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II Chronicles 32

Hezekiah prepares Jerusalem for invasion          verse 1- 4 

After these things and the establishment thereof

Sennacherib – king of Assyria came – and entered into Judah

      and encamped against the fenced cities

                  and thought to win them for himself

And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come

and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem

      he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop

the waters of the fountains which were without the city

                              and they did help him

So there was gathered much people together – who stopped all the fountains

and the brook that ran through the midst of the land

saying

Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water? 

Hezekiah encourages the people                          verse 5- 8 

Also he strengthened himself – and built up all the wall that was broken

and raised it up to the towers – and another wall without

      and repaired Millo in the city of David

                  and made darts and shields in abundance

and he set captains of war over the people

      and gathered them together to him in the street of the

gate of the city – and spoke comfortably to them

saying

Be strong and courageous – be not afraid nor dismayed for the

king of Assyria – nor for all the multitude that is with him

For there be more with us than with him with him is an arm of flesh

BUT with us is the LORD our God to help us

and to fight our battles

And the people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah 

Sennacherib sends message to Jerusalem            verse 9- 15 

After this did Sennacherib – king of Assyria – send his servants to Jerusalem

(but he himself laid siege against Lachish – and all his power with him)

      to Hezekiah king of Judah

and to all Judah that were at Jerusalem

saying

thus say Sennacherib – king of Assyria

Whereon do ye trust that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to

die by famine and by thirst

saying

The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the

king of Assyria?

Has not the same Hezekiah taken away HIS high places

            and HIS altars – and commanded Judah

                        and Jerusalem

saying

You shall worship before one altar and burn incense upon it?

Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the

            people of other lands?

Were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able

            to deliver their lands out of mine hands?

Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my

            fathers utterly destroyed – that could deliver his

                        people out of mine hand – that your God should

be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you

            nor persuade you on this manner – neither yet believe him

FOR no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his

people out of mine hand and out of the hand of my fathers

How much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? 

Sennacherib’s servants mock the LORD            verse 16- 19 

And his servants spoke yet more against the LORD God

            and against his servant Hezekiah

He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel

            and to speak against HIM

saying

As the gods of the nations of other lands have not

delivered their people out of mine hand

                        so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver

his people out of mine hand

Then they cried with a loud voice – in the Jew’s speech

to the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall

to affright them and to trouble them

that they might take the city

And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem

as against the gods of the people of the earth

which were the work of the hands of man 

Hezekiah and Isaiah pray for deliverance           verse 20- 21 

And for this cause Hezekiah the king

and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz

PRAYED and CRIED to heaven

And the LORD sent an angel – which cut off all the mighty men of valor

and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria

So he returned with shame of face to his own land

            and when he was come into the house of his god

                        they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there

with the sword 

Hezekiah had peace in the land                           verse 22- 23 

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem

from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria

                        and from the hand of all other – and guided them

on every side – and many brought gifts to the

LORD to Jerusalem

                        and presented to Hezekiah king of Judah

                                    so that he was magnified in the sight of all

                                                nations from thenceforth 

LORD had to deal with Hezekiah’s pride           verse 24- 26 

In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death

and PRAYED to the LORD

and HE spoke to him and HE gave him a sign

BUT Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done to him

for his heart was lifted up

THEREFORE there was wrath on him

and on Judah and Jerusalem

Notwithstanding – Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart

both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem

so that the wrath of the LORD

came not on them in the days of Hezekiah 

Hezekiah wealth described                                  verse 27- 30 

And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor

and he made himself treasuries for silver – gold – precious stones

spices – shields – all manner of pleasant jewels

                  storehouses also for the increase of corn – wine – oil

                              and stalls for all manner of beasts

and cotes for flocks

Moreover he provided him cities

and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance

for God had given him substance very much

This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon

            and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David

And Hezekiah prospered in all his works 

LORD tested Hezekiah’s heart                            verse 31 

Howbeit – in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon

who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land

                        God left him – to try him that HE might know all that was in

his heart 

Record of reign of Hezekiah                                verse 32- 33 

Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah – and his goodness

BEHOLD

they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet – the son of Amoz

      and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers – and they buried him

in the chiefest of the sepulchers of the sons of David

and all Judah

and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death

And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead

 

COMMENTARY:           

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers 

: 7        Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him. (553 “courageous” [‘amats] means to be strong, to strengthen, make firm, to be able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching, to be alert, or bold)

DEVOTION:  Here we have a situation that seems imposable in our lives. The children of Israel were faced with an army that seemed too strong for them to face. The king of the nation would challenge them but their leaders told them not to worry because the LORD was able to defeat any enemy that came against them.

