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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll learn from King Hezekiah’s example how to cultivate true worship and faithful stewardship while avoiding the trap of seeking personal glory from God’s work.

Key Verse

2 Chronicles 31:21: In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.

Introduction

Among the kings of Judah, Hezekiah stands out as one who truly sought the Lord with his whole heart. He reigned for twenty-nine years, beginning when he was just twenty-five years old. Matthew includes him in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, marking him as part of God’s plan to bring the Messiah into the world (Matthew 1:9-10).

Hezekiah lived during turbulent times when the prophets Isaiah and Micah brought God’s word to Judah. Four entire chapters in Isaiah tell us about this remarkable king (Isaiah 36-39). Even years after his death, the prophet Jeremiah remembered how Hezekiah had listened carefully when Micah delivered God’s message and how he had responded with genuine repentance.

Jeremiah 26:18-19: Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.”‘ Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek his favor? And did not the Lord relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them?

What made Hezekiah different from so many other kings? He understood two essential truths that every believer needs to grasp today. First, he knew that worship must be the foundation of our relationship with God. Second, he recognized that everything we have belongs to God and should be managed faithfully for His glory. However, Hezekiah’s story also teaches us a sobering warning about the danger of pride when God blesses our efforts.

In this lesson, we’ll explore these vital themes through Hezekiah’s remarkable life:

• The priority of true worship in the believer’s life
• The responsibility of faithful stewardship
• The danger of seeking personal glory from God’s work

The Priority of True Worship

Hezekiah wasted no time in addressing the spiritual crisis that had developed in Judah. The very first month of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple and began repairs that would restore proper worship.

2 Chronicles 29:3: In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them.

This immediate action teaches us that worship should be our first priority, not something we get around to when everything else in life is settled. Hezekiah understood that everything else depends on getting our relationship with God right.

Like the other godly kings before him, Hezekiah tore down the idols throughout the land. He restored proper worship at the temple and reinstituted the Passover celebration that had been neglected for years. His efforts remind us of several important principles about worship that apply to every believer today.

First, believers need to make worship a priority in their personal lives. Hezekiah didn’t delegate this responsibility to others or treat it as something he could postpone. He understood that leading his people in worship was his most important task as king.

2 Chronicles 29:20-21: Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials together and went up to the temple of the Lord. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer these on the altar of the Lord.

For us today, this means we cannot treat worship as optional or something we do only when we feel like it. Just as Hezekiah made worship his first order of business, we need to establish regular times of prayer, Bible reading, and praise as foundational elements of our daily lives.

Second, believers need to encourage one another toward holiness. Hezekiah didn’t just restore worship for himself—he encouraged and exhorted those around him to pursue godliness.

2 Chronicles 29:4-5: He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said to them: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove from the sanctuary the impurities.”

Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

This principle calls us to be actively involved in encouraging other believers in their walk with God. We shouldn’t be content to grow spiritually by ourselves—we should be looking for ways to help our brothers and sisters in Christ grow as well.

Third, worship should be orderly and purposeful. Hezekiah gave careful direction about how worship should be conducted, making sure everything was done properly and with respect for God’s holiness.

2 Chronicles 29:25: He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the Lord through his prophets.

While we should worship with passion and joy, we should also remember that we are approaching the holy God of the universe. Our worship should reflect both our love for God and our reverence for His greatness. Paul reminds us that all things in worship should be done “in a fitting and orderly way” because our God is a God of peace, not confusion.

1 Corinthians 14:33, 40: For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people… But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Fourth, we should worship and fellowship with all true believers, not just those in our immediate circle. When Hezekiah restored the Passover celebration, he didn’t limit the invitation to the people of Judah. He sent messengers throughout all Israel, including the northern tribes that had separated from David’s kingdom.

2 Chronicles 30:1-5: Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month… So they decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel.

1 John 1:3: We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

True worship transcends denominational boundaries and connects us with all who genuinely know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Notebook Moment: Think about your own worship habits. Are there ways you could encourage other believers more actively in their spiritual growth? How might you reach out to fellow Christians outside your usual fellowship?)

Fifth, we must be willing to abandon traditions that have become obstacles to true worship. One of Hezekiah’s most remarkable acts was destroying the bronze serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness. This serpent had been used by God to heal the Israelites when they were bitten by poisonous snakes, but over the centuries it had become an object of worship itself.

2 Kings 18:4: He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

Sometimes even good things can become idols if we’re not careful. Religious traditions, church programs, or spiritual practices that once drew us closer to God can become substitutes for God Himself. We need the courage to evaluate our worship honestly and remove anything that has taken the place of wholehearted devotion to Christ.

Sixth, worship should be a celebration of God’s goodness. When the people responded to Hezekiah’s reforms, the king didn’t take credit for what God had accomplished through him.

2 Chronicles 29:36: Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.

True worship always acknowledges that God is the source of every blessing and victory in our lives. When good things happen through our efforts, we should be quick to give God the credit and celebrate His goodness rather than our own accomplishments.

The Responsibility of Faithful Stewardship

Hezekiah was not only a man of worship—he was also an excellent steward of the resources God had given him. When the mighty Assyrian empire threatened to destroy Judah, Hezekiah’s careful management of people and materials enabled his nation to survive this crisis.

The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, brought a massive army against Jerusalem and demanded that the city surrender. He taunted the people and mocked their God, claiming that no god had been able to stand against the power of Assyria.

