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Hezekiah & : Study Notes

When Our Deeds and God’s Delight Become One Flesh

Marvin Williams, Jr Table of Contents

The Dream 3

Overview 4

The Hephzibah Dynamic 8

(1) Removing Idols 12

(2) The Priestly Ministry 15

(3) Extravagant Offering(s) 20

(4) Family (Unity) 24

(5) Humility, Weakness, & The Devoted Heart 28

(6) Unwavering Faith & The Prophetic 31

(7) Prevailing Prayer 37

Hezekiah’s Error 40 The Dream

On July 19th, 2018, in the midst of a 21 day fast, I received a prophetic word that resounded in my spirit. I was preparing for a prayer meeting, and before we began, a young lady approached me and said: “I feel like the Lord is telling you to pray about going to the frontier.”

Though I did not know what the frontier was (or what it represented), I received it as the word of the Lord and began praying for the next 10 months.

It was on May 13th, 2019 that God gave me a partial answer to my prayers, in a dream:

I was walking in a large air force hanger with Mike Bickle, and there were various kinds of aircrafts (jets, helicopters, etc) which represented a multitude of ministries. As we walked throughout the hanger, he was explaining the functions of the various aircrafts (ministries).

After what seemed like a short tour, we ended with a peculiar aircraft. It was not a fighter jet, nor was it a helicopter, it was a spaceship. As I was standing before the ship, I knew it was meant for deep space, the frontier. Mike Bickle stood beside the ship, looking at me with a warm smile, as if I was the pilot chosen to fly it. After gazing upon the aircraft for a moment,

Corey Russell (one of Mike’s spiritual sons) pointed at the spaceship and declared with a loud voice, “THIS SHIP HAS JUST BEEN RENAMED ‘HEZEKIAH AND HEPHZIBAH!’”

When I woke from the dream, I was fairly confused. I had never heard or read about

Hezekiah. So, I rolled out of bed, grabbed my , looked up the H’s in the concordance, and to my surprise, Hezekiah was there! But the greatest surprise was that Hezekiah and Hephzibah were married! This is why the ship had been renamed “Hezekiah and Hephzibah.” Since that morning, everything that has unfolded is contained in these notes… Page 4!

Overview

Hezekiah & Hephzibah: General Information

- Main Scriptures for Study: -20; -32; 36-39 - Hezekiah’s Parents:

• Father: , son of Jotham, a wicked king (2 Kings 15:32-34, 16:20)

• Mother: Abi (), daughter of Zechariah (2 Chron 29:1-2) - Age at Beginning of Reign: 25 years old (2 Kings 18:2) - Age at End of Reign: 54 years old - Total years of Reign: 29 years as King of (2 Kings 18:2)

• 716 BC-687 BC1 - Location of Reign: Judah, Southern Kingdom (City: ) - Marital Status: Married to Hephzibah - Meaning of Name(s):

• Hezekiah: Strengthens [Me]

• Hephzibah: My Delight Is In Her - Prophets During Reign: Isaiah & - Child/Children: Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1)

Seven Points of Emphasis in Hezekiah’s Life & Reign: I. Removing Idols A. Before the nation of could be restored, the idols of the day had to be removed. Yet, before Hezekiah removed false gods from his kingdom, he first removed the idols from his own heart. The removing of his personal idols lead to the local, regional, and national removal of idols (2 Chron 29:10, 30:13-14, 31:1; 2 Kings 18:4). II. The Priestly Ministry A. [Restoring the Priests] In the first months of his reign, Hezekiah was focused on restoring the house of the Lord. This endeavor required the help of the priests, who, at this time, were walking in many years of spiritual compromise. Oppose to scolding the priests for their complacency, Hezekiah reminds them of their identity (2 Chron 29:3-11).

1 The Essence of the

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B. [Cleanse the Temple] After the priests were restored, they entered the house of the Lord, cleansed it, and consecrated every detail/room (2 Chronicles 29:3-19). C. [Restoring Worship] Once the temple was cleansed, Hezekiah and the priests restored 24/7 worship and prayer to Jerusalem. He is the first king since the time of / to restore extravagant worship back to the Lord (2 Chronicles 29:25-30). D. [Priests After Revival] The restoration of the priestly ministry, the Temple, and 24/7 worship happened within Hezekiah’s first two months as king. After this mighty revival, the priests did not fall back into spiritual complacency. Instead, they were: (1) Appointed regular positions, (2) Gave themselves to the Law of the Lord, and (3) Stayed faithful in keeping themselves holy (). III. Extravagant Offering(s) A. Hezekiah invited the people to bring offerings to the Lord. The amount given was so abundant that the priests needed the help to sacrifice all of the offerings (2 Chronicles 29:31-36, 31:2-10). B. Hezekiah not only called the people to extravagant offering(s), but he also gave extravagantly from his own possessions (2 Chron 30:24). IV. Family A. Hezekiah was not content with worship only being restored to Judah. So he called the rest of the nation (the 12 tribes) to come and worship the Lord. He unified a divided nation and brought the family of Israel back together (2 Chronicles 30). V. Humility, Weakness, & The Devoted Heart A. Despite the generations of wicked kings who neglected the statutes of God, Hezekiah was steadfast and faithful to them. He trusted God and clung to Him. He kept the commands of and did not depart from them. He sought the Lord, and did so with all of his heart (2 Kings 18:5-6; :20-21). VI. Unwavering Faith & The Prophetic A. , an Assyrian king, came to invade Judah with a mighty army. Hezekiah’s first reaction was to fortify Jerusalem. In the midst of the siege, Hezekiah shrinks back (yet still trusting in the Lord) and sends messengers to Isaiah the prophet, who gives the assurance of Jerusalem’s safety (:1-7, 33). VII. Prevailing Prayer A. Hezekiah was one of the great intercessors of the Bible, in which all of his recorded prayers were heard and answered (2 Kings 19:14-19, 20:1-11; 2 Chron 31:21). Hezekiah was a man who had access to the powers of heaven because he zealously followed the commands of the Lord (Zech 3:6-7).

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Paradigm Shift:

Hezekiah was the greatest king since David (2 Kings 18:5), but more than his political power, he was an extraordinary man of God. His actions revived a dead nation, reunited a broken family, and gave Israel a hope and a future. There are many things that the believer can draw from his life, but if we are not attentive, we will miss a profound revelation.