King Hezekiah told them and believed that the army of the LORD was stronger than any other army no matter its size.

Is this still true today? The answer is YES! The LORD is able to defeat any army that our enemy, Satan, can send against us. HE is stronger than any temptation that the devil can send our way. We are promised the victory if we would trust in the LORD with all our heart.

It is not easy to look at our temptation or enemies and think that the LORD is stronger than any force that is tempting us to run. We have to trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge HIM.

When we see the enemy that is giving us problems in our personal growth in the LORD do we understand that the LORD is able to defeat any enemy or temptation that HE allows in our life?

The trials are real both in the lives of the children of Judah and in our lives. It is up to us to decide if we are going to trust the LORD with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding.

CHALLENGE: Is there an enemy that you are facing today that seems more powerful then God is able to defeat? Remember that that is not possible! 

 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers 

 

: 8        With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.(5564 “rested” [camak] means to lean upon, lay, stand fast, support, uphold, or sustain)

DEVOTION:  Do you have time periods when you think everyone and everything is against you? Does it sometimes seem that the LORD doesn’t care what you are going through? Does it seem like when things are going bad there are no human arms around you to give you a hug and tell you that the LORD knows what you are going through? Our world seems to enjoy hurting those who are followers of the LORD. Their armies seem to always gang up on us. We seem to be outnumbered. All this is a LIE of our enemy the Devil.

Each of us has trials come our way. Remember that the LORD has two kinds of trials come our way. One is for those who are out of fellowship with HIM, which is called chastening. The other is for those who are faithfully serving HIM, which is called purging or pruning. Each type of trial hurts but has a different purpose. The first is to get us back into fellowship with the LORD. The second is to make us more fruitful in our service for the LORD. The only two who know the reason for the trial are the LORD and the individual in the trial.

The people of Judah had a large army outside their gates and no way of defending themselves against this large army. Their king told them to relax because the LORD was going to fight for them.

They listened to the king and leaned upon the LORD. We face some large foes in our lives and we need to lean upon the LORD to fight our battles for us. HE WILL.

HE loves his people. Each trial that comes our way is to help us depend more upon the LORD. Remember that we can grow or another lesson of the same kind will have to come our way so we learn.

Hezekiah had the victory over the king of Assyria. However, his heart was lifted up after he was healed. The LORD’S wrath came upon him. When this happened Hezekiah humbled himself. The LORD prospered him. Are we growing? Are we depending on the LORD in our battles? Have we humbled our heart before the LORD?

CHALLENGE: Are we laying our burdens and trials at the feet of Jesus? Are we letting HIM carry us through our rough times? The Word of God tells us to let HIM carry us. We are to take all our burdens to HIM.

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: 12      Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying You shall worship before one altar, and burn incense on it? (2331 “worship” [chavah] means to bow down, to sink down, do obeisance, prostrate oneself, or to take a stance of bowing low in an act of respect or honor)

DEVOTION:  Here is a heathen king challenging the people of Judah with a statement that is false. He thought that all the shrines and altars to false gods were shrines and altars to the one true God of Judah. He was wrong in his evaluation of what Hezekiah had done. He had cleaned up the land from the worship of false gods and this king didn’t realize that he was fighting against the one true God that created the world.

The people of Judah had to listen to what was being said and the LORD wanted to see if they believed this heathen king or the truth that HE was going to help them through this circumstance that HE allowed in their life.
HE again wanted to see if they trusted in HIM alone or in the power of an army they could raise. We need to learn that the LORD allows tests in our life to show us just where we stand with HIM.

Our enemies are the world, the flesh and the devil and the LORD allows them to give us trouble, so that, we run to HIM for help instead of trusting in ourselves or others to get us through the trial.

Here we have a human king asking questions regarding who the children of Judah are going to trust when someone is knocking at their door with an attitude of confidence that they can defeat us.

How strong is our confidence in the LORD when we are tempted to trust others rather than HIM? Don’t allow you to trust in false gods or be afraid of enemies that question our allegiance to Jesus Christ.

Every day we will be tested by our enemies so we need to be in the Word of God daily and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us through each trial that comes our way.

CHALLENGE:  We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!!! Do we remember this FACT!!!

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DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 20      And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. (2199 “cried” [za‘aq] means call for help, to summon, raise a battle cry, send out a call to arms, to call to one’s aid, or make public sounds of physical pain and emotional anguish)

DEVOTION:  The proper way to respond to a challenge to our faith is to go the LORD in prayer and ask for HIS help against each of our enemies. Hezekiah and Isaiah pray to the LORD for help.

Here is a king that is dependent on the LORD with the help of a servant of the LORD. Both are servants but each has his individual gifts that God has given them. Hezekiah was given the gift of leadership of God’s people. Isaiah was given the gift of a prophet who would come alongside the king to inform him where he stood with the LORD in his present situation. Hezekiah was dependent on the LORD in this situation and Isaiah was by his side helping him communicate with the LORD concerning a present need.

In the future we find that Isaiah has to confront this same king when he puts his confidence in his wealth and in a foreign nation. Our walk with the LORD is a daily trust in HIM in every situation HE allows in our life.

We may pass the test on one day and fail the test on another day. We need to be consistent in our trust in the LORD. It is not easy. We sometimes think that we can handle any situation we face without always going to the LORD for counsel. We are wrong in this thinking. We need to be totally dependent on HIM to help us in every situation. We need to pray about everything that comes into our life every day.

This sound like we can have no confidence when we have to make decisions and that is right if we are not continually in a attitude of prayer and dependence on the LORD.

Once we allow ourselves to depend on ourselves, we will lose the victory the LORD wants us to have every day with HIM. In this instance Hezekiah had a victory. He prayed with Isaiah and the Assyrians were defeated.

CHALLENGE: Where are we going with our enemies at the doorstep????

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: 31      Howbeit in the business of the ambassador of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (5254 “try” [nacah] means prove, tempt, assay, test, to give experience, exercise, cause or allow hardship or trouble in a circumstance, or venture)

DEVOTION:  The LORD allows things in HIS people’s lives to let them see where they are spiritually. Here HE is allowing a group to come from Babylon to see what his reaction will be to this group.

It is thought that he was showing this group from Babylon all of his wealth because he wanted to make a treaty with them, so that, they would help them if there was an enemy that invaded the land.

The LORD wants HIS people to trust in HIM alone. HE doesn’t want us making treaties or agreements with those who are not HIS followers. HE wants us to work with HIM alone at all times. This was a test of Hezekiah’s trust in the HIM and he failed the test.

There will be circumstances in our life where we will be tempted to trust in ourselves or others or our wealth to help us with what is going on in our life instead of just trusting in the LORD.

The LORD wants us to come to HIM will all of our needs. HE wants our total dependence on HIM twenty-four seven every day of every week of every year.

When we start depending on ourselves or others, we take our eyes off the LORD and that is the beginning of our downward spiral. Hezekiah had to learn a lesson and he failed the lesson.

The LORD allows things in our life to test us regarding our total dependence on HIM. How would we do when that test came along? Am I depending on the LORD totally in my present situation? Only I can answer that question and only you can answer that question in our life. God knows our hearts.

