Tag: Hezekiah

Monkey See, Monkey Do

The leadership styles and legacies of Hezekiah, his son Manasseh, and his grandson Josiah, as recorded in 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 33, offer profound insights into the importance of godly leadership. The contrast between these three kings highlights the truth of the adage, “as the leadership goes, so goes the nation.”

Hezekiah is celebrated as a godly king who trusted in the Lord and led Judah in a time of spiritual renewal. His faithfulness brought blessings and protection to the nation. Hezekiah’s reforms, including the restoration of the temple and the celebration of the Passover, reinvigorated the spiritual life of Judah and drew the people back to worshiping the true God.

In stark contrast, Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, reigned for fifty-five years and led Judah into deep spiritual decay. He embraced idolatry, built altars to foreign gods, and even sacrificed his own son in the fire. Manasseh’s reign is characterized by profound evil and rebellion against God, leading to significant suffering and destruction for the nation. The Bible records that “Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel” (2 Chronicles 33:9, ESV).

Amon, Manasseh’s son, followed in his father’s footsteps, continuing the idolatry and evil practices. His reign was short, only two years, but it further entrenched Judah in sin and rebellion. Amon’s leadership contributed to the ongoing moral and spiritual decline of the nation.

Josiah, Amon’s son, ascended the throne at a young age but quickly demonstrated a commitment to godliness that mirrored his great-grandfather Hezekiah. Josiah’s reign was marked by significant reforms, including the rediscovery of the Book of the Law and the subsequent national repentance and covenant renewal. His leadership brought a spiritual revival and a return to the worship of Yahweh, which had a lasting impact on the nation.

These accounts illustrate the critical role of leadership in shaping the spiritual and moral direction of a nation. Godly leaders like Hezekiah and Josiah can bring about renewal and blessings, while ungodly leaders like Manasseh and Amon can lead their people into destruction and idolatry.

Studies in leadership theory and organizational behavior support this biblical observation. Research has shown that ethical leadership significantly influences the ethical behavior of followers and the overall moral climate of an organization or community. A study published in the Journal of Business Ethics found that leaders who exhibit ethical behavior create an environment that fosters trust, cooperation, and ethical decision-making among their followers . Another study in the Leadership Quarterly highlighted that transformational leaders, who inspire and motivate their followers with a vision of moral and ethical excellence, can lead to positive changes in organizational culture and performance .

These findings align with the biblical narrative, emphasizing that leaders set the tone for their followers. When leaders prioritize godliness, integrity, and service, they create an environment where these values can flourish. Conversely, when leaders embrace ungodliness and corruption, they foster a culture of moral decay and spiritual decline.

As we reflect on the examples of Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah, we are reminded of the profound impact that leadership can have on a nation or community. Godly leaders are essential for guiding their people toward righteousness and blessing. In our own lives, whether in positions of leadership or as members of a community, we must strive to uphold godly principles and support leaders who do the same.

The Imperishable Purpose of Our Perishable Possessions

In the narratives of 2 Kings, Isaiah, and 2 Chronicles, we read about a moment in King Hezekiah’s life that serves as a profound lesson for all of us. After recovering from a life-threatening illness through God’s miraculous intervention, Hezekiah proudly shows the envoys from Babylon all the treasures of his kingdom. This act of pride leads to a stark prophecy from Isaiah: everything Hezekiah showed to the Babylonians would one day be taken away, and his descendants would be carried off as captives.

Isaiah 39:6 (NIV):

“The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.”

Hezekiah’s story reminds us that all our possessions, achievements, and even our lives are temporary and ultimately belong to God. We may take pride in our accomplishments and the material wealth we accumulate, but we must remember that these are merely on loan to us. We are stewards, not owners.

1 Timothy 6:7 (NIV):

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Since everything we have is temporary, we should focus on using our perishable possessions for imperishable purposes. This means investing our time, resources, and talents in ways that have eternal significance. Rather than hoarding wealth or seeking personal glory, we should strive to further God’s kingdom, help those in need, and live lives that reflect His love and grace.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV):

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Hezekiah’s mistake was focusing on earthly wealth and pride rather than acknowledging God’s sovereignty and purpose for his life and kingdom. We are called to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our true home is in heaven and that our time on earth is an opportunity to prepare for that eternal life with God. Too often, we strive to be remembered by people who will one day be forgotten, rather than seeking to make an impact that lasts for eternity.

Colossians 3:2 (NIV):

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Are there possessions or achievements in your life that you are overly proud of, forgetting that they are gifts from God? How can you use your resources and talents to serve God and others in ways that have eternal significance? What changes can you make in your daily life to align more closely with an eternal perspective?

Are You Unredeemable?

No. That’s it. No. I think this is hilariously accurately summed up by the Backstreet Boys who said, “I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you’ve done… as long as you love me.”

This idea struck me as I was reading today’s passage about the great (if underrated) king Hezekiah. His first order of business after taking the throne was to restore Israel in relationship with God. He cleaned the land of the idols, shrines, pillars, and foreign gods. He re-opened, restored, and rededicated the Temple of the Lord built by Solomon. And he called every person from both Judah & Israel (those who were left after the Assyrian raiders came through) to come and worship the Lord. And they didn’t get everything right. They had to move Passover back a month because the people and facilities weren’t ready. They had commoners offering sacrifices because the priests weren’t ready. The even had unclean people partaking in the meal, after king Hezekiah prayed for grace from God. And the Lord blessed all of it! It was never about the rituals. The rituals were there to show US how UNHOLY we are and how much we needed God. God just wanted our hearts. Our genuine love for Him fuelled by understanding of what He was doing to bring us into good standing.

The point is this: even if you are so far gone that God has sent multiple prophets to tell you of the impending judgement, you can still turn it around and come back to Him! You are never too far from God. You are never too broken to be restored. You are never too lost to be found. Neither is anyone else.

Getting it Twisted

One of the more surprising things in the Gospel of John is when Jesus says that He must be lifted up by God in the same way that Moses lifted up the snake in the desert. If we go back to that snake in the desert, we see that God used the instrument of destruction to bring about healing. We call that “redemption”. But here we see that King Hezekiah (the most righteous king of Judah) had to DESTROY the bronze serpent because people began to worship it. Seems like we will worship just about ANYTHING, if it doesn’t get the in way of us doing exactly what we want to do. And so the people took a thing originally designed for good and twisted it for evil. To the point where it had to be destroyed for the salvation of those very people.

Just because something was designed for good or accomplished good, doesn’t mean it will always be good for all time. We still need to evaluate those things. I know as a pastor I have done events that were a huge success the first time, but didn’t yield the same results the following year. I think it’s important that we bring everything back to God. And if that event, or job, or thing, or dream that God gave you has become twisted… it might be time to destroy it and start fresh.