An aspect that may be often overlooked about Hezekiah’s life is his marriage. His wife’s name is Hephzibah, meaning My Delight Is In Her. This part of his life is critical to realize, because all that he did, he did married to Hephzibah; all of his deeds were united with God’s delight. The marriage between Hezekiah and Hephzibah is the center of these study notes. This union was created as a pattern for the Body of Christ to walk in, that our deeds may be married to the delight of the Lord.

If the Body is also to function as the Bride, this dynamic between deeds and delight must become a reality. For two millennia the Church has had many questionable motivations for Her actions: power, popularity, selfish desires, etc. But before this age ends, the Body will be identified primarily as the Bride, in which Her deeds will be strengthened by the delight of Her

Bridegroom (Rev 19:7-8, Isa 62:4-5).

It is also critical to understand that the delight of the Lord is not separate from His love.

Just as love can be sacrificial and jealous, so also love can be delightful. Worldly delight is defined by the senses and the search for fulfillment; Biblical delight is defined as the pleasure of love and being loved. , our Bridegroom enjoys loving us and being loved by us. It is this revelation that will strengthen the Church to operate in Her full identity as the Bride.

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The Hezekiah & Hephzibah Diagram:

Removing Idols

The Priestly Prevailing Prayer Ministry

The Delight of the Lord

Extravagant Unwavering Faith & Offering(s) The Prophetic

Humility, Weakness, Family &The Devoted Heart (Unity)

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

Who Is Hephzibah?

I. Scriptures Dealing With Hephzibah

A. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her [Hephzibah], and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you (:3-5).

B. And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah (2 Kings 20:21-21:1).

II. General Information

A. Meaning of Name: “My Delight Is In Her”

1. The name Hephzibah or Hafzbah expresses a very clear idea. Since the same root hafz means "guarding" or "taking care of," all words from this root suggest the idea of "safeguarding," and therefore the name Hephzibah means not only someone who evokes delight, but also "one who is guarded," a "protected one.”1

B. Family

1. Husband: Hezekiah

2. Child: Manasseh

The Delight of the Lord

I. Scriptures Dealing With The Lord’s Delight

A. Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams (1 15:22).

1 https://www.gotquestions.org/Hephzibah.html

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B. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights (Psalm 36:8).

C. In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted (Psalm 40:6)

D. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being…For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it…the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit… (Ps 51:6, 16-17)

E. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love (Psalm 147:10).

F. A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight…Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight (Proverbs 11:1, 20).

G. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight (Proverbs 12:22).

H. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you…(Isaiah 62:3-4)

I. Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord ( 9:23-24).”

J. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love (:18).

II. Definition(s) of Delight

A. Oxford Definition: [To] Please (someone) greatly; take great pleasure in

B. Hebrew Definition: “qal”— desire or take pleasure in

C. Biblical Definition: The enjoyment/pleasure of love and being loved

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Biblical Marriage

I. [Key] Scriptures Dealing With Marriage

A. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Gen 2:24).

B. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate (Mark 10:7-9).

II. Hezekiah & Hephzibah: The Critical Marriage

A. Hezekiah represents the deeds of the believer and Hephzibah represents the delight of the Lord. There must be a marriage between our deeds and God’s delight, in which they “become one flesh,” never to be separated again.

1. Hephzibah is not only to be our name to the Lord, but He wants us married to His delight, joined to the pleasures that are ever present in Him (Ps 16:11).

B. Marriage is more than an a verbal agreement, it is a covenant in which two unique individuals (or realities) are joined to one another. Therefore, when individuals get married, one can no longer choose one half over the other, for they are now one flesh.

C. If we think about it, when Jesus gave the first and greatest command to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matt 22:37),” it sounds like a marriage vow.

1. [Saying it to God] “I will love You with all my heart, soul, and mind.”

D. One of the defining aspects of marriage is the intimacy in which the two individuals have. It is crucial that the delight/pleasures of God be married to every detail of our lives.

1. If this sounds tiring or too much, we do not have an adequate understanding of the immense pleasure of the delight of the Lord. This is the aspect of His love that makes all things enjoyable and pleasureful.

2. There is no marriage that is perfect, but the goal is unity

3. This marriage will be perfect in the age to come, and we have an opportunity to experience the New Jerusalem realities today (Rev 21:1-4, 22-27).

E. Just as a bride cannot shake the delight of her groom, so also the Church can never shake the delight of Christ. No matter how we look, we are always the most beautiful to Him.

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III. Why This Marriage Is Critical

A. The Enjoyable God

1. God is not boring. He is clothed with splendor and majesty (Ps 104:1-2), His beauty is unparalleled (1 Tim 6:1), and He is the most joyful Person you will ever meet (Zech 3:17).

2. The thought that God is boring is an attack on our capacity to know and experience the pleasures of Christ. Jesus is the very joy of the Father (Ps 16:11), and He prayed that we would experience the same love/delight that the Father has in Him (Jn 17:23).

3. When we become married to the delight of the Lord, how much more will we enjoy life? When the eternal pleasures of God are unified with our works, we will no longer endure life, but we will enjoy it.

4. One of the very reasons for salvation is to experience God’s loving delight, that we may declare the excellencies of His rich love to the world.

a) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pt 2:9).

B. The End-Time Bride

1. In Revelation 19:7-8 we see that, at the end of the age, the Church will be recognized primarily as the Bride. Our works will be called “righteous” because the motivation for our deeds will be nothing other than the delight (love) of the Lord. The Bride will come out of her filthy garments (politics, popularity, and selfishness) and will clothe herself in deeds of love. The Hezekiah and Hephzibah pattern is not a recommendation, it is our destination.

2. If we are to grow into Our identity as the Bride, we first must know of Christ’s delight in us individually. When the revelation of His delight affects us individually, it will naturally change us corporately.

3. As the Church grows into Her identity as the Bride, it is crucial to know the Bridegrooms’s delight in Us corporately. There are great successes and failures that are before the Church, and many choose to focus on the failures. But it is when we pray for the eyes of heart to be enlightened (Eph 1:17-18), to see the way Christ does, that we will know and feel His delight over Us, even in the darkest times.

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(1) Removing Idols

I. Personal (2 Chronicles 29:10)

A. Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us.

1. Before Hezekiah could remove local, regional, and national idols, he first had to remove the idols in his heart.

2. Making a covenant with the Lord entails that he consecrated himself to the Lord, removing anything that hindered his love for God.

II. Local (2 Kings 18:4)

A. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called ).

1. The various idols described in this passage were most likely close to the temple

2. The language used in this passage is not kind, it is violent.

a) “Removed”

b) “Broke”

c) “Cut Down”

d) “Broke in pieces”

3. Question: Why was it so important to remove the idols and all things exalted above God?

a) As humans have been designed for worship. So, when idols are removed, the soul begins to crave something to worship, making it easier to direct people to God.

III. Regional (2 Chronicles 30:13-14)

A. And many people came together in Jerusalem…They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem…they took away and threw into the brook Kidron.

1. After the local idols were removed, the regional idols were also torn down.

2. The removal of idols is a domino effect; when one is destroyed, the rest follow.

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IV. National (2 Chronicles 31:1)

A. “Now when all this was finished [ Celebration], all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and , and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, every man to his possessions.”

1. After the nation of Israel encountered God for two weeks, the knew that the false gods of the day had to be decimated. Therefore, after the Passover celebration, the entire nation removed any and every idol, from the south to the north.

Note: An idol is anything that steals our full attention and affection from the Lord; anything that is exalted above God.

Note: Idols rob God’s people of experiencing eternal pleasure in this age and in the age to come (Rev 21:8).

Note: Idols rob humans from beholding the beauty of the Lord.

Note: Idol worship prevents us from drawing close to God and standing with Him (in His love, compassion, zeal, judgements, etc) (Ps 24:4).

Note: Idolatry distances our heart from the Lord, making us more susceptible to agreeing with the Accuser about His actions.

Note: Idols have no desire for their worshipers. The Lord is the only God who actually desires His worshipers.

Note: National cleansing/revival/awakening will come when people have a genuine encounter with the living God. When people encounter the presence of the Lord, they will see that everything that has been exalted above God needs to be removed. The way we will get national cleansing/revival/awakening is not by destroying the idols throughout our country, but by inviting people to encounter God. There is a time for smashing idols, but that is not the only way to cleanse a people/nation. When people genuinely encounter God, there will be no need to forcibly remove idols, they will end up doing it themselves.

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

Idolatry is a sin that is a great hinderance to the believer’s spiritual life. It was idolatry when Adam and Eve fell in in the Garden (Gen 3:6), it was idolatry when the Tower of Babel was erected (Gen 11:1-9), and it was idolatry when built the golden calf (Exod 32). We see that God, in Exodus 20, will not tolerate other lovers, saying,

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved

image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth

beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to the them or

serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:3-5)

Hezekiah understood these commands and removed the idols that stole the people’s affection from God. We must realize that the Lord is a jealous God. He desires our devotion, love, and attention, but idols hinder our capacity to love Him well. It is not our actions that God desires, but our affection. When we tear down idols, it frees us to obey the first and greatest commandment with greater zeal (Matt 22:34-40). The Lord delights in the tearing down of idols because it shows a movement of the heart towards Him. When we (the Church) understand that

Christ longs for our undivided attention, we will be more apt to remove anything that hinders our love toward Him. In the Song of Solomon, we get a glimpse into our Bridegroom’s desire for singleness of eye when Solomon declares over the Shulamite, “Behold, you are beautiful, my love…your eyes are doves (Song of Sol 1:15).” Doves can only focus on one object at a time. In the same way, our Bridegroom desires His Bride to focus solely on Him, captured with love, gazing upon His beauty.

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(2) The Priestly Ministry

I. Priests Restored (2 Chronicles 29:3-11)

A. In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priests and the and assembled them in the square on the east and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel… Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

1. After the idols were removed, the very first thing King Hezekiah did was restore the priestly ministry. He gathered the current priests and the Levites (who are the priestly people of Israel) and reminds them of two things:

a) The Unfaithfulness of Their Fathers

(1) The kings who reigned before Hezekiah all failed to remove the idols that stole the affection of the . Some did what was wicked in the sight of God, and some did what was right in the sight of God, but they all failed to removed the idols from the land. Hezekiah reminds the priests of the wicked generation they live in.

b) Their Identity as a Priests

(1) Hezekiah does not dwell on the past or the current compromise of the priests. Instead, he reminds the priests of their identity and calling.

(2) The Priests/Levites Are:

(a) The Lord’s ministers, chosen to stand in His presence and minister to Him with worship and prayer

(b) Chosen to make offerings to Him

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II. Priests Cleanse The Temple (2 Chronicles 29:12-19)

A. Then the Levites arose…gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron…Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”

1. After Hezekiah’s speech, the Levites arose and consecrated themselves in preparation to cleanse the temple of the Lord (2 Chronicles 29:12-15).

a) The priests, in this moment, chose to break agreement with a lethargic spirit and reconsecrated themselves to the Lord. When they were reminded of their glorious identity, they realized their spiritual poverty and removed everything that hindered their calling.

b) We, in the same way, need reminding that we are priests to the Lord and that our bodies are the temple of the Lord (1 Pt 2:9; 1 Cor 6:13). We have been chosen to stand in His presence, but there is a requirement for holiness. In the same way the priests cleansed the temple, so also we need to cleanse and consecrate our temples/bodies.

III. Priests Restore Worship (2 Chronicles 29:25-30)

A. And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of the king's seer and of the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets…The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded…When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

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1. Every king before Hezekiah was noted for failing to restore worship to the land (2 Kings 12:1-2; 14:3; 15:4, 35).

2. Hezekiah restored worship in the spirit of David (1 Chronicles 23:2-6, 25). This is important because it is the first time in many generations that true worship had been restored to Israel since the days of David and Solomon.

a) This worship was not a one day celebration, it was 24/7, as David prescribed. This means that for the 29 years of Hezekiah’s reign, there was non-stop worship and prayer. This opened the heavens over the region, causing significant prosperity to come to Hezekiah and the Southern Kingdom (2 Kings 18:7; :27-30)

b) At this time, Isaiah and Micah were the prophets to Judah. It was these two prophets that began to declare the first coming of the Messiah (Isa 32 & 52; :1-5). It is no coincidence that when the worship was restored, prophecies of the Messiah’s first coming emerged. We are now in a global worship and prayer movement, and it is no surprise that the Lord is speaking to many leaders in the Church of the reality of Messiah’s second coming.

IV. Priests After Revival

A. Appointed

1. And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, each according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to minister in the gates of the camp of the Lord and to give thanks and praise. The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 31:2-3).

a) The priests, after the powerful revival in Judah, did not slip back into complacent living. Instead, they were appointed regular positions and times to minister to the Lord.

b) We, in the same way, must not ride the highs of revival, but settle into regular times to meet with the Lord.

c) If we neglect this aspect of the Christian walk, we can expect much unnecessary spiritual difficulties and tensions.

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B. Devotion to the Word

1. And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 31:4).

a) Once the priests settled into their regular positions, many people donated much food that the priests may give themselves wholly to the Word of God.

b) As priests, we must focus on aligning our lives with the commands of God’s Word. Jesus, when speaking to His disciples, made a profound statement about our love correlating to obedience, saying, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments (Jn 14:15).” We cannot love Christ well if we do not obey His commands (His Word).

C. Sustained Holiness

1. [The Priests] were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole assembly, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy (2 Chronicles 31:18).

a) After the revival, the priests and the Levites were faithful in maintaining a standard of holiness. They refused to shrink back into their old lifestyle of complacency.

b) They also held each other to a standard of holiness. All the families stayed faithful in maintaining their purity as well as keeping the other families accountable.

c) If we are to maintain a spirit of revival, we must be consistent in reminding one another of our purity in Christ. We must strive to be holy, for the Lord is holy (1 Pt 1:16).

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

I. Priests Restored A. For the past 200-300 years, the priests had been walking in great compromise by tolerating idol worship. Hezekiah’s counsel could have been harsh, demanding they get back to work, but this was not his counsel. Instead of scolding the priests, Hezekiah reminded them of their identity and calling. It is this kind of restoration that the Lord delights in. He has known us before our mother’s womb (Jer 1:5, Ps 139:13) and delights in reminding us of the our identity in Him. When we walk in compromise, faltering on the path of righteousness, we must remember that the Lord delights in showing mercy (Mic 7:18; Jam 2:13). II. Priests Cleanse Temple A. The Temple was built to house the presence of the Lord, but the kings of the past neglected this truth and erected idols and alters. But after hearing the encouraging words of king Hezekiah, the priests cleansed and consecrated the house of the Lord, and it is in these actions that the Lord delights in. God, since Genesis, has pursued a relationship with man, but a defiled temple creates a wall between creature and creator. So, when the Temple was cleansed, it created a suitable place of rest for the Lord. He is looking for habitation, not visitation. The Lord desires to draw close to His people, but a dirty temple is not fit to house the glory of the Lord. When we understand that the Lord enjoys being with us, we we will desire purity above all else, that we may be holy for He is holy (Lev 20:26; 1 Pt 1:16). III. Priests Restore Worship A. After the priests were restored, and the temple cleansed, it is only natural that worship follow. Worship, in this context, is the harmony of both instruments and singing of praises. The restoration of 24/7 worship and prayer brought great joy to the Lord because He is a singing God (Zeph 3:17). As the Bride, we must understand that our Bridegroom’s delight is in hearing His Bride sing back to Him. When the Bride realizes that the Bridegroom enjoys hearing Her voice, She will never be fearful of declaring His beauty and majesty. With the knowledge of His delight in us, even in our weakest moments, we will open our mouths declaring our love for Him, knowing He hears every word. IV. Priests After Revival A. The Lord enjoys releasing His power to see revival (Mal 3:10). But the average amount of time for those windows of power happen in short increments. The most important aspect of the Christian walk is the consistency in which we live after revival. Our faithfulness in secret builds sturdy wineskins to steward the next outpouring of the Spirit. The delight of the Lord strengthens our resolve in the mundane, everyday moments.

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(3) Extravagant Offering(s)

I. Judah’s Offerings (2 Chronicles 29:31-35)

A. Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished…Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored.

1. The people gave:

a) 70 Bulls [Burnt Offering]

b) 100 Rams [Burnt Offering]

c) 200 Lambs [Burnt Offering]

d) 600 Bulls [Consecrated Offering]

e) 3,000 Sheep [Consecrated Offering]

2. When the worship was restored, it was only natural that there be offerings made. It was when the people gazed upon the beauty of the Lord that they brought large offerings, so much so that the priests were unable to do their job without the help of extra hands.

3. Besides the burnt and consecrated offerings, peace and drink offerings were given.

II. Israel’s Offerings (2 Chronicles 30:18, 22)

A. For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar…ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

1. When the nation was invited to worship the Lord their hearts were revived and they gave peace offerings during the seven day feast [Passover].

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2. When the assembly encountered the Lord for seven days, they decided to extend the feast for another week, clearing their schedules to encounter the Lord and stay in His presence.

a) When a nation gets a view of the worth of the Lord, and encounters His presence, they will prioritize their schedules and make room for more encounter.

III. Hezekiah’s Offerings (2 Chronicles 30:24)

A. For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings…

1. Hezekiah was consumed with the worth and the beauty of the Lord, therefore he gave more than double the first wave of offerings.

2. It was because of Hezekiah’s extravagant offering that the feast was extended seven more days, and the people saw that it was good to do this.

IV. The Princes’ Offerings (2 Chronicles 30:24)

A. …And the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep.

1. When the princes saw Judah, Israel, and King Hezekiah give offerings to the Lord, they matched all that was given in the past two weeks

2. The princes gave:

a) 1,000 bulls

b) 10,000 sheep

3. In total, the amount of offerings given in two weeks was nearly 23,000 animals, the greatest amount of offering since Solomon’s day (2 Chronicles 30:26).

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Note: After all the offerings, it says that “the priests consecrated themselves in great number” (2 Chronicles 30:24). It was the offerings that produced the Priests. When people see our weak, yet extravagant offerings toward the Lord, laborers (priests) will be produced.

Note: The service of the house of the Lord was reinstated when: 1.) Idols were removed (2 Kings 18:4), 2.) The Priestly Ministry was restored (2 Chronicles 29:3-11), and 3.) Extravagant offerings were given. At this point the Scriptures say: “And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly (2 Chron 29:36).” This is what we would classify as revival. We see this same pattern in Acts 2: 1.) Peter preaches and exalts Christ above every idol (Acts 2:29-36), 2.) People receive Jesus (become priests) (Acts 2:41), and 3.) People give extravagantly (Acts 2:42-47). It is the extravagant offerings that marks a true revival. It is not enough to remove idols and to be brought into the priesthood, we must be fully surrendered to the Lord in love, offering all that we have to Him.

