TODAY’S READING: II KINGS 17-20
OVERVIEW:
Israelcarried away; Reign of Hezekiah
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
The judgment of Jeroboam’s sin inIsraelcomes today. God has warned through his prophets; God has disciplined through other nations. Now judgment comes. Twenty kings through 200 years have had opportunities to repent and obey the word of the Lord. Psalm 86:5 reminds us: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” The Lord sent prophets and was ready to forgive, but II Kings17:14gives the heart of the matter: “They would not hear.” The next few verses say that they rejected his statutes and his commandments. Judgment comes because of our will. Proverbs 29:1 says: “He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Chapters 18 through 20 reveal the life of a king unlike any others in thelandofJudahbecause “he trusted in the Lord God.” Hezekiah accomplished great things inJudah: he destroyed the idolatry; conquered the Philistines; resisted the Assyrians; fortified his city and built great water works. But his real legacy is in chapter 18: he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord; he trusted in the Lord God; he departed not from following the Lord; the Lord was with him and he prospered wherever he went.
Hezekiah’s life was not without troubles though. His faith and dependence on the Lord was tested severely. His trust in the Lord was specifically challenged and ridiculed publicly by the messengers fromAssyria. The messengers spoke scornfully in detail of his religious reforms. Hezekiah’s immediate response to trouble was prayer and seeking God’s word. The answer returns: “Be not afraid. . .I will cause him to fall” in II Kings 19:6, 7. When a threatening letter came from the king ofAssyria, Hezekiah again was immediately in prayer to the Lord. God’s answer was: “I have heard your prayer. . . the king ofAssyria, he shall not come into this city.” The Lord miraculously delivers Hezekiah and thelandofJudah.
In chapter 20, Hezekiah’s faith is tested through his health. Verse 6 reveals that this time of trial comes during the conflicts with the king ofAssyria. The public challenges were compounded with private health issues. Hezekiah’s response is consistent; he prayed!
Through the trials and life of Hezekiah we learn about “trusting the Lord.” Some of the Psalms that could have encouraged Hezekiah are:
Psalm 18:3 – As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalm 20:7 – Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 25:2 – O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Psalm 32:10 – Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Psalm 33:21 – For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Psalm 44:6 – For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
Psalm 56:11 – In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Psalm 118:8 – It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 143:8 – Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As TEACHER – II Kings17:27(Mark 4:1; John 3:2)
As CLEANSER OF THETEMPLE– II Kings 18:4 (Matthew21:12; Mark11:15; John2:15) As A MAN OF PRAYER – II Kings19:15(John 17; Matthew 26:39; Luke5:16;22:32)