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April 17 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 107

We're reading about 4 kings today.  Two good ones. Two evil ones.  

DAILY READINGS

2 Kings 20-22 & Psalm 107

DAILY NOTES

2 Kings 20

  • Hezekiah's illness and the visit from the Babylon representatives are thought to be out of chronological place.  
  • Notice that Isaiah wants nothing to do with Babylon (really with any foreign nation).  Of course, Babylon's force will come into play later as they fulfill what Isaiah predicts.
    • We assume, because of Verse 19, that Hezekiah thought dealing with Babylon was a good idea because it spurred trade and peace.
  • If you're familiar with Hezekiah's tunnel, we read a little more about that later in Chronicles.
2 Kings 21
  • Another two kings do did evil in the sight of the Lord.  
2 Kings 22
  • Josiah becomes king and discovers the book of the law.  Rabbinic tradition says that Ahaz burned the Torah, but this scroll was hidden under a rock and, therefore, saved.  It's also been suggested that Hilkiah wrote the scroll and "conveniently found" it.
Psalm 107
  • This is a psalm about giving God thanks even when (especially when?) there are troubles.  Notice the four "some" situations.  

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Wouldn't we all love to have our prayers answered the way Hezekiah did!

Notice, though, there was nothing specific about Hezekiah's prayer--only that God would remember Hezekiah's faithfulness.  But we know what he's praying for.  Whether it's because he feels like he has unfinished business with the kingdom or he is worried about his family taking control, we all know that he's praying because he isn't ready to die and he doesn't want to die.  

More importantly, God knows that.

Whether our prayers are answered in the way we want or not, what's most important is that we've learned that God hears what we pray for.  Even when we can't put words to what we're feeling or what we're hoping for, God hears.  

This weekend, I was reminded of a colleague's response to prayer.  This colleague is battling colon cancer and has learned this: God doesn't always cure, but God always heals.

Amen!

Stay blessed...john


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