When pride brought God’s wrath on a successful king
What does God care about more in a national leader — his policies, or his holiness?
There’s a clear answer in the story of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
Hezekiah was one of the Bible’s greatest monarchs. He was everything the people could want in a leader: godly and successful. But eventually, he brought God’s wrath upon himself and his nation — not for political wickedness, but personal.
Hezekiah’s revival
Hezekiah followed an evil king, Ahaz, who worshiped foreign gods and closed the temple. In his first month on the throne, Hezekiah reopened the temple and re-established the Levitical priesthood. What he told the Levites showed his heart for the Lord:
“Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.” (2 Chronicles 29:10-11)
Hezekiah brought about national repentance and restored temple worship, including sacrifices and singing. He destroyed all of Judah’s idols and altars. He reinstituted observance of the Passover. He graciously invited what was left of the northern tribes of Israel to worship in Jerusalem. He interceded in prayer for them, and the Lord listened.
The joy of Hezekiah’s kingdom is captured near the end of chapter 30:
25 The whole assembly of Judah rejoiced, also the priests and Levites, all the assembly that came from Israel, the sojourners who came from the land of Israel, and those who dwelt in Judah. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.
And the end of chapter 31 summarizes Hezekiah’s godliness and success:
20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.
Then came the threat of the invading Assyrians under King Sennacherib, who had just conquered the northern kingdom. Hezekiah encouraged his people in the Lord: “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles” (32:8). He and the prophet Isaiah cried out to God, and the Angel of the Lord wiped out 185,000 Assyrians.
What more could a people ask for? Their king led a national revival and helped defeat an army of invaders. From a “policy” standpoint, Hezekiah was impeccable.
Related: But look at the good things King Saul is doing
Hezekiah’s fall
However, later in chapter 32 comes the shocking verse 25:
But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.
Wait, what? God’s wrath? Not only on Hezekiah, but over all of Judah? After everything he did for them? After all of his godly works and victory? How could that be?
One reason: his pride.
God cared more about Hezekiah’s prideful heart than all of his “policies.” That alone provoked the Lord to rescind His favor.
Related: What is the worst sin, and why is it pride?
Hezekiah did repent, and the Lord postponed His wrath until a future generation. But Hezekiah’s revival did not last, not even in his own family.
One of Judah’s greatest kings was immediately followed by its worst. Hezekiah’s son and successor, Manasseh, was a monster. He rebuilt the idols and high places his father tore down. He worshiped other gods and placed altars to them in the temple itself. He practiced sorcery and witchcraft. He even sacrificed his own children in the valley of fire.
With all his godliness and righteous acts, Hezekiah could not prevent the apostasy of his son or the nation. He only delayed the Lord’s wrath on Judah.
Related: The godliest nation of all time failed
Let this be a lesson to those who care only about a leader’s good policies and wins; if that didn’t keep God’s judgment from a devout king, how much less can they redeem an ungodly man? And let it be a lesson to those who think strong political leadership is the answer to a nation’s spiritual problems, who believe revival comes from the top down. If Hezekiah couldn’t bring about lasting change — in God’s chosen nation — who can?
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