Note: After these great offerings, the Levites rose to bless the people and there was no spiritual traffic to their prayers, for “their voice was heard and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven (2 Chronicles 30:27).” When we give extravagantly from a place of love, the fragrance of our offerings reach the throne room of heaven and last for an eternity. This is why Mary of Bethany’s offering of the alabaster jar was so treasured by Jesus (Mk 14:1-9; Jn 12:1-8).

Note: In 2 Chronicles 29:36, it says “Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.” This means that everything happened in the blink of an eye. This is revival. One man shifted and revived a whole nation/ kingdom in the first two months of his reign.

Note: When we attain a knowledge of the value of Christ, we will realize that there is no offering that will match His worth. Therefore we must remember that it is not the action He is after, it is the affection He desires.

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

There is a recurring pattern in the Old Testament that displays God’s disdain for offerings/sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22, Hos 6:6, Ps 40:6). Therefore we must ask the question: What is it about the offerings of Hezekiah and the people that the Lord delighted in? It is my conviction that the Lord despises compulsive, dutiful, and religious offerings/sacrifices. But, in this passage, it said that “all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings (2 Chron 29:31, emphasis added).” It is the sacrifice out of love that God delights in, a willful offering. The Lord is a God who will go to any length to show His love for us (Jn 3:16), and it brings Him joy to realize that there is another equally yoked in love. Our offerings are our stewardship of our love toward the

Lord. When we understand that the Lord delights in our weak offerings, it will motivate us to continually give our time and possessions from a heart full of love.

In the End-Times, it will not only be the Bride’s time and possessions that She offers, but

She will give Herself wholly to Her Bridegroom. In Psalm 110:4, David prophesied the kind of devotion the Bride will have at the end of the age, saying, “Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments…” It is this Scripture that describes the End-

Time Bride who is full of love and willingly sacrifices Her comforts to stand with Jesus. Just as

Christ gave Himself for the Bride, so also the Bride will give Herself for Christ. In Revelation

19:7-8, there is a similar Scripture, stating that the “Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” The Church, at the end of the age, will primarily be identified as a Bride who gives

Herself wholly to Her Bridegroom, an extravagant offering.

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(4) Family (Unity)

I. Calling the Family (2 Chronicles 30:1-9)

A. Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel…So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from to , that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem…So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of , Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of . Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

1. Hezekiah, as he calls the nation back to God, uses familial language:

a) “Abraham, Isaac, and Israel” (v.6)

b) “The Lord God of their fathers” (v.6)

c) “Fathers and brothers” (v.7)

d) “Fathers” (v.8)

e) “Brothers” (v.9)

f) “Children” (v.9)

2. Hezekiah’s aim was not only to bring a nation together for a celebration, but to reunite a broken family. He desired to see his family (12 tribes of Israel) around one table, with one Father.

3. Hezekiah makes this gathering personal. There are many who have family members in exile, and he reminds them that the Lord will free them if they return to Him.

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II. The Father of the Family (2 Chronicles 30:9)

A. “For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you…”

1. Hezekiah, when calling the family back together, reminds them of their Father. He is:

a) “Gracious”

b) “Merciful”

c) “[He] will not turn away His face from you” (cross ref. Lk 15:11-32)

B. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord (2 Chronicles 30:12).

1. There was a special grace from the Lord over the entire region of Judah for the people to become a family.

a) God will endorse any gathering that is centered around Him, uniting the Body as a family.

2. Question: Why was there a special grace for a “family reunion”?

a) We must remember that before God was Creator, Deliverer, or Savior He was Father (Jn 17:24). Family is at the core of the Father’s heart, therefore He delights in His children and will do anything to see them love one another.

III. Family (Re)Union (2 Chronicles 30:13, 21-22)

A. And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very …And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might to the Lord…The whole assembly of Judah… rejoiced. So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.

1. All the tribes of Israel joined in the two week gathering, in which there was great gladness and celebration. Though the kingdom was divided, and people had many differences, this was a time of unity where they could enjoy the Lord and one another.

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2. We must also remember that the fathers of the tribes were brothers, a family, the 12 sons of /Israel (Exod 1:1-5).

3. The Tribes mentioned were:

a) Judah (2 Chronicles 30:1)

b) Dan (2 Chronicles 30:5)

c) Simeon [“Beersheba”] (2 Chronicles 30:5)

d) Asher (2 Chronicles 30:10)

e) Ephraim (2 Chronicles 30:10, 18)

f) Manasseh (2 Chronicles 30:10, 18)

g) Zebulun (2 Chronicles 30:10, 18)

h) Issachar (2 Chronicles 30:18)

i) Levi [“Levites”] (2 Chronicles 30:21)

j) Benjamin (2 Chronicles 31:1)

4. Since the time of Solomon, son of David, there had never been such great offering, worship, and unity amongst the people (2 Chronicles 30:22).

Note: This whole passage is a manifestation of the Psalm in which David prophesied the heart of the Father, saying, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

Note: Jesus, being the manifestation of the Father (Heb 1:3), prayed in John 17:20-26 for the believers to be unified as a family. It is not hard for the children to love their Father, but He prayed that we may love one another, that the siblings may enjoy each other in the same way the Father does.

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

In this passage, we see King Hezekiah call the entire nation to worship the Lord in

Jerusalem. It was during this two week celebration that the people of both the Northern and

Southern kingdoms came together as one body, with one heart. If we look closely at the text, we see Hezekiah make this Passover gathering a family affair. We know that God is a Father, which makes one of His core values/desires family. Yet, when looking at this specific story, a stark contrast emerges between the definitions of unity and family. Unity: when people agree and gather around/because of principles and doctrines. Family: when people gather around/because of their (heavenly) Father. With this definition of family, it becomes much harder to exclude and divide the Christian community. If we view God as a Father, we must receive all of His children as well.

