Topical Bible: Temptation: Yielding to Hezekiah

◄ Temptation: Yielding to Hezekiah ►

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Introduction

The concept of temptation is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often illustrating the struggle between human weakness and divine strength. In the context of King Hezekiah, temptation is explored through his interactions with foreign powers and his response to divine blessings. 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. However, like many biblical figures, he faced temptations that tested his faith and reliance on God.

Hezekiah's Reign and Religious Reforms

Hezekiah's reign is marked by significant religious reforms aimed at purifying the worship practices in Judah. He is credited with removing high places, breaking sacred pillars, and cutting down the Asherah poles (2 Kings 18:4). His commitment to God is highlighted 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."

The Temptation of Pride and Wealth

Despite his faithfulness, Hezekiah was not immune to temptation. One of the most significant instances occurred after God miraculously healed him and extended his life by fifteen years (2 Kings 20:1-6). During this time, envoys from Babylon visited Hezekiah, and he showed them all the treasures of his kingdom. This act of pride and ostentation is recorded in 2 Kings 20:13 : "And Hezekiah received the messengers and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory and everything that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them."

Prophetic Rebuke and Consequences

Hezekiah's decision to display his wealth to the Babylonians was a moment of yielding to the temptation of pride and self-reliance. The prophet Isaiah confronted Hezekiah, foretelling the future consequences of his actions. Isaiah declared that the treasures of Judah would be carried off to Babylon, and some of Hezekiah's descendants would become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon (2 Kings 20:16-18).

Hezekiah's Response

In response to Isaiah's prophecy, Hezekiah demonstrated humility and acceptance of God's will. He acknowledged the word of the LORD as good, saying, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?" (2 Kings 20:19). This response reflects a complex interplay between human frailty and divine sovereignty, illustrating how even a righteous king like Hezekiah could succumb to temptation yet still find a path to repentance and submission to God's plan.

Lessons from Hezekiah's Temptation

Hezekiah's experience serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the importance of humility before God. It underscores the need for vigilance against temptation, even for those who are committed to following God's commandments. The narrative of Hezekiah reminds believers of the importance of relying on God's strength rather than personal achievements or material wealth.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 20:12-20
At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
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Isaiah 39:1-4,6,7
At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
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Library

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
... fruit good for food was the temptation that overcame ... When Hezekiah called the priests
to sanctify the temple ... Let us cleanse ourselves in yielding ourselves to ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-fourth day holiness and cleansing.htm

The Main Road --Experiences of Power and Privilege
... Lord Jesus used all His powers in yielding to the ... things too, of a less pleasant
sort, temptation will come ... I was reminded of the line in Hezekiah's song of ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/2 the main roadexperiences of.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... Hezekiah prayed, and the angel of the Lord entered the ... in a spirit of humble submission,
yielding our wills ... It helps us in resisting temptation; and by means ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

Jehovah
... It is the kind of fight that Hezekiah fought when ... nothing but trust the Lord; and
the temptation to take ... to yield; and then we conquer by this very yielding. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 6 jehovah.htm

Tit. 2:06 Thoughts for Young Men
... to say "No!" Here was good King Jehoshaphat's weak point,"he was too easy and yielding
in his ... Texts will rise up in your hearts in the moment of temptation. ...
/.../chapter xix tit 2 6 thoughts.htm

Prov. 22:06 the Duties of Parents
... To my eyes, a parent always yielding, and a child ... to keep your children out of the
way of temptation. ... of Solomon, and Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, and that ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter xvi prov 22 6 the.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of ...
... I was, as at other times, most fiercely assaulted with this temptation, To sell ... He
would let David, Hezekiah, Solomon, Peter, and others, fall; but He would ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/grace abounding to the chief.htm

The General Conference of 1828
... Virginia Conference: Moses Brock, Joseph Carson, Thomas Crowder, Peter Doub, John
Early, Daniel Hall, Henry Holmes, Caleb Leach, Hezekiah G. Leigh, Lewis ...
/.../chapter 9 the general conference.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... of God in England, which art now upon the waves of affliction and temptation, when
thou ... and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm