What Made Hezekiah Great?
A. WHO WAS HEZEKIAH?
1. 12th King of Judah, son of evil Ahaz and Abi, begins reign at 25 in 726 B. C.
2. When Israel fell, he refused to serve Assyria and fought Philistia.
3. Forms alliance with Babylon against Assyria and fends of Sennacharib twice.
4. Dies one year later, leaving Judah prosperous and peaceful.
B. 2 Kings 18:5. WHAT MADE HEZEKIAH GREAT?
A. AHAZ ONE OF THE WORST KINGS( 2 Kings 16:1-4 ).
B. MANY RIGHTEOUS MEN ARISE FROM WICKED PARENT & VICE VERSA.
1. Gideon( Judges 6:25 - father's name Joash ). Josiah( Amon - 2 Kngs 21:20 ).
2. Eli( 1 Sam. 2:22-26 )and Samuel's( 8:1-3 )sons.
C. ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT( Prov. 22:6 ).
D. BUT EACH MUST ANSWER FOR HIMSELF( Ez. 18:19-20; Rom. 14:12 ).
A. A YOUNG KING AT 25.
B. EXPERIENCE DOES COUNT FOR SOMETHING( Prov. 3:1-7 ).
C. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING GREATER( Psa. 119:97-105 ).
A. THIS WAS A WEAKNESS( 2 Kings 20:12-18 ).
B. Prov. 16:18; Luke 12:15. PRIDE IN THE MATERIAL.
C. 1 Cor. 10:12. SPIRITUAL HAUGHTINESS.
A. HE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN GOD'S EYES( vs. 3 ).
1. Man's will and God's conflict( Col. 2:8 ).
2. Man's sometimes seems so logical( Prov. 16:25 ).
3. There is pressure to follow men( Acts 5:29; Gal. 1:10 ).
B. HE WAS UNCOMPROMISING IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1. His first act was to destroy the idols & cleanse God's house
( 2 Kings 18:4; 2 Chron. 29-3-11 ).
2. Immediately began reform, no hesitation or doubt( 2 Chron. 29:3, 36 ).
3. Matt. 6:24; 1 Kings 18:21.
C. HE TRUSTED GOD( vs. 5; Heb. 11:8-19, 6 ).
D. HE CLAVE TO THE LORD( vs. 6; Heb. 3:6, 14; 4:14; 10:23 ).
E. HE DID WHAT GOD SAID( vs. 6; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3; Matt. 7:21 ).