2 Kings 18 -- Good News, Bad News

Judah finally got a king like King David again.  Hezekiah took the throne at age 25 and ruled for 29 years.  Like David, he followed God's commands and cleared out the places for worship that all the other kings had failed to remove.

But after Assyria attacked and took over Samaria and all of Israel, it set its sights on Judah and captured the strong walled cities, since Hezekiah hadn't paid the annual tribute to Assyria.  Hezekiah, in a moment of weak faith, removed all of the silver and gold from the temple and the palace and turned it over to the Assyrian commander, beilieving that would stop the invasion.

But the Assyrian king sent messengers who met Hezekiah's messengers and said, "The Lord Himself told us to come to this country and destroy it."  What were the residents of Jerusalem to believe?  Their prideful attitude showed up in what they said next, though:  "Has a god of any other nation saved his people from the power of the king of Assyria? ... Not one of all the gods of those countries has saved his people from us.  Neither can the Lord save Jerusalem from my power."  

As the chapter ended, Hezekiah's messengers headed to the palace to deliver the message.

Father, I know so well what it's like to receive bad news and not know what to do.  You have helped me over the last 16 years particularly to remember the phrase, "I trust You, God!"  Help me to continue to remember it and to rest in You when I am stressed, worried, and anxious.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford