Sometimes when we read the Bible it is normal to have moments where it is so good and then times when we feel dry. Don’t get discouraged by the roller coaster emotions of being in the Word. If the reading is not “grabbing you”, clear your head and be still. Then read. Don’t always get stressed about who these Kings are, what is going on exactly, where were we again. Just understand that on every page God has a plan for Jesus to come into our lives to give us the Holy Spirit to discern and guide us through this world.
Today’s reading could mean something different to everyone. That’s the best part about it. God is personal. One on One. For me the read today God wanted me to know that PRAYER matters! Prayer is a gift that has been given to us that most people never take out of the box.
Remember the overview in Isaiah (I barely do) but I remember the part about this book being mini format of the bible. Well what we are finishing today is the Old Testament part. The first 40 chapters were Words of Judgement (OT) the next 26 Chapters will be Words of Comfort (NT). SO this is it. The pivot.
Chapter 37 was beautiful to read. Hezekiah did what Isaiah has been preaching for 36 Chapters. Turn to the Lord. And He does. In verse 4 he prays for a remnant to survive out of Judah. (we already know where this is going, JESUS!) Anyway, Hezekiah prays and acknowledges that God ALONE is God. (Hezekiah’s prayer is amazing. Verse 14-20. His acknowledgment of being the one true God and that gods carved by wood or stone is pagan). There is ONLY one worthy of our Prayer! ONE. Key word there, they never denied there was a God, just that they had adopted all the pagan Gods too, so remember that Jesus is the only way…Oprah Winfrey is wrong) and Hezekiah asks for victory….why?? Verse 20, did you catch the SO THAT. So That all the kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, Oh Lord, are God.
I could not pass up this cut and paste (Verse 31)
Once more a remnant of the house of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Chapter 37 ends with the Miracle of Assyria falling in a day. (You have to picture the Greatest World Power Falling in a day to an enemy nation…Oh never mind, we can see it happening already in America…go back to the reading).
Chapter 38. Hezekiah PRAYS and God hears it. And God gives Hezekiah a SIGN of His promise. Go underline Chapter 38 verse 7 in your Bible. God WILL give us a sign if needed. Hezekiah’s sign from the Lord was moving the Sun back 10 steps in shadow. Be in Awe of God and DO not think it is coincidence when he gives us a “little” sign of confirmation or acceptance. If He can draw the sun back, surly he can speak through a bumper sticker if He needs to. As we read the rest of 38 remember Hezekiah did not have the Full Bible with description of How wonderful Heaven is and that Jesus goes up to prepare a place for us, so his speaking of the grave would be confusing…but 38 ends with His reassurance that He will see Heaven, the temple of the Lord…because of the SIGN, the sun moving back. 
39. I had to look up the word Envoy, just in case it was something more than it was. The definition is A representative of a government who is sent on a special diplomatic mission. Merodach-Baladan was a Babylonian Prince. He was planning a revolt against Assyria and was forming his alliance with Judah. He probably hoped to convince Hezekiah to join his side (wouldn’t you want the Lord’s power on your team??) Hezekiah feeling honored and maybe his head was held a bit too high showed the envoys his treasures (ouch, Prideful for what the Lord had blessed him with), But Isaiah had warned the king not to trust Babylon because some day they would turn on Judah and steal all that wealth! Hezekiah may have been just showing them all that God could bring to someone but still, this gesture has a huge consequence that we will read about in Daniel and 2 Kings 25. ( umm…if you don’t know what a eunuch is….email me)
This is so cool that Hezekiah was sick, but, because he did good, God added 15 years to his life. And how he gave him a sign.....I believe we all need to look and pay attention to signs from God.......I like the bumper sticker comment she made.....
ReplyDeleteI like in 39:8 how Hezekiah says "At least there will be peace and truth in my days". I guess this means he showed everything to the men and did not hide anything or lie so he will have peace knowing he was honest. Is this a good view of this?
He was definitely a good king....He did what God had told him to do for 39 chapters...he prayed for God to guide him when the foreign power, Assyria was coming after him.....God destroyed the world power overnight....a huge rewarding miracle. Unfortunately, Hezekiah was prideful and instead of telling the Babylonian envoy how God saved his life, he showed him all the treasures he had.....pride can get all of us....because of this, Babylon was going to take them into captivity...this was hard to believe because Babylon wasn't considered powerful then.......Hezekiah is considered to be selfish with this comment, OH Well, go into captivity after I have died....things will be well when I am alive...
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