DEVOTIONAL

My family and friends can attest that I am not one to bury a lead. When I describe something that happens at the grocery store or at work, do I capture my audience with setting the scene and build the story with details until I unveil the big “ah ha” moment? No. Not in the slightest. I will casually say, “so, I was in the store and this kid spilled an entire package of cookies and crumbs flew everywhere.” Then my sister asks follow-up questions because she wants to know more details. Well, this is how the devotional is going to play out today, but instead of asking me the follow up questions I want you to ask God and read the full story for yourself. There are twists and turns that take you on an adventure to a surprise ending. 

Remember we left off last time with Israel in Babylon under captivity by Assyria. The passage today pans over to Judah and catches us up on what has been going on with them. Judah is not in captivity. They are under a new king Hezekiah who flips life upside down for Judah in a beautiful way. The countdown clock in my mind to this part of the story of Hezekiah is what motivated me to read through the dark years of Israel and Judah. The account of King Hezekiah is in 2 Kings 18-20, the short version, and 2 Chronicles 29-32, the juicy detailed version with more color. Reading both is helpful to see the full story.

With that, let’s jump in.

There are two lessons I gleaned from Hezekiah. First, how to reset your life with God by cleaning out the “junk” or sin in yourself. And the second lesson is when fear shows up that causes you to doubt the faithfulness and goodness of God, lay it before God and trust Him to conquer your fears. Did you see that? I did not bury the lead.

Hezekiah takes over as king of Judah after his father Ahaz dies and he gets to work. This is my kind of guy. He gathers everyone to restore the temple. For decades, the temple of God has been second to the high places of idol worship. And recently, the people have completely defiled it. It astounds me to imagine the temple of holy prayer and sacrifice for God has turned into the Monica closet on Friends. And then I think about my life the last six months. It is a wake-up call. I can name the junk I have piled into my life that pushes out my reverence for God. The junk in my life I choose to distract me from the holiness of God. What about you? I love how the writer explains over three chapters the events to cleanse the temple, consecrate priests, shed blood for atonement, reinstate the Passover observance, and the abundant tithe offerings the people pour out. Restoration takes time. The beautiful result is a willing heart in full devotion to God. We see this with Judah. If you are someone who has not been to church or prayed or read your Bible in months or years, be encouraged you can get back to close relationship with Jesus one step at a time. Start small. He is with you.

The story takes a turn after Judah celebrates Passover. Before we look at what happens, notice how God orders events for Judah in such a way to prepare them for the hard turn. Judah restores the temple of God and then Assyria brings on threats to overtake them.

What could have happened if Assyria threatens Judah before they spend the time to restore the temple of God? How could events play out differently? Gratitude swells in my heart as I think about ways God prepares me for a hard turn or temptation before I face it. A lot of times I do not realize it until I am on the other side of it.

For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.

2 Chronicles 30:9

The hard turn for Judah comes abruptly in the story as Assyria yells threats to overtake Judah. The enemy is an expert at instilling fear. Our response tells us whether we trust in God or ourselves. Hezekiah responds to the threats in an inspiring way. He runs to God. Hezekiah lays out before God the threats of Assyria and asks God to conquer them for the glory of the name of Yahweh. The fear is great, but God is greater. When you feel cornered by the enemy, God makes a way out.

In the way Hezekiah runs to God whole-heartedly, I think about David and Solomon. All three kings led from a secure place of reverence to God. They spent time on their faces before God. They invited godly wisdom to counsel their decisions. They experienced God conquer their fears. Were they perfect? No. However, David, Solomon, and Hezekiah point to a greater king coming in their blood line who is perfect. Jesus, the King of Kings. Jesus is the One who will shed His blood for the atonement of all the “junk” or sin in my life that makes a way for me to no longer be held down by the enemy but live in freedom with Jesus. It was time for a reset in Judah. And maybe it is time for a reset in my life, too.

Q: What is the “junk” in your life that you need to throw out?

Q: How has God conquered one of your fears recently?

Additional Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-32; Psalm 48; Psalm 86

 

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore, they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.

2 Kings 19:14-19