiah’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

The Precedent for Revival (2Chr. 29)

If you only look at second Kings, you missed the whole first part of Hezekiah's ministry in Jerusalem and the great things that he did there. Four things I want to speak of that are mentioned in this chapter particularly.

These, I believe, are four keys to revival. Both personal and collective.

Recognition (v3-9)

The first thing that we see Hezekiah doing immediately after he gains office is to articulate how they have sinned against God and departed from His ways.

This will look different depending upon who it is.

There's a lot of good Christians that, by all intents and appearances, aren't out committing grave sin. But the reason they need revival is not because of the actions of their hands but the position of their heart.

(Ill.) Consider the Pharisees

Isaiah prophesied about Hezekiah's day even after the reforms saying: Isaiah 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, And with their lips do honour me, But have removed their heart far from me, And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”

So while prior to Hezekiah's revival the children of Israel were whoring after other gods, even after the revival there were those who were going through the motions, just like the Pharisees.

Church, there's a lot of Christians today that are going through the motions. Their heart is far from the Lord. These people need revival just as much as the harlot in the streets.

Revival requires recognition. (Ill.) You could never get somewhere as simple as Parkersburg unless you know where you're at in relation to it.

Revival (v12-19)

A Cleansing in the Inner Part (v16)

It takes far more than a superficial scrubbing. You got to get way down deep to the cause of the rebellion before you can truly revive.

You’ve got to find out the true ‘cause of death’ in order to revive and grow.

(Ill.) How many of you are familiar with the bonsai tree? (My great familiarity comes from the Karate Kid movie. ) Here's the thing about bonsai trees, they are really no different from regular size trees. The reason they stay small is because they're continually pruned and confined to a small pot. But if you remove the tree from that which hinders it, it will grow greater than you ever thought possible.

For many Christians they try to grow but they are confined by the problems that are deeper in them that they refuse to either acknowledge or correct.

They Set their Mind and Stuck to It (v17)

In other words, it wasn’t just a momentary feeling that fled away - it was a decision that was stuck to.

(Ill.) Revival meetings in our day are an interesting sort. Many churches will have revival meetings every year. I’ve come to the conclusion that special meetings are fine, but to call them revival meetings is kind of silly.

To think you can (or should) schedule revival seems silly.

In other words, if you really want revival, you need no special meetings for it, just decide to have it. In addition - why wait a year or two to have revival?

You’ve heard me say “True Revival is a decision, not an emotion” The reason being, is this right here. Many people have an emotional reaction to a message or a meeting, but they’ve not se their minds on it, therefore it didn’t last.

We see a Revival

Rededication (v20-35)

What do we see in these verses as Hezekiah rededicates the temple?

An importance placed on the House of the LORD (v20)

One will never have revival and forsake the house of the Lord.

I have said before our attitude towards the house of the Lord oftentimes acts as a spiritual thermometer.

I'm not saying that you'd have to be present at every service but what I am saying is most often when people do miss church, it's because they deem something else more important.

Great Sacrifice (v21)

If you're going to have revival it's going to cost you something.

You see the point of revival is bringing back to life that which was dead or dormant.

Our Spiritual lives don’t suffer always because of sin, but because of suffocation

We get bogged down & pushed & pulled a hundred different directions and can’t seem to put God and the things of God in their necessary place because there’s no room.

(Ill.) There’s a telling verse in what’s known as the Christmas story concerning the LORD. Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Jesus was relegated to the outskirts - not because of sin, but because there was simply no room.

Revival takes great sacrifice

Acknowledgement of our Sin and Repentance from it (v23-24)

Now just so we understand one another, when I'm talking about great sin I'm talking about it in the eyes of man. One doesn't have to go and commit adultery or fornication or something like that, rob a bank in order to wax cold on the Lord and in need of revival. However just because in our eyes they're not seen as great sin does not mean that they are not sin.

We see that before they could offer the peace offerings and the drink offerings in verse 35, they had to deal with their sin and turn from it.

Acknowledgement of our sin and repentance from it.

True Worship of God (v30)

There's much confusion as to what constitutes worship today. The easiest way to define it is this: True worship is God focused. False worship is self-focused.

They were singing unto the LORD - not to make themselves feel good, but to give glory and honor unto the Wonderful, merciful crucified one!

True Worship of God

Rejoicing (v36)

Lastly we see that Rejoicing is what follows

This is the result of getting your heart right with God.

Deliverance from Assyria (2Ki. 18:13-19:37; 2Chr. 32:1-23; Isa. 36-37)

This was a great event in the life of Hezekiah as we see it detailed three different times over several chapters of scripture.

Historically (2Ki.)

Selectively (2Chr.)

Spiritually (Isa.)

A Life Lengthened by Prayer & Tears (2Ki. 20:1-11)

Copying Out Solomon’s Proverbs (Pro. 25:1)

Show and Tell (2Ki. 20:12-19)

Infrastructure Improvements (2Ki. 20:20)

III. What Makes him Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

It’s Possible to Overcome a Poor Heritage

We need to take a moment and remember who Hezekiah's daddy was.

Ahaz’s story is found in 2Ki. 16. In there we see:

He did NOT right (v2)

As the kings of Israel (v3a)

And a child sacrifice as the heathen (v3b)

Worshipped a multitude of false gods and idols (v4)

This is just in the first 4 verses!

Raided the House of the LORD to buy of the King of Assyria (v6-9)

(So did Hezekiah, but that’s another story)

Altered the Temple to mimic the Heathen (Kind of like the contemporary churches of today)

Set aside the Altar of God (v14)

Even that which is Good, can become an Idol (2Ki. 18:4)

Results Come from Trusting the LORD, not Egypt (2Ki. 18:13-19:37; Isa. 31:1)

Better Late than Never (2Chr. 30:1-4)

A Lesson for America (2Chr. 30:9)

Living an Unleavened Life (2Chr. 30:13-14)

A Position doesn’t make you Superior (2Chr. 30:15-17)

When Leaders Fail, Laymen must Step Up

Intercessory Prayer Matters! (2Chr. 30:18-20)

Reform Must First begin at Home, then Abroad (2Chr. 31:1)

Pride Can Ruin a Good Thing (2Chr. 32:25-26; 2Ki. 20:12-19)

Conclusion