Tested Heart

2 Chronicles 32:31
But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.

I think, without researching it, that this probably has to do with the time(s) Hezekiah gave away all the silver and gold from the Temple in an attempt to save the country and himself. But isn't this how it's going to go most of the time? Testing time comes, and it's all flesh, all of the time.

Sifting. That's what Jesus called it. And I would define it pretty high up there, as a situation that puts you in fear of your life. This is not whether or not to give back the extra change at the store. Nevertheless. I think this kind of heart test can be passed, with sufficient study and practice.

Proud Heart and Repentance

2 Chronicles 32:24-26
24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

I'm including two hearts here. . .well, one heart, one proud heart belonging to Hezekiah. I'm in awe at the story of this king. It's a big, bold, colorful story of a charismatic son of Judah. It goes on for several chapters, and the book of 2 Kings may have still more detail. It gives, for example, his prayer when he thought he was going to die. This version only recounts briefly the journey of his heart.
I feel guilty at the statement that Hezekiah did not respond to the kindness shown him. How often has this been me? When my kids drive off, I beg God to take care of them, but I am less consistent about thanking him when I hear they arrived safely. Am I putting myself in line for wrath with my prideful heart? How different would my life be if I could always be aware of God's kindness?

Wholehearted Work

2 Chronicles 31:21
In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

After the Passover, the revival spilled over the land, as the attendees took it on themselves to purify the countryside from the evil of false worship. Then the spirit of renewal circled back home, where the people gave to the Temple until the Levites were all provided for and the storerooms were full.
This whole thing began with the godly leadership of Hezekiah. He sought God and worked wholeheartedly. I like that. I want to work wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly. He prospered! I admit it, I want to prosper!

Seeking Hearts Are Healed

2 Chronicles 30:18-20
18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." 20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

Following the initial worship at the newly-opened Temple, Hezekiah decided to celebrate the Passover, though it wasn't the right day. Some people scoffed at the idea, but some "humbled themselves." I like that. We go around full of pride, ready to scorn any plan that wasn't our own. In Judah, they had a richer revival experience yet, as the very hand of God touched them with unity.
This is a nice foreshadowing of the end of Jewish ritual in favor of spiritual worship. Some of those who came had not been able to achieve ritual purity, but God honored the king's prayer that God would look on their hearts.

Hearts and Offerings

2 Chronicles 29:31
Then Hezekiah said, "You have now dedicated yourselves to the LORD. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the LORD." So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.

Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz...the kings go by, their hearts' condition unremarked. Then good King Hezekiah arrives, an oasis of righteousness in the increasingly parched history of Israel. Somehow he had in him the spirit of true worship, as David had. In his first month, he opened the doors of the temple and energized the Levites to restore the temple.
There was music, offerings, praise and worship. As the 36th verse notes, everyone rejoiced, because God had done it all so quickly. God, please work in our hearts. Make us willing to bring offerings, even sacrificial ones.

Right, But Not Wholehearted

2 Chronicles 25:2
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.

All sorts of bloody, barbaric action comes the chapters between the death of Ahaziah and the reign of Amaziah, his grandson. There was the dragon queen, who seized the throne after her son Ahaziah's death, and sometimes-good King Joash, who, interestingly, left no record on his heart disposition.
For his son Amaziah, there is this sad legacy. On the good side is the fact that he took God's direction and sent home Israelite soldiers he'd hired, then enjoyed a great victory. Yet his very next act was to take home the gods of Seir and worship them.
He met an odd end, for a king of Judah. After he turned away from God, "they" conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but "they" sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there (v. 27). It was said he outlived Jehoash of Israel after the latter had dealt him a humiliating defeat, so when was this turning point? Maybe it was a long-brewing conspiracy. Who was this shadowy "they"?