Stepping Back

O. T. #867  "Stepping Back"
Nov. 10, 2016
2 Kings 20-Part 3


LET IT GLOW

There have been times in my life when stepping back and taking another look at my situation from a different perspective was needful. I can do that when I ask God to show me what He is doing and His perspective on my circumstances. My spiritual eyes need opened so I can see a deeper purpose in events in question. In today's story, the king witnessed the Lord moving something backwards as a sign. Curious? Read on friend.

King Hezekiah was told to get his house in order because he would not live, getting over his illness. Reasonably, this faithful man prayed and cried out to his God. Then the Lord added 15 more years onto his life and would deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrians. A salve of figs was put on Hezekiah's boil and he recovered. All of this was done through the prophet Isaiah.

Verse 8 says, And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of the LORD the third day?

The king was wanting a sign that he would be healed. In the Hebrew language, the word sign has several meanings, in the sense of appearing; a signal as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence; mark, miracle, token.

 Hezekiah wanted evidence that he would be healed. Many times I have asked God for a sign as to indicate which choice, way, I should go when a decision was to be made. Maybe it was a lack of faith on my part, but He would show me the right way.

Bible students have debated for years whether Hezekiah should have prayed for healing and whether his recovery was God's perfect will or His permissive will. (Wiersbe)

It happened, whichever the case.


LET IT GROW

As a sign that the Lord would do as He promised, healing Hezekiah, the shadow would go forward or backwards 10 steps. The king requested that the shadow go back 10 steps.

What does that mean?
It was the first biblical mention of any means of marking time. (MacArthur)

The dial (steps) was not the traditional sun dial. It was perhaps a stone stairway with steps to mark out the hours. The king could see it from his palace window. (Wiersbe)

Isaiah prayed and God brought back the shadow 10 steps. Whether it was a universal phenomenon or a local prolongation of light in Judah, it was a miracle by God and a sign that the king would live.

Are our eyes open to see the workings of God around us?

All things work together for our good and His glory, even if we don't understand why something happens. That is why we live by faith and not by sight. Faith is hope in God.


LET IT GO

Trust in Jesus.

Pray.

A Death Bed Experience

O. T. #866 "A Death Bed Experience"
November 9, 2016
2 Kings 20-Part 2


LET IT GLOW

I can sit back and relax with the campaigning and election over. Well, just for a  minute. Now I pray for our nation, our spiritual reformation, moral restoration, and economic regeneration. It will come as God works in hearts, souls, and minds, as we love Him with all of ours. Do I hear an amen?

We left King Hezekiah of Judah on his death bed, turning his face to the wall, praying and sobbing. He was told to get his house in order. He was going to die. I can only imagine that my reaction would be the same, or worse.

Here was a good king who had walked with the Lord and swerved Him wholeheartedly. He reminded the Lord of this, too. Well, Prophet Isaiah left the king's presence giving him some privacy. That is when the Lord gave some "I wills" for Hezekiah, for the LORD, God of David, heard his prayer and saw his tears:

• I will heal you; on the third day go to the Temple.
• I will add unto your days 15 years.
• I will deliver you and this city (Jerusalem) out of the hand of the king of Assyria.
• I will defend this city for My own sake and My servant David's sake.

Look at what the Life Application Study Bible has to say:

Over a 100-year period of Judah's history (732-640 B.C.), Hezekiah was the only faithful king; but what a difference he made! Because of Hezekiah's faith and prayer, God healed him and saved his city from the Assyrians. You can make a difference, too, even if your faith puts you in the minority. Faith and prayer, if they are sincere and directed toward the One True God, can change any situation.

Do we want God to use us to make a difference in our family and community? Increase our faith and prayers' sincerity, Lord.


LET IT GROW

What transpired?
Isaiah told the king's servant (I suppose that is to whom he spoke) to take a lump of figs, a poultice, and lay it upon the boil. Was it a divinely prescribed medical cure or a miraculous healing? Either case, God worked in response to Hezekiah's prayer.
Wait, he didn't beg God to let him live, nor to extend his life 15 years but that is what happened. What mercy!

We can read Hezekiah's "Song of Deliverance", a song of praise to the Lord.  His bitterness was turned to peace as death neared, yet deliverance was had.