When our eyes are opened to the fact that God is our Father (Rom 8:15), that we are His children (1 Jn 3:1), and that He loves and delights in all of us (Eph 3:17-19), we will not neglect meeting together (Heb 10:24-25). Does it not bring a father joy to see his family united? Does it not bring a father joy to see his children loving one another? When we gather as a family, we get to experience the delight of our Father together, not just individually.

Jesus, in His teachings, always spurred His disciples to greater love. The family dynamic is essential to the two great commandments (Matt 22:34-39). When we love our Father with all of our heart, it is only natural that we value and delight in His family as well.

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(5) Humility, Weakness, & The Devoted Heart

I. Humility and Weakness (2 Kings 18:5-6)

A. “He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the 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.”

1. Humility

a) In the first portion of the passage, it mentions that Hezekiah “trusted in the Lord.” Every other king trusted in their armies or their gold, but Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, displaying a humble spirit.

b) Not only did he trust the Lord, but he kept His commandments. Kings in this day had the power to decree and change whatever they desired, but Hezekiah chose not to depart from the commands of the Lord.

2. Weakness

a) When one gains power (such as the position of king), it becomes easier to believe one is above reproach. But King Hezekiah clung to the Lord and did not depart from Him. He knew that his strength did not come from an army nor his riches, but he chose weakness that the power of God may be seen in his life and kingdom.

II. The Devoted Heart (2 Chronicles 31:20-21)

A. “Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.”

1. The Devoted Heart

a) King Hezekiah did everything with a heart fully devoted to the Lord. He sought to honor God in all that He did, and due of his devotion, all that he did was “good and right and faithful before the Lord his God.”

b) Hezekiah was not perfect, but the intentions of his heart were pure and just.

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Examples:

1. Seeking the Lord for Deliverance (2 Kings 19:1; Isa 37:14-20)

a. One of the first examples in which King Hezekiah displays these characteristics is when

the Assyrian king comes to conquer Judah. After conquering some land, the Assyrian

king comes to the gate of Jerusalem, looking to seize all that King Hezekiah had. As the

great Assyrian army stood before Jerusalem, Hezekiah ran to the house of the Lord,

seeking deliverance. In this moment, Hezekiah could have chosen to advance his forces

and attack, instead, he decides to depend upon the Lord for his salvation. Hezekiah’s

weakness allowed God to bring forth the deliverance that He decreed from eternity past

(2 Kings 19:25).

2. Hezekiah’s Illness (2 Kings 20:3; 2 Chron 32:26; Isa 38:3-5)

a. After Jerusalem’s deliverance, Hezekiah fell ill. Desperate to stay alive, he humbled

himself and pleaded with the Lord to spare his life. He reminds the Lord of his faithful,

whole-hearted devotion. The Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayers, and upon seeing his

weakness, He granted Hezekiah 15 more years of life. Because Hezekiah chose humility

and weakness, his life was spared.

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

I. Humility & Weakness

A. Since sin has pervaded the human race, humility and weakness is viewed as something that is undesirable. Man, in all his pompousness, has strived to be independent from the authority and leadership of God. Yet, as we look at the patterns of Scripture, we see that the Lord does not delight in pride, but in the humble and weak (Jms 4:6). There are a couple of reasons as to why the Lord delights in humility and weakness:

1. Pride Denies Partnership. Pride was one of the many reasons Adam and Eve fell. By their actions, they told God that they desired a different way of leadership. One of the primary reasons we were created was to partner with God, to subdue the earth under His leadership (Gen 1:28). When we choose humility and weakness, we take steps toward the original design of our relationship with God. Humility and weakness brings man back to dust and God back to Creator; man back to clay, and God back to potter (Isa 64:8, Jer 18:1-11).

2. Humility Releases Power. We see throughout the narrative of the Bible that God continually chooses weak men and women to bring forth His purposes. One of these characters is the Apostle Paul. He was a prideful man before He encountered the Lord. But after his conversion, he realized just how weak he was [Acts 9:10-19; 1 Tim 1:15]. It was not until his second letter to the Corinthians that he would receive a revelation of the value of weakness. In a weak state, having a thorn in his flesh, Paul asked the Lord to relieve his pain. Jesus responded to the plea by saying, “my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Choosing humility and weakness allows us to partner with God, allowing His power to be released through us.

II. The Devoted Heart

A. Devotion Releases God’s Presence. As we know, God’s original intent for man was to walk with Him in glory and power, but sin ruptured that connection. Yet, after the fall, the Lord did not stop searching the earth for people to walk with (Gen 5:21-24; Isa 59:16; Eze 22:30). Hezekiah was a man who walked with God, and did so with all of his heart. His devotion released the presence of the Lord over his life because God walks with those who walk with Him. 2 Kings says this about king Hezekiah: “He did not depart from following him…And the Lord was with him…” (2 Kings 18:6).

Summary: Humility, Weakness, and Devotion releases Partnership, Power, and Presence.

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(6) Unwavering Faith & The Prophetic

Chronology of Hezekiah vs Sennacherib:

I. Sennacherib Invades Judah and Encamps Around The Cities (2 Chron 32:1)

II. Hezekiah Fortefies Jerusalem (2 Chron 32:2-8)

III. Sennacherib Takes The Cities (2 Kings 18:13)

IV. Hezekiah Shrinks In Fear (2 Kings 18:14)

V. Sennacherib Requires Gold and Silver; Hezekiah Compromises The House of The Lord (2

Kings 18:14-16)

VI. Sennacherib Defies the Lord (2 Kings 18:19-35; 2 Chron 32:9-19; Isa 36:4-20)

VII. Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah’s Help; Isaiah Gives Prophetic Word (2 Kings 19:1-7)

VIII. Sennacherib Defies the Lord Again (2 Kings 19:8-13; Isa 37:8-13)

IX. Hezekiah Prays for Deliverance; Isaiah Gives Prophetic Word (2 Kings 19:14-34; Isa

37:14-35)

X. The Angel of the Lord Delivers Jerusalem By Killing 185,000 of Sennacherib’s Soldiers (2

Kings 19:35; 2 Chron 32:21; Isa 37:36)

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Unwavering Faith

I. Hezekiah Strengthens The City (2 Chron 32:5-6)

A. “He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the in the . He also made weapons and shields in abundance. And he set combat commanders over the people…”

1. Though King Sennacherib had a great army (2 Kings 19:35), Hezekiah did not back down at the sight of the potential annihilation of His people.

