2 Chronicles 29:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king … He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.

For Meditation

I have met many in my life who have registered themselves as permanent victims of their parents’ poor lifestyle. “I grew up in a violent home and my dad always came home drunk” they say. If you have the time, they will never disappoint you with childhood tales that can churn your tummy for a throw up. They see their current situation as the result of those sinful behaviors of their parents, and nothing could change that. That may be partly true; for our lives are conditioned by our immediate environment. We take after our parents, and like copy cats, we imitate their idiosyncrasies as we grow – even those we hate the most. A walk through the history of Israel and Judah reveals several examples of this phenomenon. However, it doesn’t have to be that way for you. Your story can be different.

Hezekiah’s father was one of the wicked kings of Judah. For sixteen years, King Ahaz reigned in Jerusalem with idolatry as his signet ring. “He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel … made cast idols for worshipping the Baals … burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites” (2 Chron. 28: 2-3). Hezekiah could have taken after him, but he didn’t. In fact, Hezekiah became one of the best kings of Judah (29:2). While his father filled Judah with Baal worship and human sacrifice, Hezekiah did just the opposite.

“Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now … Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him … Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem … Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us” (5-10). What a man! But how did he do it?

At twenty-five when Hezekiah succeeded his father, he could reason for himself and make his own decisions. He may have read the history of Israel and of the kingship. He may have been impressed by the life of King David, so he tailored his life after him. His example was not Ahaz, but King David (2).

In the same way, you can look past your seriously faulted parents, and look to Jesus, “the Author and Perfecter of our faith” as your perfect model for life (Heb. 12:2). In Christ, you do not have to live that sinful shattered life of your parents (1 Pt. 1:18). His life transforming power will lift you above the low life of this world.

Again, Christ has blessed us with matured brothers and sisters in Himself that we can look up to for counseling and mentoring. By their examples, we could enjoy life above the disappointments of our parental experiences.

You come from a broken home. Fine! But, it doesn’t have to be that way for you. So, don’t be afraid! Don’t remain a victim of the complaining and blame-them syndrome! There is victory for you in Christ.

Like Hezekiah, you have a mind of your own now. Surrender it to Jesus and experience His resurrection power in your life.

Shalom