Skip to main content

April 16 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 106

The threat of the Assyrian king is real.  Hezekiah has already seen it played out in Israel.  Who could blame him for feeling scared and worried?  

Image result for King hezekiah reforms wiki commons

DAILY READINGS

2 Kings 18-19 & Psalm 106

DAILY NOTES

2 Kings 18

  • Hezekiah takes reign over Judah.  He "did what was right in the sight of the Lord."  Notice his actions; we typically refer to them as Hezekiah's reforms.  He finally cuts down the sacred pole and, among other things, the bronze serpent that Moses created.
    • The bronze serpent had become something the people began to worship.
    • It even has a name!  Nehushtan means a "thing of brass."  It's also been called a "trifling thing of brass." 
  • Verses 9-12 review what happened at the end of Chapter 17.  Israel is taken captive and the people are taken away to Assyria.  
  • The Assyrian king takes Judah captive and threatens Hezekiah as well.
2 Kings 19
  • Hezekiah is fearful about what the Assyrian king will do.  Hezekiah goes to the prophet Isaiah for prayer. Isaiah assures him that God will save them.
Psalm 106
  • A history lesson wrapped in prayer that God would be gracious to the people.  They have sinned.  
  • The prayer is that God would save the people so that they "may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise."  

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

I don't want to get started on the bronze serpent!  I'll save that for a sermon some day.

The Assyrians told Hezekiah that all he had were words.  Counsel and might are needed for war.  Hezekiah was putting his faith in words.  Of course, Hezekiah is being mocked, but we can also assume Hezekiah is depending on words from God.  Hezekiah went to Isaiah for direction or maybe even a battle plan.

Isaiah gave Hezekiah more words.

They were words of a promise from God, but they were still just words.

It seems like there's a great lesson there.  If God gives us a word, can we trust that word?  If so, then why do we get so anxious to make other things happen?  We may not be preparing for a war, but we're facing other things that upset, unnerve or frighten us.  Are God's words to us enough for those moments?  If so, relax.  

Other people may think we need more than the words of God's promises.  If so, God will tell us (and God'll probably use words to tell us, too).  But don't fall into the temptation to let go of God's words (or God's Word) in order to hold onto some other promise.  

God is faithful. 

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 24 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 83 The relationship between Saul and David worsens.  David is now Saul's enemy.   DAILY READINGS 1 Samuel 18-20 & Psalm 83 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 18 Saul's delight for David quickly turns.  Saul is jealous of David's success and the fact that everyone else seems to like David more than him. Of course, we have to think about what this evil spirit from the Lord might mean. Saul tries to kill David.  He even devises a plan to have him married into the royal family so that he can create a snare for him. What does it say about David that, even after Saul has tried to kill him, he still finds it an honor to be married to the family? David escapes Saul's traps.  So, from here on out, the text says that Saul considered David an enemy.  Think he knows what it means to love your enemies? 1 Samuel 19 Verse 5 reminds us of David's fight with Goliath.  At this point, David has fought other times.  What makes that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

May 23 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 143 DAILY READINGS Job 12-15 & Psalm 138 DAILY NOTES Job 12 Surely, Job says, his friends don't think they're the only ones with wisdom?  Plus, they are telling him anything that isn't known by all.   Maybe they aren't as smart as they think they are? God holds true wisdom.  "With God are wisdom and strength" (vs. 13). Job 13 Job's friends have taken it upon themselves to speak on behalf of God.  Job considers their representation to be false because they have not considered Job's condition. Job 14 Job's prayer to God continues. We see a bit of the book's larger vision in these verses.  Job recognizes, and wants God to remember, that all humanity shares the same days of life.   Job 15 Eliphaz considers that Job's questioning hinders God and would keep others from knowing God. Psalm 138 The praise of the psalmist is a communal act.   God has been faithful and the psalmist wants to thank God...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 13 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 72 Are you familiar with Gideon?  Do you know why the people who leave Bibles in hotel rooms call themselves the Gideons?   Well, let's read about Gideon first and found out about the Gideons later. DAILY READINGS Judges 6-8 & Psalm 72 DAILY NOTES Judges 6:1-10 The Israelites are oppressed by the Midianites.  They are forced to flee to the mountains and caves.  The Israelites were "impoverished" and the land was "wasted."   The Israelites call out to God.  A prophet arose to confirm their current situation is due to their turning away from God.  Scripture doesn't tell us who the prophet was, but Jewish commentary offers a name. Judges 6:12 Gideon is approached by an angel of the Lord.  He is called a "mighty warrior."   Judges 6:22 After the sign Gideon asks for comes to pass, he believes he has seen the angel of God and believes what he has told him.   Judges 6:25-27 ...
Post a Comment
Read more