Observation: For the first time in hundreds of years, a king of Judah - Hezekiah - embraces the correct practices "just like his father David". Every king before that has done right in the eyes of the Lord still falls short because they fail to remove the Asherah poles and alters that have been placed on the high places. In other words, even the ones who honor the Lord still leave open opportunity for people to worship other gods, and leave in place the mechanisms for them to do so. Not Hezekiah.
By removing the options, Hezekiah is the one king who truly stands firm in faith of Yahweh. As a result, he finds great favor with the Lord, He quickly recaptures western land held by the Philistines, and withstands one of the great invasions in history, which is that of Assyria. By contrast, Assyria will destroy a dozen other nations, and will completely eradicate the northern kingdom of Israel. However, by not only his faith but by removing the temptations of other alternative gods, Hezekiah will withstand Assyria.
Application: This is my problem. I have great faith in the Lord. However, I have left the Asherah poles and other sacred stones in place. In my pride, I give myself options of what I do and say. When I sin - cursing, coveting, lusting, lying, being angry, etc. - it is because I have left those behaviors as options in my life.
I should not have options even available. When I can honor and obey the Lord ... OR do something else ... eventually I (like others) will do the something else. Sure, the solution can be to just not do that. But a more effective option, as shown by Hezekiah, is to remove the options.
Prayer: Lord, I will begin this process of removing such options in my life. I will cut down the Asherah poles and smash the sacred stones. I desire only your love. Amen.
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