July 19, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

2 Kings 18:1-8 - The first eight verses of this chapter speak of the kingship of Hezekiah and the spiritual revival that happened under his rule.  Hezekiah represents those people who do not let their ancestry or their peers determine their own spiritual condition.  Hezekiah was determined to live for the Lord and to encourage the people of Israel to see God could bless their lives as a result of their obedience to His laws.

2 Chronicles 29 - Hezekiah started his rule over Judah with a hunger for God and a delight to obey His word.  He was the one to tell the priests of his day to "sanctify yourselves" and to "sanctify the house of the Lord God...and carry out the rubbish from the holy place."  Hezekiah knew that obeying the Lord included cleansing our lives before a real ministry can begin.  A glorious worship ministry is recorded in verses 20-35.

2 Chronicles 30 - Hezekiah was so encouraged to see God's blessing on Judah that he wrote letters to those still living in the northern tribes to come and "return to the Lord" verse 6 and to "yield yourselves to the Lord" verse 8.  It was sad that some mocked the idea, verse 10, but there were some who humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem, verse 11.  It is a show of God's mercy that when some of the Israelites came to worship and had not purified their lives ahead of time that God healed them because Hezekiah interceded on their behalf, verses 17-20.

2 Chronicles 31 - As a result of the Jews revival they determined to cleanse the land of idols and destroy all the pagan worship sites.  Hezekiah put his whole heart into his devotion to God and encouraging his people to do the same.  God allowed all he did to prosper, verse 21.

Psalm 48 - This is a Psalm of delight in Jerusalem, the "city of our God" verse 1.   All the world seemed to recognize God's hand on that city.  When Israel walked with God they brought Him praise and the dedicated their entire lives to serve Him.