April 4, 2024 - 2 Kings 18-20

The end (in 722 B.C.) has come for the northern Kingdom of Israel.  In the south, Hezekiah reigned, and it is written of him that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, he removed the idolatry from the land, and kept the Lord’s commands.  “And the Lord was with him” (18:7).  Now, Hezekiah was far from a perfect man.  When Assyria (which had conquered the northern kingdom) besieged Jerusalem, the king initially relied on his own strength, thinking, “I got this!”  Well, except he didn’t have it!  The Assyrian armies surrounded the city and mocked the king and his people, saying, “Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria” (19:10).  It appeared that the struggle was just about over and that Jerusalem would be taken.  But, then, following the counsel of the prophet Isaiah, Hezekiah pleaded, “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” (19:19).

And what happened?  “That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.  Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home” (19:35-36).  Last evening, Matt encouraged us that we should pray believing God will answer and continue to pray until he does so.  Hezekiah needed to learn this lesson and so do we.  Always, we can trust God!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

there is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!   --Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)