Topical Bible: Murmuring: Hezekiah

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Introduction

Murmuring, often understood as a form of complaining or expressing discontent, is a recurring theme in the Bible, frequently associated with a lack of faith or trust in God's provision and plan. In the context of King Hezekiah, murmuring is not directly attributed to him but can be examined through the events and challenges he faced during his reign over Judah. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was the 13th king of Judah and is noted for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh.

Hezekiah's Reign and Religious Reforms

Hezekiah ascended to the throne of Judah around 715 BC and reigned for 29 years. His reign is marked by a significant departure from the idolatrous practices of his father, Ahaz. Hezekiah is commended for his faithfulness to God, as recorded in 2 Kings 18:5-6 : "Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commandments that the LORD had given Moses."

Hezekiah's reforms included the removal of high places, the destruction of sacred stones, and the cutting down of Asherah poles. He also broke into pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for the Israelites had begun to burn incense to it (2 Kings 18:4). These actions were aimed at centralizing worship in Jerusalem and purifying the religious practices of the nation.

Challenges and Murmuring Among the People

Despite Hezekiah's efforts to lead Judah back to the worship of Yahweh, his reign was not without challenges. The Assyrian threat loomed large, and the kingdom faced significant military and political pressure. In 701 BC, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. During this time, the people of Judah experienced fear and uncertainty, which could have led to murmuring against Hezekiah's leadership and God's protection.

The Assyrian field commander, the Rabshakeh, attempted to sow seeds of doubt and discontent among the people by questioning their trust in Hezekiah and the LORD. In 2 Kings 18:29-30 , the Rabshakeh proclaimed, "This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, 'The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'"

Hezekiah's Response to Potential Murmuring

In response to the Assyrian threat and the potential murmuring among the people, Hezekiah demonstrated his reliance on God through prayer and seeking the counsel of the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 19:15-19 reflects his deep trust in God: "And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: 'O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.'"

God's response to Hezekiah's faith and prayer was decisive. Through the prophet Isaiah, God assured Hezekiah that the Assyrian king would not enter Jerusalem. In a miraculous deliverance, the angel of the LORD struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, leading to Sennacherib's withdrawal (2 Kings 19:35-36).

Conclusion

While murmuring is not explicitly recorded in the narrative of Hezekiah, the potential for discontent and doubt among the people of Judah was present due to the external threats and challenges they faced. Hezekiah's leadership, characterized by faith and reliance on God, serves as a model for addressing murmuring and maintaining trust in divine providence amidst adversity.

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Isaiah 38:10-18
I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
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Library

The Immutability of God
... Hezekiah prayed a little, and then he came in again ... world"unbelieving, ungrateful,
disobedient, forgetful, rebellious, wandering, murmuring, and stiffnecked. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the immutability of god.htm

But Though Prayer is Properly Confined to Vows and Supplications.. ...
... In like manner, Hezekiah and Jonah declare that they will regard it as the ... of moroseness,
weariness, impatience, bitter grief and fear, use murmuring in their ...
/.../of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 28 but though prayer.htm

2 Kings iv. 25, 26.
... allow one murmuring Word, or one repining Thought." So that, on the whole, the
Sentiment of this good Shunamite was much the same with that of Hezekiah, when ...
/.../submission to divine providence in the death of children/2 kings iv 25 26.htm

Temporal Advantages.
... Impatience with their lot, murmuring, grudging, unthankfulness, discontent, are
sins common to ... Take, for instance, Hezekiah, one of the best of the Jewish kings ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon v temporal advantages.htm

Sovereignty of God in Administration
... back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz to help the weak faith of Hezekiah. ... Therefore,
when we complain about the weather we are, in reality, murmuring against God ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter three sovereignty of god.htm

Numbers
... rather for their religious than their historical significance, eg the murmuring
of the people ... worship, which we know persisted to the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/numbers.htm

The God who Dwells with Men
... He spake to demons, and murmuring, but yet obedient, they came out of their victims ...
As of old the encouragement was given to Hezekiah in his hour of peril, when ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the god who dwells with.htm

Hebrews xii. 28, 29
... Philippians 2:14.) For whatever work a man does with murmuring, he cuts ... 3489] me;
that I may learn Thy statutes." ( Psalm 119:71.) When Hezekiah had received ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxiii hebrews xii 28.htm

Matt. I. 1
... And to Hezekiah He saith, "I will defend this city, for mine own sake ... and insulting,
and now swearing, lying, and taking false oaths; now murmuring, and now ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily ii matt i 1.htm

Jer. 6:16 the Good Way.
... and Samuel,"the paths of David, and Solomon, and Hezekiah, and Jehoshaphat ... class
you will find trouble, care, sorrow, anxiety, murmuring, discontent, and ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter v jer 6 16 the.htm