2 Kings 20-21 -- What A Contrast Between Chapters!

Two chapters that are more different would be hard to find alongside each other in the Bible!  In chapter 20, through Isaiah God tells godly king Hezekiah to put his affairs in order because he's about to die.  Hezekiah prayed, "Lord, please remember that I have always obeyed You.  I have given myself completely to You and have done what You said was right."  And he cried loudly.  God replied, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, so I will heal you."  How often we each would love to know that God has heard our prayers and has answered them!  Of course, as God, He does always hear them when we pray as believers.  He chooses how He wants to answer them.  But hearing His words saying that He has heard and answered -- wow!

Hezekiah had fifteen years added to his life, and he was also told that he'd be having children during that time!

Messengers from the king of Babylon arrived bearing a get-well gift for Hezekiah, but they were also scoping everything out, gathering intelligence for a future attack, seeing if there was enough there to make it worth their while.  Hezekiah had been too friendly with them and God revealed that the Babylonians would take everything and everyone away in the future.  

Three years later, Hezekiah's son Manasseh was born, and he became king at age 12 when Hezekiah's extra 15 years of life God had promised had passed.  His lifestyle was completely opposite of his father's.  He committed every sin that could be imagined during his 55 years on the throne, even leading the people of Judah to sin with him, and God was very unhappy with him, promising to "wipe out Jerusalem" and to "throw away the rest of My people who are left."  

At age 67, Manasseh died and his 22-year-old son Amon became king.  Amon had a 6-year-old son at the time, meaning he had been 15 when he found out he was going to be a father!  He'd followed in his dad's ways, living the same way and worshiping idols in the Temple!  He too excelled in dreaming up new ways to sin.  At age 24, after reigning for only two years, he was assassinated by his officers and his son Josiah became king at age 8.

Father, it saddens me so to see godly parents who struggle with ungodly children who were raised in the knowledge of You.  It seems that our prayers for them aren't heard or answered, but I know You hear.  I know we each have free will and choose our own course, either with You or without You.  Please draw them back to You, Father -- to the life they've watched and known with You.  Remind them of Your love and faithfulness and blessing, and help them to want to obey.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford