[2020 Series] Legacy: Limited or Launched?Sample

How Hezekiah Launched His Legacy

For the past two days, we have focused on an incident in King Hezekiah’s life that put his legacy in jeopardy: he did not give glory to God, recognizing Him as the Owner and Provider of his riches. The king’s folly brought a dreadful prophecy over his life and put in jeopardy the legacy that would have belonged to his children. 

But what launched his legacy before this incident took place? As we read in 2 Kings chapters 18 and 19, Hezekiah’s faithfulness launched his legacy: he held fast to the Lord and kept God’s commandments. The way in which he trusted in the Lord made him prosper in everything he did. 

Hezekiah was one of the few kings of Judah who removed the high places and broke the pillars that were used for pagan worship. He loved God more than anything, even if he had to go against what the majority of people were doing. He led the people of Judah towards God, removing anything that would elevate itself above God. His faithfulness elevated God and eliminated distractions. God was the number one priority in Hezekiah’s life.

In view of this vital example, we should ask ourselves: “Is there anything in my life that makes me love God less than what He is worthy of? What is my number one priority in life? When I have a problem, who is the first person I go to?” The answer to these questions will undeniably show us our true colors.

Today, you will read another chapter of Hezekiah’s life that showed his “true colors.” He was once defied by the king of Assyria–Sennacherib. This awful king threatened the people of Judah, saying that God could not deliver them from his hand. He felt powerful because he had previously destroyed other nations and their gods.

King Hezekiah’s reaction was exemplary–he went to the house of the Lord to pray and worship. The first thing he did when he was faced with a terrible threat to his life, kingdom, riches, and people was to go to the source of his strength. He recognized God’s power and asked Him to save them so that all the kingdoms of the earth would know that only He is God and that there is no other. His prayer not only saved him and Judah from their enemy, but also launched Hezekiah’s legacy.