“Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repaired them. He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple. He said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary. Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned the Lord and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors to the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel. “That is why the Lord’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured. But now I will make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.””
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2 Chronicles‬ ‭29‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT

Hezekiah made a covenant with God to return the priesthood and the people back to temple worship. Though many covenants had been made with God before, Hezekiah stands out for being the initiator of the covenant. He rightfully recognized that the people had to commit on a personal level and that this commitment had to be made in the present. It couldn’t merely be the commitment of his fathers, or his father’s father. The scripture records that this covenant brought along with it good morale to the people because it was treated with expediency and personal conviction. In modern speech, we might say that people became on fire for God. It should be of great note to us that there comes a time when legacy is not enough. Those with good history can choose bad futures. Those with bad histories can choose good futures. The most important thing is that moment where we choose. This is a Christian ought. We must not simply float upon the legacies we’ve been handed but we must also choose them to be accepted or rejected. This moment of resolve is an empowering moment. Hezekiah chose to restore the temple system to the glory of God. It was a blessed choice, whose commitment, inspired its success. This is the choice we too ought to make. Will we not just accept his blessings and his covenants but also initiate our own? Doing so might just inspire a whole new generation of believers and leave a profound impression on the community of faith.

Hezekiah’s Covenant: Hezekiah initiated a covenant with God to restore temple worship, emphasizing personal commitment in the present.

Impact of the Covenant: The covenant brought good morale and a renewed dedication to God among the people.

Importance of Personal Choice: Legacy alone is insufficient; individuals must actively choose to accept or reject the covenants and blessings passed down to them.