MAY 16

Chapters 29 and 30 record the reign of Hezekiah. The people
of God had gone through a long spiritual famine. King after king had
gone in the ways of idolatry and sin. But suddenly Hezekiah, the son
of Ahaz, appears on the scene. Like a fresh breath of God’s air,
revival immediately begins to sweep the nation. Why? Verse 2 of
chapter 29 tells us, “And he did that which was right in the sight
of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.” In
the records of most of the former kings, this phrase is missing. But
it shows that Hezekiah followed the ways of David, the man after
God’s own heart. His father, Ahaz, had shut up the doors of the
house of the Lord. The first thing Hezekiah did was open the doors
and repair them. And notice that he did this in the very first month
of his reign. He acted with haste. There was no delay in his dealing
with sin. He realized that all revival must begin at the house of
God. Verse 36 of chapter 29 says, “And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all
the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done
suddenly.”

Chapter 30 also records the observance of the Passover.
There is rejoicing in all of Israel. True worship was restored and
great offerings were brought. God blessed all the efforts of
Hezekiah.

In chapter 31 we read, “And in every work that he began in
the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the
commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and
prospered.” Hezekiah was a man dedicated to serving God with all his
heart. Note particularly in chapter 31 that he rooted out idolatry
and restored the Temple ritual.