Do we praise the Lord when He uses medical treatments to heal us or our loved ones? Our lump of figs may come in the form of chemotherapy, surgery, or antibiotics/medicines. However, it is the healing power of  Jesus that cures. He did it for the blind man as he spit upon the ground and made a salve for the eyes. Also, Saul, later Paul's scales over his eyes fell off.

We shout HALLEJUAH JESUS! Glory to Your name for restoring my life twice, the life of my two sister in laws, and sustaining our former youth director. So many He has brought up from their death be experience.

Do we need to pray for someone who needs to be raised from their spiritual death bed? Resurrection is found in Jesus Christ.

LET IT GO

                                ...and shout praises unto the Lord God Almighty, El Shaddiah!

                                ... and always sing His praises, Worthy is the Lamb who is Holy of glory, honor,
                                    and praise!

                                ... and pray, trusting God's best is best for us.
            
                                ... and thank Him even when God chooses not to heal.

                    

Devastating News

O. T. #865 "Devastating News"
Nov. 8, 2016
2 Kings 20


LET IT GLOW

If I had been told by God through  preacher to get my house in order back in 2001, I would have been devastated by the news. Little did I know when I went into surgery, that afterwards I would stop breathing and my family would be in the hall praying for me to survive. It will be 15 more years come December 21 since that incident occurred. I am living my extended life, as I call it. How marvelous and merciful my God is. Do you have a similar experience?
 Today, we read of a king who is given the news that he would die of his present illness, and to put his house in order. Before we discuss find out what happens to him, I want to share what I discovered.

I like the Chronological Bible which places Scriptures in order of their event and not as they were put together in the King James day. As I looked into it, Israel (Samaria the capital) fell to the world empire of Assyria during King Hezekiah's sixth year reign in Judah (Jerusalem the capital). This happened due to Israel's refusing to listen to the Lord and obey Him. We find this in chapter 18, which is about 100 pages before chapter 20. A lot of things happen in between those chapters.

Isaiah prophecies about Israel and Judah being captured if they don't repent of their sins of idol worship and turn back to God. His judgment is coming. Micah warns Israel of Assyria's coming and God's love for them.

This is before Babylon comes to conquer Judah that chapter 20 occurs. It was in those days that Hezekiah becomes deathly sick. (It was 20 years before Assyria fell to Babylon.)

The Lord speaks through Isaiah saying, Set your house (affairs) in order for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.

Is he a friend of God in that his time of death is revealed? Hezekiah was a good king in Judah, full of faith in God. He restored the Temple at Jerusalem and their sacrificial system. He has been a praying king, a listening to prophets king, and now a broken king.

LET IT GROW

How did this man, a great godly king over Judah, through whom the Messiah was predicted to come, react to such devastating news?
Hezekiah knew God was sovereign, in control of life and death, although willing to listen to his appeal. Can you see Hezekiah turn his face to the wall, lying on his sick bed? And he prays, crying out to God, heart broken:
Remember, O LORD, now how I have walked before You in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.

Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.

A perfect heart means he served God wholeheartedly. Hezekiah did not want to die before he completed his moral reform in Judah. (Falwell)

Are we ever ready for devastating news from a test result, from a doctor, from a person at the door or on the phone?

Friend, are you prepared to meet your Maker?
Are we willing to accept God's will?

LET IT GO

Serve God wholeheartedly.

Walk by faith and in His Truth.

Do what pleases God.

A Hook and a Bit

O. T. #864 "A Hook and a Bit"
Nov. 7, 2016
2 Kings 19-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

A hook is still used to hang up the dead cow at the processing plant so they can cut it up. A bit is used to make a horse go where the rider wants. These two items are used for a purpose to be accomplished. God was going to use such things on the king of Assyria (figuratively speaking).

Prophet Isaiah reassured King Hezekiah with words from the Lord God to not be afraid of the king of Assyria and his threats. Their enemies had blasphemed the Living God of Judah so He would take care of the situation. Hezekiah went to the Temple and spread the letter before the Sovereign Lord God boldly praying, though not flippantly:

• He proclaimed God as the God of Israel, the God alone over all the kingdoms, and Creator of heaven and earth.
• He asked God to listen closely and see that Sennacherib had sent words to mock the living God.
• Hezekiah acknowledges that the kings of Assyria had devastated other nations, and even thrown their wooden and stone gods into the fire, destroying them.
• He asked the Lord God to save Judah from the hand of King Sennacherib that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God-You alone. (verse 19)

Are we proclaiming that the Lord God is the only True Living God? He is God Alone, no other. Jesus is the only way to God and He loves us. Jesus took our place so we do not have to pay for our sins. He paid our sin debt. Such love! Glory to God! Hallelujah!! Let us proclaim His salvation today.

LET IT GROW

God answered King Hezekiah's prayer through Prophet Isaiah in verses 21-34:

• God reassured Hezekiah that He heard his prayer about Sennacherib king of Assyria. (v. 20)
• Jerusalem, the virgin daughter, had not been violated or conquered since the days of David. She shook her head in a gesture of decision (Ps. 22:7).
• Sennacherib had not mocked or reviled Jerusalem o Hezekiah, but the Holy One of Israel. (v. 22)
• In verses 23-24, we read of the metaphors to depict the boastings of easy victories and successful achievements of Sennacherib.
• God did it, not this pagan king. God alone allowed or caused such things. (v. 25)
• It was God who ordained the fall of nations by Assyria, not their strength or the other nations' weaknesses. (v. 26)
• God knew every movement, rage, blasphemy, tumult, and arrogance of Sennacherib of Assyria. (v. 27-28)
• Look at verse 28-I will put my hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will make you go the way you came.  (Sennacherib was planning to lead the Jews shamefully back to Assyria, instead he would be he one to return shamefully, led by the God he had reviled.)
• Verses 29-31 refer to the remnant and their crops.
• Proof that Assyria would not harm Jerusalem-not so much as 1 arrow would be shot in the city. God would defend this city, His city. (v. 32-34)

What happened?
The angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians that very night. (v.35)
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, returned to Nineveh, just as God had said he would. Then, 20 years later, he was killed by his own 2 sons, while worshiping his god. (v. 36-37)

Life Application Study Bible explains:

The Assyrians treated captives with cruelty. They tortured prisoners for entertainment by blinding them, cutting them, or pulling off strips of their skin until they died. If the Assyrians wished to make a captive a slave, hey would often put a hook in his nose. God was saying that the Assyrians would be treated the way they had treated others.

Does it take a hook in our nose or a bit in our mouth that gets us where God wants us to be?
God can rebuild a nation with only a spark of faith, rekindling the fire. Will we be the spark?


LET IT GO

Proclaim God as the only True Living God to be worshiped.

Trust God to keep His Word. He is faithful forever.

Pray for our nation.

A Last Letter

O. T. #863  "A Last Letter"
Nov. 2, 2016
2 Kings 19-Part 2


LET IT GROW

Have you ever received an intimidating or threatening letter? My husband pastor did once. A certain family was trying to get rid of him as pastor. They even went to the extreme of contacting our denomination's state office, associational office, and our deacons. This happened before our new sanctuary was competed, so we knew the source and reason for it. Evil was trying to get us to leave so the sanctuary was not complete, but it did not happen. After much prayer, we confronted the family and they admitted what they had done was wrong. The Lord had a way of changing hearts through that difficult time.
Hezekiah received such a (last) letter from the ruling emperor, so he prayed to God for guidance and deliverance.

The king of Assyria (world power) had captured all the fortified cities of Judah and sent messengers to the godly King Hezekiah threatening him, to conquer Jerusalem, and blaspheming God. Hezekiah went to the Temple to pray while he sent a message to Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah relayed the Lord's message to the king-the Assyrian king would return to his land and be killed, which came to pass.

It  was rumored that the Pharaoh of Egypt (25 dynasty) was going to attack Assyria, so the king went home. Before leaving, he sent a last letter to Hezekiah: Let not your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to the countries: they completely destroyed
them. Will you be rescued? 


Challenging God was he? This pagan king trusted in his abilities and his army. God wins every time, though. All would soon see that. Obviously it terrified the king.

LET IT GROW


What did Hezekiah do when he received such a letter?
He took the letter from the hand of the messengers, read it, then went up to the Temple, and spread it out before the LORD. Then Hezekiah prayed.

Liberty Bible Commentary explains that Hezekiah's prayer included 4 points:

1. He recognized God's sovereignty, that He had complete authority over what He created;
2. the pagan Sennacherib had defied the living and sovereign God;
3. Sennacherib had indeed destroyed other nations and other gods, for they were no gods-Sennacherib's claims; only proved that pagan gods were not gods;
4. he requested that God save His people and show the world that Jehovah was the only God.

