Click on Scripture references below to listen to passages.
Today’s Passage – 2 Kings 20 – 22
Second Milers also read – Luke 21 – 22; Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3
Scripture Memory for May – Psalm 51
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1
Read last year’s post from this passage – “Have You Found The Book?”
“Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” – (2 Kings 20:19)
In our passage today we read about good King Hezekiah of Judah. Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings the southern kingdom ever had, and there is very little negative information recorded about him. He loved the Lord, and for the most part, he pleased God with the way he ruled. However, there has always been something about Hezekiah that has bothered me. In 2 Kings chapter 20, we read about Hezekiah being graciously granted an additional 15 years of life after initially being told by God that his life was going to end sooner. He may have been better off going home to Heaven when God originally told him he was going. Those last 15 years of Hezekiah’s life were not his best. It was in those last years that he had a son named Manassah who is recorded as being the worst king in Judah’s history. It was also in the last 15 years of his life that he allowed ambassadors from Babylon to come in to see his kingdom. These delegates from Babylon would bring back to their kingdom information that would eventually cause them to invade Judah and Jerusalem years later. Isaiah strongly rebukes Hezekiah for his lack of judgment in allowing these men to see everything in the kingdom, and Isaiah tells Hezekiah that a lot of horrible things were going to happen to Jerusalem in the future. Upon hearing the report, Hezekiah is actually glad because the bad things won’t start until after he is gone. That’s a pretty selfish attitude if you ask me.
We are a lot like Hezekiah. We make decisions that benefit ourselves, but they may have a negative impact on future generations. For instance, parents that neglect their worship and service of God set an example for their children that will probably cause them to move even further away from God. I have seen good Christian people who have lost their children and grandchildren to the world because they compromised their convictions when the kids were young. We have a responsibility to the next generation. I want my children and grandchildren to be more sold-out, and more in love with the Lord than I am. Before we make decisions that may make us a little more comfortable or happy in this generation, we need to consider the affect that it will have on future generations. Hezekiah forsook the future generations of his family, and all of Jerusalem, all because he wanted to receive a little flattery and praise from a visiting delegation of ambassadors from Babylon. Very foolish, and very selfish.
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 49 - 50 (Click on the references to listen to the audio…
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 46 - 48 (Click on the references to listen to the audio…
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 41 - 45 (Click on the references to listen to the audio…
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 37 – 40 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click…
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 33 – 36 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click…
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 30 – 32 (Click on the references to listen to the…
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I googled "Was King Hezekiak selfish", and I saw this write up. I had been curious to see if other believers thought of his attitude along these same lines. Anyway, it was pretty obvious that he was being selfish, when he made the comment: "Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” Good insight from you. Christian must be legacy-minded rather than seeking immediate gratification. Kind of reminds me when Esau sold his birth rite to Jacob for a bowl of stew.