CHALLENGE: If we find that we are not total dependant on the LORD we need to confess our sin and turn to HIM in total dependence.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

 

Humbled                                                                    verse 26

 

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

 

            Written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet

                        the son of Amoz and in the book

                        of the kings of Judah and Israel                      verse 32

 

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

 

Isaiah and Hezekiah prayed and cried to heaven  verse 20, 21

            LORD sent an angel

Hezekiah prayed for healing                                    verse 24

            LORD sent a sign

 

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

 

One altar                                                                    verse 12

Burn incense                                                              verse 12

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

 

Isaiah (vision of)                                                        verse 32

Book of the kings of Judah and Israel                    verse 32

 

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

 

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)   verse 8, 11, 16, 17,

                                                                                                21- 24, 26

God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)                        verse 8, 11, 14- 17,

                                                                                                19, 29, 31

LORD our God                                                         verse 8, 11

LORD God                                                                verse 16

LORD God of Israel                                                 verse 17

God of Hezekiah                                                        verse 17

God of Jerusalem                                                      verse 19

LORD saved Hezekiah                                             verse 22

            From hand of Sennacherib 

            From all other

            Guided on every side

Gifts brought to the LORD                                      verse 23

Wrath on Judah and Jerusalem                              verse 25, 26

God gave substance very much                               verse 27-29

God tried Hezekiah to know his heart                    verse 31

 

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)          

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

 

LORD sent an angel                                                 verse 21

            Cut off all the mighty men of valor in

                              Sennacherib’s army

 

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation) 

Sennacherib – king of Assyria                                 verse 1, 2, 4, 7- 19,

                                                                                                21, 22

            Fought against Lachish

            Spoke in the language of Jews

            Wanted to frighten and trouble

                        people of Jerusalem

            Came to the house of his god he was killed

Lachish                                                                       verse 9

gods of the nations                                                    verse 13- 15, 17

Ambassadors of princes of Babylon                        verse 31 

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels) 

Afraid of enemies                                                      verse 7, 18

Dismayed by enemies                                                verse 7

Trusting in flesh                                                        verse 8

High places                                                                verse 12

Altars of false gods                                                    verse 12

False gods of the nations                                           verse 13- 15, 17, 19

Deception                                                                   verse 15

Rail on the LORD                                                     verse 17

Worship the gods of the people of earth                 verse 19

gods of the people of earth made with hands

            Of man                                                           verse 19

Sons killing father                                                     verse 21

Heart lifted up                                                           verse 25

Pride                                                                           verse 26

Trusting in wealth                                                     verse 27- 30

 

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

 

Counsel                                                                      verse 3

Speak comfortably with God’s people                    verse 6

Strength                                                                     verse 7

Courage                                                                     verse 7

More with us                                                             verse 7

Presence of the LORD                                              verse 8

Help                                                                            verse 8

Fight our battles                                                        verse 8

Rest                                                                             verse 8

Worship                                                                     verse 12

Deliverance                                                                verse 14, 15, 17

Prayer                                                                        verse 20, 24

Answered prayer                                                      verse 21, 25

Saved                                                                          verse 22

Judgment                                                                   verse 25, 26

Humbled                                                                    verse 26

Prosperity                                                                  verse 27- 30

Trials                                                                          verse 31

Goodness                                                                    verse 32

 

Israel (Old Testament people of God)      

 

Judah                                                                         verse 1

Hezekiah                                                                    verse 2- 33

            Saw Sennnacherib was going to fight

                        against Judah

            Took counsel of the princes and

                        mighty men

            Stopped thw waters without the city

            Repaired the walls of city

            Made darts and shields

            Set captains of war

            Spoke comfortably to people

            Told people king of Assyria only had

                        arms of flesh with him

            LORD was fighting our battles

            LORD will deliver us

            Presents brought to him to magnify

                        him in sight of all nations

            Sick unto death and prayed to LORD

                        for a sign

            Heart lifted up

            Wrath of LORD on him

            Humbled himself

            Exceeding riches and honor

            Brought water to city of David

            Heart tried by God

            Buried in chiefest of sepulchers

           

Jerusalem                                                                   verse 2, 18, 22

People rested                                                              verse 8

Prophet Isaiah                                                           verse 20, 32

            Prayed and cried to heaven

            Witten in the vision of Isaiah

Manasseh reigns in father’s place                           verse 33

 

