Reading II Kings 11 - 19
My Verse: "For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him , but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses" (18:6).
Finally, a king emerges who determines to give his all to You, LORD God. King Hezekiah is the 13th king of Judah after the Israelite kingdom was divided. King Hezekiah holds onto You, LORD God throughout his reign and You blessed him for his devotion.
While there were two other kings before him that did "do right before the LORD" none were as steadfast and wholehearted in their devotion to the LORD God of Judah. Neither of these two other kings did away with the "high places" that were used for heathen worship. This Hezehiah did. "He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah" (18:4).
The consequences of this steadfastness of King Hezekiah were many.
You, LORD God were with him in all that he did. "And the LORD was with him" (18:7).
King Hezekiah prospered in war. "wherever he went out, he prospered" (18:7).
He defeated the Philistines. "He struck down the Philistines" (18:8).
He rebelled against and would not serve the Assyrians. "He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him" (18:7).
Against all odds King Hezekiah defied Assyria's King Sennecherib. He prayed, "O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God , You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD and hear, open Your eyes, O LORD and see; and hear the words of Sennacheib, which he has sent to mock the living God. . . . So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You, O LORD are God alone" (19:15 - 19). You, LORD God, answered Hezekiah and used a mere rumor to defeat King Sennacherib!
It is interesting that the story of King Hezekiah is supported in non biblical sources. A clay seal was found that had on it "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of Ahaz], king of Judah."
Thank You for this King Hezekiah. Thank You, LORD God, that You are God of the universe. Thank You for reminding me that it is You that holds all things together!
"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - - all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:16, 17).
Help me to hold fast to You, LORD God!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him , but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses" (18:6).
Finally, a king emerges who determines to give his all to You, LORD God. King Hezekiah is the 13th king of Judah after the Israelite kingdom was divided. King Hezekiah holds onto You, LORD God throughout his reign and You blessed him for his devotion.
While there were two other kings before him that did "do right before the LORD" none were as steadfast and wholehearted in their devotion to the LORD God of Judah. Neither of these two other kings did away with the "high places" that were used for heathen worship. This Hezehiah did. "He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah" (18:4).
The consequences of this steadfastness of King Hezekiah were many.
You, LORD God were with him in all that he did. "And the LORD was with him" (18:7).
King Hezekiah prospered in war. "wherever he went out, he prospered" (18:7).
He defeated the Philistines. "He struck down the Philistines" (18:8).
He rebelled against and would not serve the Assyrians. "He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him" (18:7).
Against all odds King Hezekiah defied Assyria's King Sennecherib. He prayed, "O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God , You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD and hear, open Your eyes, O LORD and see; and hear the words of Sennacheib, which he has sent to mock the living God. . . . So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You, O LORD are God alone" (19:15 - 19). You, LORD God, answered Hezekiah and used a mere rumor to defeat King Sennacherib!
It is interesting that the story of King Hezekiah is supported in non biblical sources. A clay seal was found that had on it "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of Ahaz], king of Judah."
Thank You for this King Hezekiah. Thank You, LORD God, that You are God of the universe. Thank You for reminding me that it is You that holds all things together!
"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - - all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:16, 17).
Help me to hold fast to You, LORD God!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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