January 14, 2022
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Reading along with us in 2 Kings? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Kings 18 (NIV)
Hezekiah King of Judah
1 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan)..............Continue Reading
2 Kings 18
How refreshing to read of a king of Judah who fully turns to the Lord. And Hezekiah’s dedication is even more significant when you recognize that Ahaz was his dad. It reenforces the importance of seeking God, believing and following Him because of the truth of who He is independent of anyone around us that encourages us not to do so. And Hezekiah’s obedience is rewarded in the way that God said it would be in the success that he is given in all his endeavors. But obedience and blessing are not a guarantee that there will be no problems. Assyria is the top dog in the area at this point of time in history and they are the instruments God uses to judge the Northern kingdom. After doing that, how easy is it for the king of Assyria to think Judah will now be easy pickings. And what that provides for the king, leaders and people of Judah is an opportunity to believe and trust God in the presence of earthly power and opposition that for all intents and purposes is more powerful and stands outside your city giving you every reason to not trust God or the king and just surrender. The chapter ends with not knowing what the king will do, with the cards right there on the table…..faith or fear?….chapter 19 will show what the king does…and what God does in response….
2 kings 19
2 kings 18
It is nice to see a faithful king again! and while things are still not easy Hezekiah continues to trust (even with a few slip ups) God and you can see how frustrating it is for the king of Assyria when things aren’t just an easy win. The Rabshakeh works hard to shake the faith of the people, make them doubt, and take the easy option of surrender. Much like Satan making what is truly bad for us seem so right and so easy.
Hezekiah……”did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.
And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.”
We are left with a cliff-hanger!