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

32:31 The Chronicler’s assertion that God “left Hezekiah” in order to “test” him has significant theological implications. God wants genuine character and faithfulness in his people, and he will expose them to trials in order to train and shape them. The path of sanctification is not an easy one (cf. Gen 22:1). (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 366). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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32:31–33. However, Hezekiah foolishly and proudly displayed all the wealth of the temple and his palace to the Babylonian envoys of Merodach-Baladan (2 Kings 20:12–19; Isa. 39). The chronicler without details simply recorded that God allowed all this to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. That is, God wanted to show Hezekiah himself the consequences of pride. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 645). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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31 The envoys of Babylon, to which Ezra here refers, were those sent by Marduk-apal-iddina, the Merodach-Baladan of 2 Kings 20:12–13. Their mission appears to have been not simply to inquire about the king’s illness (v.24 comment) and about its accompanying “miraculous sign”—of understandable interest to astrologers such as the Babylonians—but also to arrange practical measures against Sargon’s aggression, which did overpower Ashdod and the West in the following year, 711 (v.1 comment), and drove Marduk-apal-iddina from his throne in the East two years after that. The experience served “to test” Hezekiah, whether he would place his trust in human treaties or in God (again see v.1 comment); and it was his eagerness for the treaties that incurred the Lord’s wrath (v.25). (Payne, J. B. (1988). 1, 2 Chronicles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 542). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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Ver. 31. Howbeit, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, &c.] Not to see the two tables of stone which were in the ark, with the other two that were broken because of the sin of the calf, as the Targum; nor to ask about the destruction of the Assyrian army, and the manner of it, as Grotius; but to be informed of the miracle of the sun’s going back ten degrees, when Hezekiah was recovered from his sickness; the Chaldeans being a people much given to astrology, and curious in their observations of that kind: God left him to try him; by shewing him all his treasures: that he might know all that was in his heart; not that God might know, who knows all things, unless spoken of him after the manner of men; but rather that Hezekiah might know the pride lurking in his heart, and other sins which escaped his notice, Jer. 17:9. or that it might be known by others; that the children of men might know it, as Kimchi; and take warning by it, and observe the frailty and infirmity of the best of men. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 95). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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25–31. The Holy Ghost hath been pleased to give us in those Chronicles the most interesting account concerning Hezekiah in the causes of his trials, and which the other records, though relating the historical part more copiously, have not done. The grand design was to shew Hezekiah what was in his heart. The miracle God had wrought in the dial of Ahaz, suffered to go back so many degrees, was the wonder done in the land. And as the Assyrians foolishly worshipped the sun, probably Hezekiah vaunted himself not a little on this account. Be this as it may, certain it is, that the Lord thus humbled his servant, in order to bring him acquainted with the real state of his heart, as it was in the sight of God. Reader! do not let this part of Hezekiah’s history pass before you without your making the suitable improvements from it. What doth it shew but this, that all men, the best of men, are but men full of infirmities, and nothing to boast of before God. Oh! precious Jesus! whenever we look, to whomsoever we direct our researches, where shall we find any but thee that art holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and without guile? (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, p. 558). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

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32:24–26, 31 See 2 Kings 20:1–19. These events preceded Sennacherib’s invasion by a few years. The sign was the miraculous backward movement of the shadow, signifying the extension of Hezekiah’s life in answer to prayer. Related to this incident was the king’s proud display of his wealth before the Babylonian envoys. This incurred God’s wrath, but Hezekiah and the people’s humble repentance (see 2 Chron. 7:14) is said to have spared Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah (see 2 Kings 20:16–18). Even a good king such as Hezekiah could contribute to Judah’s fate; like Josiah (2 Chron. 34:28), however, he was spared from seeing it in his days. (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 791). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)

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FROM MY READING: 

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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A WOULD-BE FOLLOWER