2. Instead of giving in, Hezekiah strengthened the wall (which was broken), he made weapons and shields, then gathered the people, preparing them for battle. This is an act of faith, because Hezekiah knew that the Lord would fight with them (2 Chronicles 32:8).

a) Hezekiah would rather equip his people for battle than give the Lord’s city to a pagan threat.

II. Hezekiah Strengthens The People (2 Chron 32:6-8)

A. “…Gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, 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.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

1. Hezekiah not only fortified the city, but he strengthened his people by telling them that God is on their side.

a) There is a degree of power and influence that occurs when one declares the faithfulness of the Lord, even in the worst of times. We must open our mouths and proclaim the goodness of the Lord.

2. He tells the people not to be “dismayed,” which means, “do not sway in your faith in the Lord.” It was Hezekaih’s declaration of the power of God that gave the people strength to hold their ground (2 Kings 18:36).

3. He gives the same exhortation the Lord gave Joshua (Josh 1:6-7).

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III. Hezekiah’s First Petition (2 Kings 19:1-4)

A. As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of . They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the Lord your God heard all the words of the , whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.”

1. Hezekiah knows that there is no salvation from the hand of Sennacherib outside of God intervening. He knows that one rebuke from the Lord could decimate a whole army.

2. Hezekiah could have easily given in, yet he does not move until He knows that the Lord has spoken.

IV. Hezekiah’s Second Petition (2 Kings 19:14-19)

A. Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

1. After Sennacherib defies the Lord a second time, Hezekiah still does not give in. Instead, he runs to the house of the Lord (again) and reminds God that He is mighty to save.

2. We see in Hezekiah’s prayer that his faith is weak, but he has not shifted from trusting in the Lord.

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The Prophetic

I. Vitality of a Prophetic Word (2 Kings 18:13-16, 19:5-7)

A. And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me. Whatever you impose on me I will bear.”… And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house. At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord and from the doorposts that Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria…When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”

1. When Sennacherib invaded Judah, Hezekiah bowed to his power and gave him much gold and silver. After walking in compromise, knowing that his faith was not as sturdy as he thought, Hezekiah sends messengers to receive a prophetic word form Isaiah. The prophetic word of their protection gave new life to Hezekiah and the people, strengthening their faith in the Lord.

II. Valuing the Prophetic Word (2 Kings 19:1-2)

A. As soon as King Hezekiah heard it [Sennacherib’s Threats], he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz.

1. Hezekiah, upon hearing the threats and blasphemes of the Assyrian king, sent his messengers to Isaiah the Prophet.

a) In doing this, Hezekiah shows that he believes the Lord is alive and that He speaks to His people.

2. Obviously Hezekiah valued the written word of the Lord (2 Chron 31:20-21), but there is a different dynamic when one hears the now voice of the Lord.

a) A prophetic word reminds us that God is alive and He knows all things. Prophetic words are refreshing, giving us the strength to walk with confidence in the Lord.

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III. Fulfillment of the Prophetic Word(s)

A. Against King Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:6-8, 36-37)

1. When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’” The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against , for he heard that the king had left Lachish…Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at . And as he was worshiping in the house of his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat.

a) Isaiah prophesied the actions and death of King Sennacherib and all of them came to pass.

B. Jerusalem’s Deliverance (2 King 19:32-35)

1. “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the Lord. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.” And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

a) Jerusalem was indeed spared form Sennacherib, according to the word of the Lord

Note: God, in both of these cases, shows that He is faithful to His word. It seemed as if the odds were impossible, but Hezekiah held fast to the word of the Lord and did not go before Him, which brought forth Judah’s deliverance.

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

I. There is no doubt that King Hezekiah was one of Israel’s great leaders (2 Kings 18:5), but what made him a great leader was not his political power nor his riches. Hezekiah was a man who valued the voice of the Lord; He was an excellent shepherd for Israel because He followed the voice of the Good Shepherd (2 Kings 18:5-6, 20:5). It is in this segment of Hezekiah’s life that we learn a valuable lesson: It is our weak faith that embraces a prophetic word, and it is the prophetic word that strengthens our weak faith.

A. Unwavering Faith

1. When threatened by King Sennacherib, though his faith was weak, Hezekiah trusted the Lord for Jerusalem’s deliverance. As we know from Hebrews, “without faith it is impossible to please him [God] (Heb 11:6).” The people in Hebrews 11 received prophetic promises from the Lord of a heavenly country they were to receive, and they adjusted their lives according to what was spoken (Heb 11:13-16). Hezekiah, though he was not listed, followed this same pattern: He heard the voice of the Lord (through the prophet Isaiah) and planted his feet upon the word. God delights in our trust in Him, and knowing this truth should strengthen our resolve to believe His words.

B. The Prophetic

1. The prophetic is not about the ecstasy of hearing God’s voice but about delighting in His steadfast leadership. It is no secret that God loves to talk (Ps 51:1), and it is not hidden that He cherishes our voice (Song of Sol 4:3), but when it comes to the prophetic, the question now turns to us: Do we value His voice? The Church, like , must hear the Bridegroom’s voice and rejoice over it (Jn 3:29). When we hear the voice of the Lord, we have two options: believe He will fulfill His word, or err on the side of unbelief.

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(7) Prevailing Prayer

I. Hezekiah Prays For The People (2 Chronicles 30:18-20)

A. For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them…And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

1. Hezekiah, in this instance, asks the Lord to heal/pardon the people from their sins, and the Lord heard and did as Hezekiah requested.

2. If we think about this from an Old Testament perspective, it is remarkable that God heard and answered the prayer for the cleansing of sins, of which did not come from a priest.

II. Hezekiah Prays For Deliverance (2 Kings 19:14-20; 2 Chronicles 32:20; :14-20)

A. Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord …Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.

1. After the Assyrian king defied the Lord, and boasts about his might, Hezekiah goes and prays before the Lord, seeking deliverance.

2. This is another instance in which the Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayer.

III. Hezekiah Prays For His Recovery (2 Kings 20:1-5; :1-3)

A. In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death…Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed… And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.

1. Hezekiah, after 14 years of reigning as king, gets sick and prays to the Lord for his recovery, in which God heard and answered his prayer.

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Note: Hezekiah was not only a man of action, but he was an intercessor. He spent time in the secret place, cultivating a relationship with the Father, in which he sees immediate answers to his prayers.

