Slips in Faith:
the case of Hezekiah
These days, it
is the custom of great nations to invite small nations to come over for talks
on economy, trade, building, constructions of mutual interest and of course,
secret talking about who knows what.
Also in
biblical times it happened and God has something for us to learn through all
this.
Jotham was the
grandfather of Hezekiah, the good king of Judah. He was but 15 years old when
his son Ahaz was born. Ahaz was but a Middle School boy when Hezekiah was born,
only 15 years old. When Hezekiah was 18 years old, Samaria fell and his father
died as well. For a period of a couple of years, nothing is said about the
kingship of Judah but one counting in the book of Kings dropped Ahaz out, since
he was a very bad king, and listed Hezekiah as king since his birth.
Hezekiah became
king at the age of 25 in 716 BCE He was a very good king that got rid of all
idols and Baals and Asherahs in the country. Also in our days there are Baals,
Asherahs, and idols. Rulers cannot just left right and center smash idols in
our day. Not because they are good. The Bible also do not expect the rulers to
smash them since the biblical principle of worshiping the only true God of the
universe is freedom of choice and decision. God does not want to force people
to worship Him. The freedom to love and hate. There is no God that does this.
Hezekiah lived
in the time of the professor of History, Isaiah who was the pastor of the
court. Hezekiah respected Isaiah a lot. An event happened in the life of
Hezekiah that placed him on the world-empire map of those days. The Assyrians
ruled the World of those days and their rival was Babylon. A certain rebel leader
there with the name of Merodach-Baladan gave problems to Assyria in 702 BCE.
Something
happened in the life of Hezekiah that was to connect him with this rebel of
Babylon. Hezekiah became very sick and was about to die. In Isaiah 38 Isaiah
recorded with care the detail regarding his illness. Hezekiah was but 39 years
old that year and he said in the poem that he wrote later about this illness,
which is also recorded in Isaiah 38, that the Lord was to cut him off from his
life in mid-life. He cried out to God those who are dead and in Sheol does not
praise the Lord. It is only the living who praise the Lord. The concept that
people die and go to heaven after death is bogus. Ask Hezekiah and Isaiah. God
gave Hezekiah healing and 15 years were added to his life. He was to die in 687
BCE.
In that year
his son Manasseh was 12 years old according to 2 Kings 21:1. Calculating back
from 687 we start the time in 699 BCE which means that Manasseh was born two
years after the illness event.
Also in the
hymn, Hezekiah promised to take his children to the temple, to church “all his
life” and they will play songs and play stringed instruments before the Lord in
His house (Isaiah 38:20). Manasseh would have been in the house of the Lord
since his birth and thus he got from his father a good faithful schooling until
12. However, when Hezekiah died, his wife, which do not have a Hebrew name, was
not that faithful and Manasseh became a very wicked king.
When Hezekiah
was healed from his sickness, the rebel of Babylon, Merodach Baladan heard
about it (Isaiah 39:1) and he sent letters of congratulations to Hezekiah.
Instead of honoring God for his healing, Hezekiah thought that he would take
them on a tour through his other achievements. “I got healed but I can show you
also other things I did”. And he did. He showed them his gold and silver and
diamonds, oilfields, nuclear weapons and more (Isaiah 39:2). “There was nothing
in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them”. This was
his weakness. A great mistake.
Pastor Isaiah
heard that there were visitors so he asked Hezekiah who they were. He told
Hezekiah that the Lord is not pleased with what Hezekiah did. The reason is
that years later during the time of Daniel Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon would come
and steal all these treasures from Jerusalem.
The next
problem Hezekiah had is that he misinterpreted the sermon of Isaiah to him.
What was supposed to be a finger of warning, is interpreted by Hezekiah as
something good. Here Hezekiah displays his own selfishness and
narrow-mindedness. Careless of his own posterity, he says that at least it will
go well during the rest of his own reign. He did not care enough of his
grandsons and their children’s future.
Dear God
We are also placed in positions where we must make tough decisions.
Help us to empty ourselves from our Self-indulgence and give honor praise and
glory to You instead. Amen.
Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor Kyungpook National University Sangju Campus South Korea Conjoint lecturer of Avondale Colege Australia