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.    Luke 9:59
Here is someone whom our Lord invites to follow Him. “He said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59-60). Our Lord challenged him and said, “Follow me!” And the man, you remember, responded by saying, “All right, I am coming, but ‘suffer me first to go and bury my father.’
What is the principle here? Well, our Lord is teaching this man the urgency of entering the kingdom of God at once, without a moment’s delay. You must be right in your understanding of it, and then you must enter it immediately. Now let us be clear about that. Our Lord’s statement sounds terrible, does it not? On the surface it sounds as if He was refusing this man permission to go home to bury his poor father who was dying. But it does not mean anything of the sort. If this man’s father had been ill and had died, the son would not be with the Lord. The Jews were strict about this.
The question was that this young man says, “Yes, I am going to be a Christian, but not just now. I will be a Christian later on, when I have time. I am very busy at the moment. I am at the top of the ladder. I have great success ahead of me. I am beginning in my profession, or in my trade, or in my industry. Not yet! Oh, I like this teaching! I believe it is right; but I cannot do anything about it now.”
A Thought to Ponder
Our Lord is teaching this man the urgency of entering the kingdom of God at once, without a moment’s delay. 

            (From The Kingdom of God, pp. 128-129., by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Partakers of the Promise
“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6)
There are many Christians who regard themselves as almost exclusively New Testament believers, arguing that the Old Testament was for the Jews under the dispensation of law and thus not applicable to Christians today.
Nothing could be further from the truth. While the old animal sacrifices, temple rituals, and Levitical priesthoods have indeed been superseded by Christ’s “one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Hebrews 10:12), there are many “exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4) of the Old Testament that can be properly and joyfully appropriated by Christians. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable,” wrote Paul (2 Timothy 3:16), speaking particularly of the Old Testament Scriptures.
In the context of our verse for the day, Paul is stressing that his own new revelations, given in connection with the Christian gospel, actually involved bringing Jew and Gentile together as one body in Christ. The “dispensation of the grace of God…by revelation he made known unto me,” he wrote, but in previous ages, it had not been “made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:2-5).
And what was it that had not been made known? The hidden mystery was simply “that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs” with the Jews, and therefore “partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6).
Thus, Gentile believers can now share in all the gracious promises of God in the Old Testament (e.g., Psalm 23Isaiah 26:3; etc.), except those directly dealing with the future of Israel as a nation, “that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:14). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Prejudice and Forgiveness

I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. Acts 10:34

READ Acts 10:23–28

After hearing a message about correcting injustice, a church member approached the pastor weeping, asking for forgiveness and confessing that he hadn’t voted in favor of calling the black minister to be pastor of their church because of his own prejudice. “I really need you to forgive me. I don’t want the junk of prejudice and racism spilling over into my kids’ lives. I didn’t vote for you, and I was wrong.” His tears and confession were met with the tears and forgiveness of the minister. A week later, the entire church rejoiced upon hearing the man’s testimony of how God had worked in his heart.

Even Peter, a disciple of Jesus and a chief leader in the early church, had to be corrected because of his ill-conceived notions about non-Jewish people. Eating and drinking with gentiles (who were considered unclean), was a violation of social and religious protocol. Peter said, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile” (Acts 10:28). It took nothing less than the supernatural activity of God (vv. 9–23) to convince him that he “should not call anyone impure or unclean” (v. 28).

Through the preaching of Scripture, the conviction of the Spirit, and life experiences, God continues to work in human hearts to correct our misguided perspectives about others. He helps us to see that “God does not show favoritism” (v. 34).

                  By Arthur Jackson, Our Daily Bread

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Esther 4
Esther learns of the plot to kill the Jews and plans to intercede.
INSIGHT

“I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” (4:16). Those are not the words of someone being melodramatic; they are the words of a realist who accurately assesses the situation. By law, no one can go into the presence of the king unless invited; to do so means execution. If the king chooses to extend grace to the person, he offers his scepter, whereupon the subject is to kneel and touch the top of the scepter. Esther has no idea what Ahasuerus will do. He deposed Vashti with a clap of his hands; he signed the edict to kill the Jews without asking a question. Though she has no other choice, Esther’s decision still takes great courage. (Quiet Walk)

