Week 92, Day 2: A Bad Apple

Today’s Reading:  2 Kings 21:1-26

Some thoughts from today’s reading…

It is sad to see a trend that often happens.  A father who is faithful to God, but a son who departs from following the Lord.  Hezekiah seemed to do a wonderful job as king.  He did things that no other king had done for a long long time.  He removed the high places and was dedicated to serving God.  How then does he have such a wicked son?  I do find it interesting that Manasseh was twelve when he began to reign.  So he was born during this 15 year extension of life granted to Hezekiah.  Hezekiah knew that he had only so many years of life left.  Was he too feeble to raise his son?  Was he distracted by other problems?  Why could he not take the time to instill in his son a fear of God?  Perhpas for the same reason that David did not suceed in grounding Solomon more soundly.  But with Solomon, at least he was faithful for a little while.

Manasseh did more evil than even the people whom God had driven out of the land before Israel when they first took the promised land (vs. 11).  He is also said to have shed very much innocent blood.  What a horrible testimony to the rule of this man.  Judah had 55 years of this man’s rule.  How sad.

Question:  How important is it for us to train our kids and prepare them to make good decisions on their own?

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Week 92, Day 1: An Extention on LIfe

Today’s Reading:  2 Kings 20:1-21

Some thoughts from today’s reading…

Hezekiah becomes mortally ill.  He is told that he will die by Isaiah.  For whatever reason, God sends His prophet to tell Hezekiah that he will die.  And yet Hezekiah mourns and prays to God.  Because of his prayer, God changes what is to happen and gives Hezekiah 15 more years of life.  This account raises lots of questions in my mind.  First though, we can see the power of prayer.  God heard Hezekiah’s prayer because he was a good, righteous man who served Gof faithfully.  God felt compassion for him and extended his life.  We should not forget the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God.  Next, this account brings into my mind the question of how much God has planned out the affairs of man.  Hezekiah was told he would die but then he is given 15 more years.  This passage is one of those that should be considered very carefully whenever studying the subject of whether man has an appointed amount of time on earth.  But some of these questions are not easy to answer.  What we must decide is how we use the time God gives us while here.  Will we be faithful and true to the Lord God or will we forsake Him for passing pleasures of life.

Question:  From Hezekiah’s answer, why do you think he so willingly showed the officials from Babylon all his treasures?

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Week 91, Day 5: A Hooked Nose

Today’s Reading:  2 Kings 19:1-37

Some thoughts from today’s reading…

In verse 28 we have a declaration from God that because of the arrogance of Sennacherib to blaspheme Jehovah.  Sennacherib had boasted that no other land had been able to be delivered from him.  The false gods of these lands had not been able to stand before him and deliver these people.  So Sennacherib taunted king Hezekiah saying don’t trust in God, He can’t deliver you.  But Hezekiah trusted in God more than so many of his predecessors.  He laid Sennacherib’s letter and taunts out before God.  And the Lord put a hook into Sennacherib’s nose (vs 28) and forcible turned him away from Jerusalem.  Against Sennacherib’s will he was forcibly sent away. 

What is so appropriate is how Sennacherib was killed.  While in the house of his supposed mighty god, while worshipping there, Sennacherib is killed.  This god who had supposedly delivered so many nations into his hands could not keep his servant safe while even in the place of worship.  This account reminds me of Elijah’s taunts of the worshippers of Baal on Mount Carmel.  ”Shout louder” maybe Baal is asleep.  All these gods that man serves cannot save.  They cannot deliver or protect.  There is only one true God. 

Question;  How do we show our confidence in God today?  In what ways do we maintain and build our confidence so that when the huge army is outside, we can not falter?

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Week 91, Day 4: Hezekiah

Today’s Reading:  2 Kings 18:1-37

Some thoughts from today’s reading…

Hezekiah now becomes king over Judah.  He is different from his predecessors in that he removed the high places and idols.  The good kings before him had served God but they had allowed the idol worship to continue.  Hezekiah’s devotion and trust in God extended to the point that he drove the nation away from serving false idols.  It is impressive to see from these accounts how much difference the leader of the land can have on the rest of the nation. 

Hezekiah’s problems are full however.  Just because he served God fully and better than other kings, he was still beset upon by serious and grave problems.   A lot of people today believe that if you serve God then everything will be great in your life.  This belief is shown repeatedly, especially, in these kind of situations.

Question:  Why do you think Hezekiah removed the gold from the temple and off of the temple doors if he trusted in the Lord?

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Week 91, Day 2: King Ahaz

Today’s Reading:  2 Kings 16:1-20

Some thoughts from today’s reading…

King Ahaz broke the line of good kings in Judah.  He helped propel Judah further into idolatrous practices.  I have often wondered why such kings were allowed to reign so long.  Ahaz reigned 16 years and did some horrible things.  Can you imagine the gaul of someone to take the altar, shift it off to the side and replace it with one modeled after a design from paigan worship.  And then to remove the laver from its base.  He took these things and decided to change them.  I wonder if allowing this evil king to reign was just letting Judah have what it deserved.  The people for a long time now have been sacrificing on the high places.  Now the corruption has engulfed the king’s throne.  Their downfall is looming.

Question:  What is the contrast between Ahaz and his son Hezekiah?  What does this say about those who claim they are the way they are and can’t help it because of their parents?

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