Hezekiah fights a war

2 Chronicles Chapter 32

After Hezekiah faithfully carried out his work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah by laying siege to the fortified cities. Hezekiah consulted with his officials and advisers and stopped the flow of the springs outside the city of Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah strengthened the walls and repaired them and also manufactured weapons in large numbers. He appointed military officers and when the army assembled in front of him, he told them to not be afraid, because the Lord was on their side.

King Sennacherib was still laying siege to towns and sent a message that their God would not rescue them from the king of Assyria. He said Hezekiah was misleading the people and said mean things about the Lord. He mocked Hezekiah by heaping insults on him and talked about the Lord as if he were one of the pagan gods. Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cried out in prayer to God in heaven and God sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army. King Senneacherib went home in disgrace where his sons killed him with a sword. So there was peace at last throughout the land.

Soon Hezekiah became deathly ill and he prayed to the Lord who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness show him and he became proud. So the Lord's anger came against him and the people. Then Hezekiah repented of his pride, and the people humbled themselves, so the Lord did not come against them again in Hezekiah's lifetime.

Hezekiah built many buildings for his silver, gold and precious stones and he constructed many storehouses for his grain, wine and oil. He built many towns and blocked up the upper spring of Gihon and brought water down through a tunnel to the west side of the City of David. But when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about these remarkable events, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and see what was in his heart.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The tunnel that channeled the water underground was discovered along with an inscription describing how it was built. Two groups of workers dug, one in Jerusalem and one at the Spring, and they met in the middle.

God tested Hezekiah, and did not abandon him or tempt him to sin or trick him. The test was meant to strengthen Hezekiah, develop his character and prepare him for the tasks ahead. The Assyrian empire was declining and Babylon was slowing rising to become a world power.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? God left Hezekiah to himself and he became proud. Pride haunts every one of us today. It is an attitude that tries to elevate our efforts above that of God. Pride causes us to congratulate ourselves on sucesses and look down on others. God does not object to self-confidence or good feelings about our accomplishments, but he does object to us taking credit for what God had done. Next time you have a great success from your hard work, get on your knees and thank God for making success possible for you. Turning to God in times of pressure, trouble or pain can reveal a lot about your character.

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and 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 her speech back and is home, but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
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.