Hezekiah’s Leadership

Hezekiah had chosen to go in the opposite direction of that taken by his father.  Where Ahaz had tried to discourage the people from serving god, closing the Temple and scattering the priests, Hezekiah reopened the Temple, cleaning it out and putting the priests back to work.  He chose to celebrate the Passover as God had commanded, and led the people to get right with God.  Israel and Judah had not celebrated God’s blessings in such a way since Solomon’s time.  They did not stop with the Passover, however, as II Chronicles 31:1-3 tells us. 

“Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.  He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.” 

Hezekiah had set the example by cleaning out the Temple and th people followed by cleaning out the idols and places of false worship throughout the land.  Hezekiah continued to develop qualified men to take the different positions in the Temple and worship service.  Still leading by example, he took responsibility for seeing that the needed sacrifices for the daily offerings, the special Sabbath offerings, the special offerings on the first of the month and those for special events were provided from his own wealth.  Only after he had done his share did he ask others to give as well, as II Chronicles 31:4-5 explains. 

“Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.  And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.” 

While Hezekiah was covering the costs of the day to day ministry, he asked the people to pay the priest’s wages.  He recognized the importance of the people paying their pastor’s wages, because it encourages the people who give, making them understand they play a an important role in the ministry, while encouraging the pastors that the people appreciate the work they do.  As a result, the people grew spiritually, and also gave abundantly.  They could understand that the priests and Levites needed to be paid for their work.  Even people who had not been requested to give began to give, according to II Chronicles 31:5-10.

“And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.  In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.  Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.  And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.” 

When people feel something is worthwhile, and that their efforts to help are appreciated and valuable, they have no qualms about getting involved in the work or contributing.  They tend to devote themselves to whatever cause is involved.  If they begin to feel that their input and efforts are not of much importance however, or fail to see the value of the cause itself, they have little incentive to become more involved, either in learning and participation, or in giving to support the cause.  These principles apply whether one is talking about building a church, or some other kind of organization. 

Whether or not the application of these principles will result in spiritual growth depends largely on the attitudes of the leaders.  A leader who is focused on developing a closer relationship with the Lord can use these principles to help his people draw closer to the Lord, while one who is focused on enhancing his reputation by building a larger organization will focus attention on the organization rather than the spiritual walk.   Superficially, the two may appear almost the same, but closer examination shows they are very different. 

Hezekiah was focused on pleasing his God, in every area, as we see in II Chronicles 31:20-21.  “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.  And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”  Other kings had devoted their efforts to expanding the kingdom, or destroying their enemies, but Hezekiah focused on doing what God wanted with his whole heart.  As a result, God blessed him, so that he prospered in everything he did.