Hezekiah was a king who ruled Judah and Jerusalem somewhere around 700 BC, when the Assyrian Empire was strong and taking over the Kingdom of Israel and threatening Judah.
So what? Why should we care today?
Hezekiah was king at a time when religious practices were in decline. People were doing what they felt like, and their nation was weak. Hezekiah renewed the Nation of Judah's religion - and started using traditional spiritual practices again to connect with God. Daily prayer, fasting, weekly worship, tithing (giving 10% of our income), reading the Bible. Tearing down the altars and idols of other gods.
Today, we live in a time of declining spiritual practices. I don't know that we have the equivalent of the Assyrian Army at our doorstep, ready to destroy us. But many of us have wandered away from a consistent relationship with Jesus.
Hezekiah first turned back to God personally. He prayed and spent time with God. Then he asked his people to turn back to God. Encouraged a return to worship in the Temple, and daily spiritual practices. He took care of his people spiritually and physically. He even dug a long tunnel to gain access to water in case of a long siege by the Assyrians (click for more information on the tunnel, which has been found by archeaologists).
I just read an article about how the spiritual practice of prayer and meditation makes a significant difference in people's health today. Taking time to be with God and accepting that the world doesn't revolve around us makes us healthier and stronger. Going back to traditional spiritual practices is good for us, as well as for Hezekiah and the Judeans.
Hezekiah turned back to God, and God stood by Judah. The Assyrians lost and turned back to their homelands. When our church group went to London in May, we saw the carvings from Assyria, celebrating how their king destroyed the Israelite city of Lachish, as listed in 1 Kings 18:13-16. Assyrian never destroyed Jerusalem, because of the faithfulness of Hezekiah.
We may not have an army at our doors, but we have loneliness and mental health and isolation at our doorsteps. Turning back to God with our time, money and energy is one way to turn back the forces that bring us down.
Hezekiah is still a role model for us today - finding a way to stay connected to God and take care of his community. We can follow his example and make a difference for ourselves and our neighbors, just like Hezekiah.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
November 14, 2023