Hezekiah: Living Beyond Our Lifetime

2 Chronicles 29-32

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. Moses. DAVID. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

God’s story in God’s people reminds us that the way we live today shapes what we leave behind for others. The impact of our one and only life becomes a legacy that reaches to subsequent generations. Life, then, is not only about what we experience, but also about what others will experience after us. What we do now impacts the future for our families and our communities. 

Our study of the kings of Judah has repeatedly highlighted the significance of the legacy we leave behind. This truth is again emphasized in the life of King Hezekiah.

After King Uzziah died as a leper, his son Jotham became king, followed by Jotham’s son, Ahaz. Ahaz’s disobedience left the nation in terrible shape, but his son Hezekiah worked to set it back on course. Our focus today is on this godly king.  

Heziekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned for twenty-nine years. Hezekiah “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.”

2 Kings 18:5–7
[Hezekiah] trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. 

What makes this passage even more telling is that Hezekiah remained faithful in the face of intense opposition. In 722 BC, during the sixth year of his reign, the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom and turned their attention to Judah. Yet Hezekiah refused to surrender to the king of Assyria. Instead he acted decisively, breaking the nation’s long pattern of spiritual rebellion and weakness.

Hezekiah reopened the temple after his father had shut its doors. He purified and rededicated it so the people of Judah could return to worshiping the one true God. Then, Hezekiah appointed a time to celebrate the Passover and sent word throughout Judah and to those remaining in the northern kingdom who had not been taken captive. 

Hezekiah was committed to breaking the cycle of spiritual neglect. He did everything “ in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chron. 31:21). 

Eight years after Assyria defeated the northern kingdom, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded Judah, intent on capturing many of its fortified cities. Hezekiah responded strategically to prepare Jerusalem for the coming assault. Knowing that the Assyrians would lay siege to the city and cut off its water supply, he built a large pool within the city walls and constructed a tunnel system to bring water in from the outside (2 Chron. 32:5). 

He also rebuilt the sections of the wall that had been broken down and encouraged the people saying, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chron. 32:7–8). 

As Sennacherib mocked and ridiculed the people of Judah, Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed and “cried to heaven” (2 Chron. 32:20). God himself dealt with Sennacherib by sending an angel to strike down the mighty warriors and commanders in the Assyrian camp. The Assyrian king returned home in disgrace and was killed by his own sons (2 Chron. 32:21). Scripture says, “So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side.” (2 Chron. 32:22). 

Hezekiah was a capable and faithful leader. If only his story ended there. Unfortunately, there is one final chapter. 

Pride became a serious issue in Hezekiah’s character, and God struck him with a terminal illness. Isaiah told the king, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover’” (2 Kgs. 20:1). Hezekiah repented of his sin, and God graciously gave him fifteen more years of life and further promised, “I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake” (2 Kgs. 20:6). 

Hezekiah’s fame had spread throughout the world, so when other nations heard of his illness, they sent envoys to honor him. However, when the Babylonian officials arrived, Hezekiah’s pride resurfaced. He showed them his military storehouses, his treasures, and everything in his kingdom (2 Kgs. 20:13). Isaiah confronted the king about his interaction with this adversary, and Hezekiah admitted, “There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them” (2 Kgs. 20:15). 

Isaiah then delivered this message from the Lord:

2 Kings 20:16–18
Hear the word of the LORD: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon

Hezekiah’s answer reflects a self-centered focus. 

2 Kings 20:19
“The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?” 

Do you hear what Hezekiah is saying? At its core, his response shows a troubling indifference to the future. As long as peace and security were enjoyed during his lifetime, he seemed unconcerned about the suffering that would come upon those who followed him. The very Babylonians who saw all his treasures and military supplies would later return to conquer Jerusalem and take its people captive. 

The choices we make today become the legacy others will inherit tomorrow. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on 2 Chronicles 29-32.  What kind of spiritual legacy are you leaving for the next generation through your daily choices and priorities?

Talking to God: Ask God to help you make an impact for him that lasts beyond your lifetime. 

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step.

THE LIVING GROUNDED YOUTUBE CHANNEL
I invite you to visit the Living Grounded YouTube channel, where we share conversations to help you stay rooted in your faith. Check out all of our podcasts on the Living Grounded YouTube Channel: [Living Grounded YouTube Channel]. 

Be sure to subscribe—the more subscribers we have, the broader our reach.