The hearts of men are deceptive. Without a proper understanding of our own heart condition, we will never be able to understand the fullness of the Gospel or comprehend all that the Spirit of God is trying to accomplish in our hearts, namely sanctification. Left on our own, we are very much like the Israelite Nation who turned its back on her deliverer and sustainer, seeking more “accommodating” gods, which as we saw yesterday led to their enslavement (literal and spiritual).
So where does our hope lie, where can we go to find a companion to lead, guide and instruct our lives? Within the heart of the Old Testament we have glimpses of what a life centered around God’s revelation looks like. Such is the life of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah was devoted wholly to the Lord and His counsel. His devotion did not stem from his own imagination or creative plan, but seeking to follow the path well trodden by his “father” (very distant grandfather) King David, Hezekiah set his sites on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who revealed himself through Moses and the Law.
In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). 5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. (ESV)
Whenever I read this passage within its immediate context, I find myself asking, “where did this guy come from?” and here I am again wondering how on earth in the midst of such idolatry and decay we find a man who turns aside from the culture-saturated forms of worship to seek out the Living God who demands worship to be on His terms according to His will. Nevertheless, Here is this son of David who:
- Trusted in the Lord (vv.5)
- He held fast to the Lord (vv.6).
- He Followed God and kept His commands (vv.6).
- He prospered (vv.7).
- He rebelled against opposition (vs.4 & 7b).
Hezekiah, unlike his Israelite brothers, had an undivided heart before the Lord. His gaze was set upon the commands of God and the example of godly forerunners. The work God accomplished in the life of Hezekiah proves that God is exactly who he says he is. Consider Exodus 34:6-8
6 The Lord passed before him [Moses] and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. (ESV)
This passage, which has become central to my understanding of the Lord God, reveals God’s intent not only for Israel but all peoples everywhere and the generations that spring up from those who follow the Lord, even those who turn from him in rebellion. Hezekiah’s devotion to the Lord was not ill-informed, but fully informed of who God said he was. Until we come to grips with who we are (rebels and idolaters) and begin to understand who God is, we will always be content with false gods who leave us lacking, wanting, and dead. But once we devote ourselves fully to the God revealed in scripture we will find life and be completely alive to the joys of obedience. A heart undivided will always look to the God unmatched to provide god-honoring ways to magnify, serve, and glorify this One True God.
In closing, lets meditate and consider our hearts by reading Davids prayer in Psalm 51:
Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (ESV)
