King Hezekiah is known first and foremost as a king who trusted God. In fact he is described as a king who trusted God more than any king before him. Not even great kings David or Solomon are said to have had the trust of Hezekiah. And neither of them is described with as glowing a terms as Hezekiah. Now Hezekiah wasn’t perfect. We didn’t read about the whole of his reign. Late in his reign he does make some absolutely idiotic political blunders, and he makes an international alliance with the Babylonians which was both truly foolish and questionable in its faithfulness. Nevertheless, Hezekiah is described as a truly good and trusting king.
As an historical aside, these chapters of the Old Testament, which we seldom read, are among the most repeated and historically verifiable parts of the Bible. A similar independent account is found in 2nd Chronicles 29-32. Isaiah 36-39 also has a similar and independent account. Further, outside the Bible, Assyrian documents also speak of this.
For some reason, however, these chapters are often left in obscurity. We do well to read them because they teach us something very important for our lives. Perhaps they are left obscure because we do not really like what they teach us.
The sermon I wish I could give was this: And God saw the trust in King Hezekiah and because of it he blessed him and made him prosperous. His kingship was trouble free and the nation grew and became strong. Their flocks and herds grew. They had abundant harvests. The population all pulled together. They reduced corruption and crime. All the people worshipped and praised God for the blessings they were enjoying. And God used them as an example to all other nations. They were an example of how blessed life was for those who trusted in the Lord.
But is that what happened? Nope. That would be what we call a theology of glory. The theology of glory teaches that those who are faithful are prosperous and happy. The theology of glory is appealing, but it is a lie. If it were true Jesus would have been the wealthiest and most powerful man ever, and he never would have died.
Prosperity and ease is not how the story of Hezekiah goes. Theologian Choon-Leong Seow says this, “In the real world, even those who trust in God are confronted with political realities. For all his trust in God, Hezekiah had to suffer humiliation at the hands of a foreign intruder, and he even had to strip the Temple of its wealth, removing gold from the doors and doorposts of the Lord’s house in order to pay off the bully (18:13-16). Trust in God will not necessarily stave off actual political threats. Trust in God may not have immediate or manifest results.” (New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 3, Pg. 273)
Ultimately, however, it is trust in God that brings about the leaving of the Assyrians and the elimination of the threat.
You see, God had made Hezekiah a capable leader. Hezekiah had the skills to lead and to lead pretty well. He knew how to keep his people together while under threat of destruction from an enemy. He knew how to negotiate. He knew when to bend and when to stand firm. He knew how to bring about God’s will in the nation and rid it of many destructive practices.
It is perfectly fine to pray to God for solutions. It is fine to hope for supernatural ones. But also remember just how capable God has made you to be.
Ourselves as individuals, and even more so as a community, have many God-given skills and abilities. We should recognize them, grow them, and use them.
I know it can all be very frustrating. Sufferings are real. Pain from a medical condition can be intense and long lasting; permanent even. We may pray for relief. And we can hurt so deeply from grief or shame or loss. Fear and anger are powerful forces in our lives. We may wish that God had not made us able to feel as we do and hurt as we do. I do not minimize how tough and painful life is for many people. But in all of that, we must remember how capable God has made us to be. We can solve problems. We can overcome obstacles. We can ease pain, and support the broken, and help the helpless.
Perhaps an important lesson from King Hezekiah is to realize just how powerful and capable God has already made us to be. So yes, like Hezekiah, pray to God and ask for help. But also recognize the incredible resourcefulness and creativity God has already given you.
Faithfulness to God and earthly ease and prosperity do not go hand in hand. Faithfulness will not protect you from tough realities. But faithfulness will give you the framework you need to live in the capable way God created you to live.
Even if everything does fall apart – indeed in time it will for the people of Judah – our sovereign God is still in control. We can trust in that!
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