Note: Hezekiah was a man who was heard by God; when he spoke, God listened. This aspect tells us a lot about Hezekiah’s position in the government of heaven. This is very similar to what would take place with Joshua the High Priest many years later. After walking in compromise, the Angel of the Lord assured Joshua, saying, “If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here (Zech 3:6-7).” This Scripture helps us make sense as to why the Lord heard and answered all of Hezekiah’s prayers: He kept commandments of the Lord.

Note: Hezekiah was not only ruling the , but he was also ruling in the courts/ council of heaven, walking among the angels and the elders. His earthly authority came directly from his authority in the heavenly places.

Note: The correlation between keeping the Lord’s commands and answered prayer was not only an Old Testament idea. The apostle John knew of this principle, saying, “…and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him (1 Jn 3:22).”

Note: It is not a hidden truth that God desires to use humans to bring His will upon the earth (Matt 6:9-13). Yet, if we desire to be used, it is necessary for us to consecrate ourselves as men and women of God, so that when He says, “Gather to me my faithful ones (Ps 50:5),” we are invited to the meeting. Hezekiah aligned himself with the will of the Father and became the touchpoint for heaven to meet earth (2 Chron 29:9-10).

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The Hephzibah Dynamic

Throughout the Bible, we see a number of powerful intercessors such as Daniel, Moses, and Anna (Deut 9:25-27; Dan 9; Lk 2:36-38). Yet, when speaking of great intercessors, Hezekiah is often left out. As we study his life, we see that all of his (recorded) prayers were heard and answered, which very few in the Bible can claim. I believe, long before his coronation, Hezekiah cultivated a deep relationship with God in the secret place. Upon seeing the wicked deeds of the day, Hezekiah consecrated himself to the Lord, setting his heart to restore what was lost in Jerusalem (2 Chron 29:10).

When reading about Hezekiah’s prayer life, one must ask: Why were all of his prayers answered? I believe there is a principle in the Kingdom of God which gives us greater access to the courts of heaven: Obedience.

We see in the accounts of Hezekiah’s life that he is noted as a man committed to the commands of the Lord (2 Kings 18:5-7; 2 Chron 31:20-21. In Zechariah, a few generations later, the Angel of the Lord reveals the power of keeping the Lord’s commands, saying, “If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here (Zech 3:6-7).” There is a direct correlation between keeping the commands of the Lord and access to the courts of heaven. Hezekiah was a man who God could include on the staff of His council because he pursued the highest form of obedience.

We, as humans, have been created to rule with God by the means of prayer. God delights in hearing our voice, but He is also looking for people who will stand in the gap and rule with Him through intercession (Isa 59:16). God wants to include us in His plans, but He cannot give authority to those who are not under His authority. If we are to become the connecting points for Heaven, we must first obey the laws of that realm. It is when we obey the commands of the Lord that our prayers will prevail.

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Hezekiah’s Error

I. Hezekiah’s Riches (2 Chronicles 32:27-30)

A. And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions…And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

1. Hezekiah, after 14 years years as king over Judah, gathered great riches: from silver and gold, to sheep and cattle. With his great wealth, he built for himself great things, such as cities and treasuries.

2. Hezekiah’s prosperity (which was given to him by the Lord) infected his heart with pride, which was the beginning of his error. He used God’s possessions to make a great name for himself.

3. It is in this passage that we see Hezekiah turn his heart away from honoring the Lord as he did in his earlier years.

II. Hezekiah Left to His Own (2 Chronicles 32:31)

A. And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of , who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

1. Before the envoys from Babylon came, the Lord did not give Hezekiah wisdom from Heaven because He desired to see what was in his heart.

2. It is important to note that this test came in the latter half of Hezekiah’s reign. He started off with a powerful ministry, but would he finish with the same zeal and pure heart?

III. Hezekiah’s Error (2 Kings 20:12-19)

A. At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses.

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There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” He said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.” Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “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.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “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?”

1. It was not the envoys of Babylon that was the sin, it was the fact that Hezekiah boasted about his riches and his greatness to his visitors. All of the storehouses, cities, agriculture, and livestock were his trophies.

2. Due to his great pride, Isaiah prophesied the exile and bondage of Hezekiah’s sons. It was his error that caused the exile for Judah, and it was Manasseh who solidified this prophecy by his wicked deeds (2 Kings 21:10-18; Chps. 24-25).

3. Hezekiah’s selfishness is also displayed, for he showed that he did not care for the next generation’s success and safety. In the latter half of his reign, Hezekiah was a man who only cared for himself.

Note: Pride had already began to settle in Hezekiah’s heart in his sickness (2 Chron 32:24-25). We also see pride manifest in his life as he built for himself many great things (2 Chron 32:27-30). So when God left Hezekiah to himself, and the Babylonian envoys arrived, it was simply the full manifestation of what was in Hezekiah’s heart when he showed them the entirety of his kingdom. This portion of his life could have changed the trajectory of Israel, but he allowed pride to enter his heart, which led to 70 years of exile for his people.

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A Word of Warning

King Hezekiah started his reign with a powerful revival: removing idols and restoring

24/7 worship and prayer. His actions at the beginning of his reign brought great peace and prosperity to Judah. There is no doubt that he was a great man like his forefather David, but it was in the latter half of his reign that had the greatest impact on the generations to come. Due to his pride, the Lord prophesied the exile of the citizens of Judah to Babylon. This is how

Hezekiah’s story ends.

Hezekiah had an opportunity to use his resources and influence to prepare the next generation for the coming days. But, it was the pride of his possessions and achievements that shrouded his heart, causing him to become a selfish man in the latter half of his reign.

As believers, we must take heed to this subtle warning from the Spirit. We all have been given a measure of understanding, resource, and knowledge (Matt 25:14-30). Everyone has a different measure, but the consistent question that is asked of everyone is: How will you use what has been given to you? We can have the power, glory, and honor of ministry, yet fall from its great heights due to our pride and selfishness. If we take time to uproot our pride and selfishness now, it will save us from seeing its full manifestation in our later days. The Lord is looking for servants who are faithful with the measure they have been given, proving they are worthy for a greater reward.

Like Hezekiah, the end of our life can affect more generations than the beginning of our life. It is imperative that we keep our eyes upon the Lord all the days of our life, holding to a humble spirit, that we may receive the grace to complete our race.

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