Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
2 Kings 19:8-20, 35-37 (NRSV)
The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish. When the king heard concerning King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, “See, he has set out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus shall you speak to King Hezekiah of Judah: Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my predecessors destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?”
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are 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; hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have hurled their gods into the fire, though they were no gods but the work of human hands—wood and stone—and so they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, I pray you, from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.”
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I have heard your prayer to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria.
…
That very night the angel of the LORD set out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; when morning dawned, they were all dead bodies. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria left, went home, and lived at Nineveh. As he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Ararat. His son Esar-haddon succeeded him.
Reflect
Hezekiah reigned over Judah and did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as David had done. He tore down and broke all the idols. He put his trust in the Lord, the God of Israel. Since he held fast to the Lord, and kept his commandments, the Lord was with him. He prospered and the people listened to him.
The King of Assyria urged the people to make peace with him, tempting them by promising fig trees, a land of grain and wine, bread and vineyards, and olive oil and honey. Yet the people did not speak because King Hezekiah had told them not to answer.
What things tempt you? How well are you able to resist those temptations? When you are faced with temptation, remember that you will never go wrong by doing what is right in the sight of the Lord.
Pray
Dear Lord, you continue to give me examples of how I should always rely on you and wholeheartedly put my trust in you. Hezekiah, a descendant of David, followed his forefather’s example of doing what is right in your sight. I, too, wish to do what is right in your sight. Help me to search out all idols in my life and get rid of them as Hezekiah did. Help me always to hold fast to you. Thank you for loving me enough to give me many examples of how to live my life for you. You are the King of my life! Amen.
Go with God.
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