1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. 3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, 5 and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. 9 For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity.10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”
2 Corinthians 29:1- 11
Q & A：
- What did King Hezekiah do that was right in comparison to his father? What were the curses or outcomes of the Israelites when the prior wicket King Ahaz disregarded God’s teaching in the Mosaic covenant? (2 Chr 29:6-9; Deu 28:1-2, 15)
- Explain how we are in a very different position with God than the people in Hezekiah’s time with regards to the curse of the law. Knowing that as believers, God wants us to be blessed with abundant life and to be blessed holistically, discuss how we can prosper in our soul and deal with the fleshly desires and lust of the old self. (Gal 3:10-13; 3 John 2-3; Gal 6:7-8)
- What is your view on being successful in business and corporate at the expense of your relationship with God? Discuss why being a wise and godly spiritual leader in your family, work, or church is so important and what have you learnt from King Hezekiah for having wise leadership in addressing the spiritual condition? (2 Kings 18:5; 2 Chr 31:20-21)