Lessons For Revival From King Hezekiah

      The life of king Hezekiah teaches lessons for revival. According to 2 Chronicles 29:1, Hezekiah began to rule as king when he was twenty-one, and he reigned twenty-nine years. The people of God enjoyed a twenty-nine year revival during his lifetime. One of the most powerful prophets of the Old Testament, Isaiah, prophesied during this long revival. For the next seven days you will learn seven lessons for revival from the life of king Hezekiah, found in 2 Chronicles 29 – 32.

         The Bible says that the first thing the Hezekiah did was to open the doors of the Temple, “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.” 29:3. The word “opened” is the Hebrew word patah, which means to open, to loosen bonds, to set free. It is used most often in the Old Testament to describe opening the mouth, ears, and to unfetter the feet, and hands. The word “repaired” is the Hebrew word kazak, which means to make strong. In other words, Hezekiah opened the doors of the Temple and then propped them open to stay opened. He opened up and set in motion the real strength of Israel; true worship.

         It also says that Hezekiah summons the Levites together and commissioned them saying, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God.” 29:5 – 6. Imagine the boldness of this rookie king, only twenty-one years old, giving such a strong command his first day in office. The word “consecrate” is the Hebrew word qadash, which means to hallow, to make holy, to be holy. It is used three times in verse five, twice as “consecrate” and once as “Holy.” God is holy. He reveals Himself in His word as holy. This is the first request in the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, “Father, hallowed be thy name,” Luke 11:2. It is what God reveals about Himself in His word.

According to 2 Kings 18, Hezekiah followed after king David in keeping God’s commandments. King David was the worship king of Israel. David’s heart had two beats; worship and war. He united the nation of Israel into a worshiping nation with Jerusalem as the hub of that worship. David defeated the enemies of Israel and never lost a battle (except with himself. See 2 Samuel 11). Hezekiah followed David’s example, which is why he began by reestablishing true worship, based upon God’s holiness, according to God’s word.

Revival begins where true worship is opened and kept open. Those who have studied the revivals of the past all agree that repentant prayer always precedes revival. Repentant prayer is result of God opening up a sinner’s ear to hear His word, the sinner’s eyes to His holiness, then the sinner’s mouth to confess and clean out the filth of sin. Revival is strengthened by revived leaders, like Hezekiah, calling the people of God to follow and keep the word of God. When God opens the ears of His people to hear His word, He reveals His holiness, His power, His love, and there is an invitation to repent, to turn back to Him. This is known as true worship. Revival follows true worship.

Some would say that revival leads to worship. Revival does not produce worship; worship produces revival, because true worship is the result of the revelation of God, of Himself, from His word. When God’s people respond to His revelation of Himself, their eyes are opened to the attributes and true nature of God by their ears having been opened by God to His word. As they respond with repentant prayer, gratitude, and praise, revival results. God will not revive the flesh; He gives life to the spirit in the Spirit of holiness. God gives the gift of revival through true worship. This is one of the ways of God; He gives through, and He gives revival through true worship.

If ever asked, “What comes first, revival or worship?” know that the answer is worship. In fact, no matter what the question is, the answer is always true worship!