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FACING DEATH

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:8
The kingdom of God gives us power even to look into the face of death and to smile at it. We go out of this world in triumph and in joy. Consider what Paul says; this is power, this is not just a talker, nor just a man who has been writing all his life. Here is a man who has known the power; so he says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
So what about it? Have you known all this? This is Christianity; this is the kingdom of God, the power of God! Here, then, are the questions that we must ask ourselves. Do I know anything about this power of God? Is it obvious to those who live with me that the power of God is in me? Does my life show it? Are other people influenced by what they see? Can I say, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16)?
Has God made you anew? Do you know there is a new nature in you? If not, you are not a Christian; you are outside the kingdom of God, whatever your knowledge, whatever your interest may be. A Christian is a new creation born of the Spirit, born from above, born again–“not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Have you known this? If you have, I need not exhort you to praise God! If you have not, then go to Him; tell Him you are dead and lifeless. Cry, “God have mercy upon me, a sinner.”
A Thought to Ponder: A Christian is a new creation born of the Spirit, born from above, born again.  (From The Kingdom of God, p. 119, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Whom Shall I Fear?
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
Think back to your youngest childhood days. Do you remember being afraid of the dark? Were you scared when your parents turned off the nightlight?
Flash forward to more logical adult fears—thieves, natural disasters, negative bank account balances, unemployment, public speaking, shark attacks, political turmoil, and death. While some of those fears may seem far-fetched, there are other fears you might encounter that will truly drive you to your knees in prayer.
How would you respond to life-threatening persecution? What if your children recant their faith and abandon everything you’ve taught them from Scripture? Could you handle the loss of loved ones and all of your possessions?
The Bible is filled with examples of faithful believers who suffered (Hebrews 11:36-38). Many of the sorrow-filled Psalms were written by King David. But he wasn’t the only subject of fear, suffering, and trauma. Perhaps you are reminded of Job. He was a godly man. Yet the Lord allowed Satan to torment him, removing nearly every good thing from his life (Job 1:12; 2:6). How could he respond in faith to the One who protected his soul?
In today’s text, David draws our hearts to what Spurgeon calls “a threefold cord which could not be broken.” The Lord is our light, salvation, and strength. And then he asks two rhetorical questions: “Whom shall I fear?…Of whom shall I be afraid?”
With the Lord on your side, you need not fear anyone or anything. His love for you is sure and steadfast. Nothing in the entire universe—darkness, disaster, demons, or the devil—can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39).

                     (MH, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Hope in Grief

We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

As the cabbie drove us to London’s Heathrow Airport, he told us his story. He had come alone to the United Kingdom at age fifteen, seeking to escape war and deprivation. Now, eleven years later, he has a family of his own and is able to provide for them in ways unavailable in his native land. But he laments that he’s still separated from his parents and siblings. He told us that he’s had a hard journey that won’t be complete until he’s reunited with his family.

Being separated from our loved ones in this life is hard, but losing a loved one in death is much harder and creates a sense of loss that won’t be made right until we’re reunited with them. When the new believers at Thessalonica wondered about such losses, Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). He explained that as believers in Jesus, we can live in expectation of a wonderful reunion—together forever in the presence of Christ (v. 17). 

Few experiences mark us as deeply as the separations we endure, but in Jesus we have hope of being reunited. And in the midst of grief and loss we can find the comfort we need in that enduring promise (v. 18). By Bill Crowder, Our Daily Bread)

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Watch and Pray
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” (Nehemiah 4:9) 

Prayer is a powerful weapon, but the wall-builders in Jerusalem also were careful to set a watch against their enemies “with their swords, their spears, and their bows” (Nehemiah 4:13). They were ready to fight, if necessary, but at the same time they were confident that “our God shall fight for us” (Nehemiah 4:20). 

This is a sound biblical principle. God expects us to make appropriate use of whatever physical means are available for a needed ministry rather than to rely simply on prayer and divine miracle. The Lord rebuked those who came asking Him to perform a miracle merely to test Him or to see something curious. “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe” (John 4:48). Neither does He condone prayer in lieu of work, for “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). The same holds for prayer in lieu of obedience. As Joshua was praying for deliverance from the enemy, “the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them” (Joshua 7:10-11). 

But as prayer without working is dead, so watching and working without prayer are futile. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). 

The biblical principle is not only to watch or only to pray. Both are essential. “Watch and pray,” said Jesus, “that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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