“Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 2 Kings 18:1-2 (NKJV)
Is it any wonder that Hezekiah was considered a good king? His grandfather was Zechariah! Zechariah is remembered for having called the people to return to the Lord and to end worshipping idols. His mother’s name, Abi, means my father is Yahweh. Even though she married King Ahaz, a ruler known for his unfaithfulness to God, she would have heard first-hand the counsel of the Lord from Zechariah and then she would have taught those principles to her son.
Unlike some of the kings who are described as “good,” who did not get rid of the altars to idols in the high places, Hezekiah did rid the land of open idolatry. It is highly likely that the influence of his mother contributed to how he handled himself after becoming king.
Not enough can be said about the importance of having a mother who trusts in the Lord. Listen to Cynthia Clawson as she sings “My Mother’s Faith.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 2/24/25, 6:00 am