2 Chronicles 29:1-2 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

The accession of Hezekiah.

I. HIS PERSON .

1 . His name. Hezekiah, "The might of Jehovah;" Hizkiyah ( 2 Kings 18:1 ); Hiskiyahu ( 2 Chronicles 29:1 ; Isaiah 36:1 ; Isaiah 37:1 , Isaiah 37:3 ); with which last corresponds Hazakijau, or Hazakiau, of the Assyrian inscriptions.

2 . His parentage. His father Ahaz ( 2 Chronicles 28:27 ), to whom while yet a lad he must have been born (see homily on 2 Chronicles 28:1-27 ); his mother Abijah, "Father of Jehovah"—in shortened form, Abi ( 2 Kings 18:2 ), the daughter of Zechariah, "a citizen of Jerusalem" (Josephus), perhaps the son of Jeberechiah, a contemporary of Ahaz ( Isaiah 8:2 )," not improbably the favourite prophet of Uzziah" (Stanley).

II. HIS REIGN .

1 . Its commencement.

2 . Its close. After twenty-nine years-upwards of a quarter of a century; a long time for a thoughtful sovereign to bear the responsibilities of a crown, even had the period been peaceful, much more when it was full of trouble and anxiety, both on account of the social and religious degeneracy of his own people, and the threatenings and dangers arising from foreign foes. It was hardly wonderful that Hezekiah's health should have broken down under the intense strain to which it was subjected.

3 . Its contents. These may be gathered from 2 Kings (18-20.), 2 Chronicles (29-32.), and Isaiah (36-39.). The principal events were:

(10) The reception of a blasphemous letter from Sennacherib, with the prayer to which it led ( 2 Chronicles 32:20 ; 2 Kings 19:8-34 ; Isaiah 37:8-35 ).

(11) The destruction of Sennacherib's army ( 2 Chronicles 32:21 ; 2 Kings 19:35 ; Isaiah 37:36 ).

(12) The extension of Hezekiah's fame in consequence of this deliverance ( 2 Chronicles 32:23 ).

III. HIS CHARACTER .

1 . Good. "He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done" (verse 2). With this agrees the testimony of 2 Kings ( 2 Kings 18:5 , 2 Kings 18:6 ), that,his piety

2 . Energetic. Sufficiently apparent from the above-recited record of his life. Besides being a pious sovereign, he was a military commander of pronounced skill and undaunted courage ( 2 Chronicles 32:3-8 ), a wise and judicious civil administrator ( 2 Chronicles 32:27-30 ), a zealous and unwearied religious reformer (ch. 29-31.), a student and patron of letters ( Proverbs 25:1 ), an antiquarian and a poet ( 2 Chronicles 32:27 ; 2 Kings 23:12 ; Isaiah 38:9-20 ). In short, Hezekiah was "one of the most splendid princes that ever adorned the throne of David, and whose reign of nine and twenty years exhibits an almost unclouded picture of persistent struggles against the most embarrassed and difficult circumstances, crowned with elevating victories" (Ewald, 'History of Israel,' 4:172).

Learn:

1 . That Divine grace is stronger than hereditary corruption.

2 . That God can raise up great men when such are demanded by the times.

3 . That the hidden root of all true nobility in man is faith in God, and steadfast adherence to truth and right.—W.