The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 322

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-8.-The secret of a successful life; or, trust in God, and its results. What a refreshiag contrast to some of the lives we have been considering, is this description of the life of Ilezekiah I How pleasant it is to read of such a life as bis, after we have read of so many kings of Judah and Israel, that " they did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" I It is a pleasant contrast even to the life of Hezekiah's own father Ahaz. It is a somewhat strange thing that, brought up amid such evil surroundings, Hezekiah should have turned out so well. '!'he chances were all against him. His father's example was anything but fa"ourable to the development of religion in bis son. How careful parents should be as to the example they set their children I The best help parents can give their children to begin life with is god:y traiuing and a Christian example. I read lately, "that of the anarchists at Chicago, who were executed for their crimes some time ago, almost all had either been deprived of their pareats when young, or bad never received any home training; they had never been to a Sunday school; the influences surrounding them had been utterly godless." \Vhat a responsi- bility rests on parents to train their children well I Much of their future l,appiness depends upon the h.ome life of childhood and youth. Perhaps Hezekiah had a good mother. Perhaps he had been entrusted to the care of some one of the priests who remained faithful to God amid the prevailing unfaithl"ulness, idolat.ry, and sin. Perhaps he was early brought under the influence of Isaiah. At any rate, we read of him that l,e did right in the sight of the Lord. He is singled out for special praise. It is said of him that" he trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him" (ver. 6). What was the consequence? Just what the consequence will be to all who put their trust in the Lord and walk in bis ways: "The Lol'd was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went furth." I. '!'RUST IN Goo LEADS TO PERSONAL RELIGION. Hezekiah's faith in God was not e. mere idle profession. It did not consist in the mere belief of certain historical facts. It did not consist in the mere assent to certain doct.rinal truths. It did not consist in the mere observance of certain outward forms and ceremonies. It was a real faith. It extended to bis whole life. "He did that which was right in the sight of the Loni, according to all that David his fotber dill" (ver. 3). "He clavo uuto the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the ll, IUNQB, 2B 870 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [oH. xvm. 1-37,