King Hezekiah

II Kings Chapter 18

Hezekiah ruled over Judah for 29 years. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight and removed pagan shrines and knocked down the Asherah poles. He broke the bronze serpent that Moses made, because the people of Israel had begun to worship it.

Hezekiah trusted the Lord and there was never another king like him in Judah, either before or after his time. The Lord was with him and he was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. He conquered the Philistines as distant as Gaza, from their smallest outpost to the largest walled city.

It was during Hezekiah's reign that King Shalmaneser of Assyria began a siege on the city of Samaria. After its' fall, the Israelites were deported to Assyria because they had not listened to the Lord and had violated his covenant.

When King Sennacherib of Assyria cam to attack Judah, King Hezekiah told him he would pay the tribute money if they would go away. So Hezekiah used all the silver in the temple and stripped gold from he Temple doors. But still, the king of Assyria sent a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians stopped up the aqueduct that fed water to the upper pool. Then the Assyrian king's representative sent a message to King Hezekiah that his allies were unreliable and he had no chance against the Assyrians. He stood and shouted at the people that King Hezekiah and his Lord could not rescue them. He told the people that if they would just open the gates, they would be allowed to eat and drink as usual and he would take them to another land with harvests of plenty.

The people were silent and did not answer the king's representative because king Hezekiah has told them not to speak. Then the king's administrator, court secretary and historian tore their clothes in dispair and went to the king and told him what the Assyrian representative had said.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Judah was located between two world powers, Egypt and Assyria. Both wanted to control Judah and Israel because they lay at the vital crossroads of all ancient Near East trade. The nation that controlled Judah would have a military and economic advantage over its rivals. Hezekaih rebelled against these powers with great courage and put his faith in God's strength in spite of the dangers.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Like Hezekiah, we often face situations that have our backs to the wall. We have no choice but to put our trust in God. These are the times that test us. These are the times in which we must know that God hears us and his will shall be done.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.