Latter Days of Hezekiah's Life

                                                               2 Chronicles 32:27-33

 

September 18, 2023

 

Latter Days of Hezekiah's Life

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.  This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.  And so, in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, 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.

Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.  And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

If you have not spent time in Proverbs 30, I suggest doing so.  
And spend time on verses 7,8,9, “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:  Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

 

As a young believer who was married when I read those words, I reread them and have many times since, but each time I’ve thanked God for honoring the prayer of a young believer who said that going to be my prayer.  Few men in history could handle great wealth and be under the authority of our God. 

 

Often, we forget that God is all-knowing, so when you read a verse like this do not come away with the wrong understanding, God knew what was in Hezekiah's heart, but He wanted Hezekiah to see what was in his heart.  God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice