The Lord led King Hezekiah to make a turn just in time that saved his nation.
He led his nation to do a purge of all that was false and misleading in his nation. They “broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars.” Hezekiah appointed priests and Levites to make offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord. They aligned the service of the Lord with the Law of the Lord. He commanded the people to contribute support for the priests and the Levites that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. Hezekiah’s administration allowed freedom to believe in God AND engineered a campaign to raise funds for advancement of learning about God. The result was that they soon had an overabundance of all that was needed. “The Lord has blessed His people.” [1]
“Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So, he prospered.” [2]
The Lord led Hezekiah to turn to Him just in time. The Word of the Lord says, “After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself.” [3]
Hezekiah and his people returned to a close relationship with the Lord just in time.
The Lord gave Hezekiah faith to tell his nation, “’Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are 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 were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” [4]
The King of Assyria and “his servants spoke against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah. He also wrote letters to revile the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against Him.” [5]
King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed. “Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So, he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.” [6]
“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 others, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.” [7]
Hezekiah and his people turned to the Lord just in time.
None of us know what tomorrow will bring. It is good to always be turned to the Lord. Don’t allow distance to grow between you and the Lord. Turn to Him with all your heart. Ask Him to lead you in regards to purging things from your heart and from your home that do not honor Him and bring Him glory.
Jesus did not promise us a tribulation-free life. He said that He has overcome the world.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” [8]
As we remain in His love, He wins the battles and shares the spoils of His victories with us.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [9]
[1] 2 Chronicles 31:1-10
[2] 2 Chronicles 31:20-21
[3] 2 Chronicles 32:1
[4] 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
[5] 2 Chronicles 32:16-17
[6] 2 Chronicles 32:20-21
[7] 2 Chronicles 32:22-23
[8] John 16:33
[9] Romans 8:31-39
The King of Assyria and “his servants spoke against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah. He also wrote letters to revile the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against Him.” [5]
King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed. “Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So, he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.” [6]
“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 others, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.” [7]
Hezekiah and his people turned to the Lord just in time.
None of us know what tomorrow will bring. It is good to always be turned to the Lord. Don’t allow distance to grow between you and the Lord. Turn to Him with all your heart. Ask Him to lead you in regards to purging things from your heart and from your home that do not honor Him and bring Him glory.
Jesus did not promise us a tribulation-free life. He said that He has overcome the world.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” [8]
As we remain in His love, He wins the battles and shares the spoils of His victories with us.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [9]
[1] 2 Chronicles 31:1-10
[2] 2 Chronicles 31:20-21
[3] 2 Chronicles 32:1
[4] 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
[5] 2 Chronicles 32:16-17
[6] 2 Chronicles 32:20-21
[7] 2 Chronicles 32:22-23
[8] John 16:33
[9] Romans 8:31-39
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