Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 2 Kings 18 and Psalm 135

King Hezekiah of Judah is a wonderful exception to the old idiom: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” His father was King Ahaz, whose evil idolatry and rebellion against the LORD was on full display in 2 Kings 16. How on earth did this wicked man’s son become the king of whom it is written: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done” (v.3) … “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel … There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him … He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him … he kept the commands the Lord had given … the Lord was with him…” (v.5-7)?

As believers we can see in Hezekiah the prevenient grace of our Lord. The Lord reached into the household of the profoundly evil King Ahaz, to draw his son Hezekiah to Himself. One way He did this was through the prophet Isaiah, whose profound influence on Hezekiah’s faith is to be seen in tomorrow’s chapter and repeatedly in the Book of Isaiah. It seems that Hezekiah came to faith in Yahweh through Isaiah’s ministry, and he also learned the art of trusting the Lord. Early in his reign he trusted the Lord enough to tear down the “high places” which were so popular with the people that even the righteous kings of previous generations had not dared to touch them. Later in his reign it was his trust in Yahweh that helped him to stand firm against the onslaughts of the Assyrians.

As disciples of Jesus it is our privilege to be God’s agents in the lives of other people. It is our particular privilege to have the opportunty to influence the lives of young people in our neighbourhoods, families and even church communities whose parents are not serving the Lord. You never know when the child of someone who seems to be an “Ahaz” may turn out to be a “Hezekiah” when given the opportunity through an “Isaiah” like you. Are you willing to be an Isaiah today?

Lord Jesus, I place myself at Your disposal. Please use my life as an instrument through which You draw others to Yourself. Please lead me to those in whose lives You want to use me, and empower me to speak into their lives through my words and actions. Amen.