Description

Hezekiah and the Holy Temple

It began with the young and seemingly impressionable king of Judah, Ahaz. He came to power in turbulent times when he was only 20 years old. Out of political expediency he sponsored idolatry, corrupted the Temple, nailed its doors shut and changed the mode of worship throughout Judah. He died when he was only 36 and was buried in Jerusalem–but in disgrace–not with the former kings of Judah. By the time of his death he had ruined himself and Israel, reduced her to scorn among her neighbors, and brought down the wrath of God upon his people.

His son, Hezekiah ascended to the throne when he was 25. No sooner was his father buried than Hezekiah called the priests and Levites together, charged them to sanctify themselves and cleanse the Temple. Not only had their fathers filled it with idolatrous filth, but, said Hezekiah, “they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.”

And then Hezekiah said, and this is the key, “Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. For lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.”

To turn our backs on the Holy Temple is to turn our backs on God. Our attitude toward the Temple is our attitude toward God.

Hezekiah was desirous to renew his covenants. With awakened faith they went to work and and made ready the Temple. When it was finished, Hezekiah and all the rulers of the city came, offered sacrifices, and worshipped the Lord, thereby setting in order the service of the House of the Lord once more.

Then Hezekiah invited all Israel to come to the Temple for the feast of the Passover which had been long neglected. “Turn again,” he said, “unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you…yield yourselves unto the Lord and enter his sanctuary…that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.”

Israel laughed him to scorn and refused to come. Those that did come– “a very great congregation”—humbled themselves and experienced a joyous celebration the likes of which had not been seen since the time of Solomon.

Hezekiah’s devotion never wavered, and for all that Ahaz by his idolatry had ruined Israel, so Hezekiah by his faith empowered and enriched Israel. “Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour; and he made himself treasuries for silver and for gold, and for precious stones…for God had given him substance very much.” And when this man died, “They buried him in the chiefest of sepulchers of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death”

That man who honors God and his temple, God honors—abundantly!