Do we acknowledge God as being in complete authority over all things? However, He allows us to make choices, not treating us as puppets.
Do we choose to lay our petitions before this Sovereign God?


LET IT GO

Pray about situations that come up.

Lay my petitions before God.

Trust the Sovereign God of the universe to do what is just and right.

Don't be afraid, for He is fighting my battles.

*I am visiting my grandchildren in the northeast this week, so I may not get to post Thursday. Check back Friday, my dear friends.

A Last Letter

O. T. #863  "A Last Letter"
Nov. 2, 2016
2 Kings 19-Part 2
verser???

LET IT GROW

The king of Assyria (world power) had captured all the fortified cities of Judah and sent messengers to the godly King Hezekiah threatening him and blaspheming God. Hezekiah went to the Temple to pray while he sent a message to Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah relayed the Lord's message to the king-the Assyrian king would return to his land and be killed, which came to pass.

It  was rumored that the Pharaoh of Egypt (25 dynasty) was going to attack Assyria, so the king went home. Before leaving, he sent a last letter to Hezekiah: Let not your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to the countries: they completely destroyed
them. Will you be rescued? 


Challenging God was he? God wins every time. All would soon see that.

LET IT GROW


What did Hezekiah do when he received such a letter?
He took the letter from the hand of the messengers, read it, then went up to the Temple, and spread it out before the LORD. Then Hezekiah prayed.

Liberty Bible Commentary explains that Hezekiah's prayer included 4 points:

1. He recognized God's sovereignty, (verse 15) that He had complete authority over what He created;
2. the pagan Sennacherib had defied the living and sovereign God;
3. Sennacherib had indeed destroyed other nations and other gods, for the

LET IT GO

Word Watching

O. T. 862  "Word Watching"
Nov. 1, 2016
2 Kings 19


LET IT GLOW

Words can hurt us as much as sticks and stones, right? Well, I guess it depends on how we react to them. Do we allow them to cut us to the core or do we consider the source and go on, letting the Lord handle them? Are we word watching or watching words hurt us? Judah's king had a threating message from the king of the Assyrian Empire. How did he handle it? He was a good model for us.

When the king of the Assyrian Empire captured the fortified cities of Judah, he sent his messenger, Rab-shakeh to deliver a message so all those on the walls of Jerusalem. King Hezekiah's court secretary, Shebna, and Eliakim who was in charge of the palace, and Joah the court historian heard the message and told the king of Judah.

How did King Hezekiah react to the threat of complete takeover of Judah?
Verse 1 says, When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, went into the  LORD's Temple. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Then the king sent the court secretary and leading priests to Prophet Isaiah. This is the first mention of Isaiah. He had been working for God since the days of Uzziah, (Azariah) 40 years. As long as Isaiah counseled Judah's kings, Assyia had not conquered her. Although King Ahaz ignored Isaiah's advice, Hezekiah listened

What did Hezekiah's message to Isaiah say?

• Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
• Perhaps Yahweh your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke him for the words that Yahweh your God has head.
• Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.

Is prayer our first response in crisis? Or do we wait until all is hopeless. We should be praying daily for God's guidance. Our problems are God's opportunities. He can use them to mold us, be a witness of His greatness, or to break us.

LET IT GROW

How did Isaiah answer the king?

• The LORD says, "Don't be afraid because of the words you have heard, that the king of Assyria's attendants have blasphemed Me with.
• I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land where I will cause him to fall by the sword."

Webster's Dictionary defines the word blasphemy means the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.


The MacArthur Bible Commentary explains:

Sennacherib had blasphemed the Lord by equating Him with other gods. The Lord would personally demonstrated to the Assyrian king His superiority over all other so-called deities. The Lord promised to incline Sennacherib's attitude in such a way that he would leave Jerusalem unharmed and return home.

He left, but not before sending messengers once again to King Hezekiah  relaying the same message which is found in verses 10-13.

Stay with me, dear ones. We will see how Sovereign God handles this one who was king of a mighty empire, and who blasphemed Him.

Are we watching our words? Are they honoring God or not? Do they challenge God like this king did? What message are we giving others with our words?

LET IT GO

Always respect God.

Watch my words today.

Forgive and turn the other cheek.