2 Kings 18:28, 32-35: Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!… Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

Hezekiah’s response reveals the proper balance between trusting God and using the abilities He has given us. The king immediately turned to prayer and sought God’s guidance through the prophet Isaiah. But he also took practical steps to strengthen Jerusalem’s defenses and prepare for a siege.

2 Kings 19:14-15: Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.”

At the same time, Hezekiah took action to protect his people:

2 Chronicles 32:2-5: When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land… He worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.

This balance between prayer and preparation teaches us important lessons about stewardship. God expects us to use wisely the resources, abilities, and opportunities He has given us, while still depending on Him for the ultimate outcome.

First, we are called to be faithful stewards of everything God has entrusted to us. Just as Hezekiah managed the resources of his kingdom wisely, we should carefully manage our time, money, abilities, and opportunities for God’s glory.

Jesus taught this principle clearly in His parable of the talents:

Matthew 25:14-15: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

In this parable, the master commended the servants who invested their talents and produced a return, but he condemned the servant who buried his talent and produced nothing. The lesson is clear: God expects us to use what He has given us productively, not to waste or hide our gifts.

Second, faithful stewardship requires both diligence and dependence on God. Hezekiah worked hard to prepare Jerusalem’s defenses, but he never forgot that victory would come from the Lord, not from human strength.

2 Chronicles 32:7-8: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.

This teaches us that we should work diligently with the gifts and opportunities God has given us, while remembering that our ultimate confidence must be in God’s power, not our own efforts. (Notebook Moment: What gifts, resources, or opportunities has God entrusted to you? How can you be a more faithful steward of these things while maintaining proper dependence on God’s strength rather than your own?)

Third, good stewardship includes wise management of material resources. Hezekiah was known for his building projects and his careful management of Judah’s wealth. He built storage facilities, managed water systems, and strengthened the city’s defenses—all while maintaining proper worship and spiritual priorities.

2 Chronicles 32:27-30: Hezekiah had very great wealth and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and olive oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches. It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David.

The key phrase in this passage is “God had given him very great riches.” Hezekiah understood that his wealth came from God, and he used it responsibly for the benefit of his people and the security of his kingdom.

For us, this means we should manage our financial resources carefully, save wisely, give generously, and use what we have been given to serve God and help others. Whether we have much or little, we are called to be faithful stewards of whatever God has placed in our hands.

The Danger of Seeking Personal Glory

Despite his many godly qualities, Hezekiah made a serious mistake that teaches us a vital warning. When he became seriously ill, God graciously healed him and added fifteen years to his life. The healing was so remarkable that even the king of Babylon sent envoys to inquire about this miracle.

Isaiah 38:1-5: In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord… Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.'”

Unfortunately, this great blessing became a source of pride for Hezekiah. When the Babylonian envoys came to visit, he showed them all his treasures and military resources, essentially putting his wealth and power on display.

2 Chronicles 32:31: But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.

Isaiah 39:2: Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

This prideful display brought severe consequences. Isaiah prophesied that everything Hezekiah had shown to the Babylonians would eventually be carried away to Babylon, and that his own descendants would serve in the Babylonian court.

The lesson for us is clear and sobering: we must never try to take credit for what God has accomplished through us. When God blesses our efforts, whether in ministry, business, family, or any other area of life, we must be careful to give Him the glory.

1 Corinthians 1:29-31: So that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Galatians 6:14: May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Pride is particularly dangerous for those whom God has blessed with success or recognition. When others compliment our work, when our ministries grow, when our businesses prosper, or when people look up to us as examples, we face the constant temptation to begin thinking that we deserve the credit.

The antidote to this pride is to remember constantly that every good thing in our lives comes from God’s grace, not our own merit. We should celebrate God’s goodness when He blesses our efforts, but we should never forget that apart from Him, we can do nothing of eternal value.

Conclusion

King Hezekiah’s life teaches us three essential lessons that every believer needs to embrace. First, we must make worship the foundation and priority of our lives, not just in our personal devotions but in how we encourage others and approach every aspect of our relationship with God. True worship involves both reverence for God’s holiness and celebration of His goodness, while remaining open to fellowship with all genuine believers and willing to abandon anything that has become a substitute for wholehearted devotion to Christ.

Second, we are called to be faithful stewards of everything God has entrusted to us—our time, abilities, resources, and opportunities. This stewardship requires diligent work and wise management, while maintaining ultimate dependence on God’s power rather than our own strength. Just as the servants in Jesus’ parable were expected to invest their talents productively, we are accountable to God for how we use what He has given us.

Third, we must vigilantly guard against the pride that seeks to take credit for God’s work in our lives. (Notebook Moment: Think about areas where God has blessed you or worked through you recently. Are you giving Him the glory, or are you tempted to take credit for these successes? How can you better maintain a heart of humility and dependence on God?)

The same God who blessed Hezekiah’s wholehearted devotion is ready to bless our lives when we worship Him with sincere hearts and manage His gifts with faithful diligence. But He is also the same God who opposes the proud and humbles those who forget that every good gift comes from His hand.

May we learn from Hezekiah’s example to pursue God with our whole hearts, to steward His gifts faithfully, and to give Him all the glory for whatever He accomplishes through us. When we do these things, we can trust that like Hezekiah, we will prosper in every work we begin in service to our God.

James 4:6: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

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