2He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.
3In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. (2 Chr. 29:2-3);
1After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself...6He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: 7“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
20King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. 21And theLord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword. (2 Chronicles 32; cf. Isaiah 25 and 2 Kings 18; affirmed in Sennacherib's own records).
1After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself...6He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: 7“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
20King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. 21And theLord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword. (2 Chronicles 32; cf. Isaiah 25 and 2 Kings 18; affirmed in Sennacherib's own records).
Thoughts: Hezekiah was a good- even a great king. His father, Ahaz, had brought idols into the Temple and even shut the Temple down- locking its doors. His son, Manasseh, set up Asheroth polls and worshiped Baal in the Temple. Hezekiah, by contrast cleansed the Temple and invited all Israel and Judah to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. He fortified his land and built up the faith of the people. It seemed that God should have rewarded him for this- but instead Sennacherib of Assyria saw all the blessings and invaded the land (conquering 46 cities of Judah in 701 B.C.). Sennacherib mocked God and said the Lord was less than other gods of lands he had conquered. But Hezekiah was unwavering in his faithfulness, trust and planning. He blocked the water holes as well as prayed. He encouraged the people. The Lord delivered him in a miraculous way. In the end Hezekiah conquered the mightiest king of his day, showing the glory of God. We should learn from Hezekiah to be faithful and do the Lord's work to be blessed by Him.
Prayer: Lord, when those before me and after me appear faithless, keep me faithful still. When mighty enemies come against me, keep me faithful to you. Bless me for my faithfulness that all the world would see you glory.
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