Day 24 | Hezekiah
Read 2 Kings 18:1-12
Hezekiah was only 25 years old when he became king. Remembered as one of the greatest kings of Judah, he trusted God and kept his commandments. He tore down all idolatry across the nation, removing the high places, breaking the pillars, cutting down the Asherah, and even breaking the bronze serpent Moses had made because the people were making offerings to it.
When Hezekiah ascended to the throne, Assyria was sweeping across Mesopotamia. And they were no ordinary military power. With their superior abilities in siege warfare and their reliance on sheer, unadulterated terror, the Assyrians made examples of those who resisted them, including deportations (at best) and horrific physical torture (at worst). The northern kingdom of Israel had just been conquered and deported by Assyria, and upon becoming king, Hezekiah must have considered immediately bolstering his military. But he didn’t. Hezekiah knew he must put first things first. Without God, all the military might on the earth was useless. So, in the first year of his reign, Hezekiah put Israel’s spiritual house in order. He reopened and repaired the temple. He consecrated the people of Judah to their God in repentance, sacrifices, and worship. He tore down all the idols. Scripture is clear about the connection between King Hezekiah’s actions and God’s response. “And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered” (2 Kings 18:7).
None of us is facing a physical army like Assyria today, but each of us is faced with spiritual forces of evil. Will we succumb to the darkness around us and exchange the truth of God for lies? Or will we tear down our idols of acceptance, success, and entertainment to be fully devoted to God? “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Show us, God, the strongholds in our lives, and through the strength of your Holy Spirit, help us demolish them.
Pray for 10 minutes