Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jul 13th David’s Psalm Of Praise – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Psalms 140 – 145 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 25 – 26; Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13)

Read the “0713 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

(Psalm 145:1-4) “David’s Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. (2) Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. (3) Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. (4) One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

Good morning. Psalm 145 is King David’s Psalm of Praise. David was known as a man after God’s own heart; shouldn’t he be filled with praise for the LORD? He tells God, in verse 2, that he will praise God’s name for ever and ever. Why? Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. How do we praise the Him? By telling others, and by sharing your praises with them. Verse 4 tells us…

(Psalm 145:4) “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”

Can God get a witness? I’m sure He can. Having trouble praising God for all the wondrous things He has done? Continue reading in verse 5…

(Psalm 145:5-21) “I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. (6) And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. (7) They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. (8) The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. (9) The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (10) All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. (11) They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; (12) To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. (13) Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. (14) The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. (15) The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. (16) Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. (17) The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. (18) The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (19) He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. (20) The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. (21) My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Can you praise the LORD as well as David? I’m sure you can, if Jesus is in your heart. Start by counting your many blessings: name them one by one, and you’ll see what God has done. You will praise Him too!

Peace!

Jul 6th Bless The LORD – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Psalms 103 – 105 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 11 – 12; Psalms 26 – 30; Proverbs 6)

Read the “0706 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

(Psalm) 103:1 “A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”

Good morning. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. What comes out of your mouth when you talk about the Lord? Does it bless His holy name? Are you using all your power: all that is within you? Bless His holy name.

(Psalm 103:2) “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”

(1) Think about all His benefits.

He forgives, heals, and keeps you out of Hell. He shows you His loving kindness, and His tender mercies. He supplies you with good and healthy food He shows the oppressed His righteousness and judgment. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

(Psalm 103:22) “Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.”

(2) All His works should bless the Lord.

Are you His creation? Were you made in the image of God? Yes? Then you need to bless the Lord!

(Psalm 104:1) “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.”

(3) Bless the Lord because of who He is.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, because of His honour, His majesty, and His greatness.

(Psalm 134:1-3) “A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. (2) Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. (3) The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Peace.

Jul 5th Sing

Today’s Reading – Psalms 96 – 102 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 9 – 10; Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 19

Read the “0705 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read previous posts from this passage – “Enduring to All Generations“, and “Before His Presence“

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.” (Psalm 96:1-2)

“O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. … Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.” (Psalm 98:1, 4-5)

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2)

“I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.” (Psalm 101:1)

You couldn’t help but notice all of the references to singing in today’s reading in the Psalms. singing is a beautiful expression of the joy that is in our hearts because of all of the blessings that the Lord has given us as His children. Reflecting on the goodness of God should be enough to put anyone in a singing mood. Notice in Psalm 96:2 (above) that a singing Christian shows his salvation to the world around him. People can know we are christians by our words, action, and love; but here we see they can hear our salvation through our joyful spirit expressed in our singing. Why is it then that so many church services are dead when it comes to the congregational singing?

It is a shame that many congregations today are limiting the amount of congregational singing in their worship services. Some churches are replacing the singing from the people in the pews with professional performances from the platform. What a shame. While I thoroughly enjoy hearing Holy Spirit-filled and gifted musicians and singers perform, there is still nothing like an uninhibited congregation singing their hearts out in worship to the Lord.

One more thought regarding singing. Sometimes we don’t feel like singing, perhaps due to negative or painful circumstances going on in and around our lives. We should sing anyway because singing has a way of cheering us up and reminding us that we serve an awesome God. Christian, God wants to hear you sing, and so do I. It matters not if you can hold a note. All you have to do is make that joyful noise, and the Spirit of God will do the rest.

“Every good gift that we have had from the cradle up has come from God. If a man just stops to think what he has to praise God for, he will find there is enough to keep him singing praises for a week.” D. L. Moody

Jun 29th Hurry LORD! – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Psalms 69 – 72 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Revelation 13 – 16; Psalms 141 – 145; Proverbs 29)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1

Read the “0629 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

(Psalm 70:1-5) “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. (2) Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. (3) Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. (4) Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. (5) But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.”

Good morning. How long do you think the insanity in our country will go on before it blows up in our faces? In our text, three times David asks the Lord to make haste. There were people that desired David’s hurt. Dacid asked the Lord to deliver him, that those who were after him would be confused, ashamed, confounded, and turned back. Make haste, LORD. Our own country has turned away from God. Homosexuality runs rampant. Drugs, illegal aliens, and criminals overflow our boarders. What can we do? We can apply what David said in verse 5…

(Psalm 70:5) “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.”

And also apply what his son Solomon heard from the LORD…

(2Chronicles 7:14) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Make haste!

Peace.

Jun 22nd Try It, You’ll Like It! – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Psalms 32 – 35 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 2 Peter 1 – 3; Psalms 106 – 110; Proverbs 22)

Read the “0622 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

(Psalm 34:8) “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Good morning. There was an old TV commercial, that had a man sitting on his bed. He was recounting what had happened to him. Another guy said, “Try it, you’ll like it. Try it, you’ll like it.”

The man on the bed said, “So I tried it… thought I was gonna die!”

Then they went into the product information. But in our verse, the Bible tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good: and you will be blessed. Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!

Try Jesus, you’ll like Him, and all your sins will be forgiven.

Try Jesus, and you will live forever.

Try Jesus, and you will have a mansion in Heaven that He built especially for you.

Try Jesus, and He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

Try Jesus, and one day you’ll walk on streets of gold.

Try Jesus, and you will be blessed.

(Joh 3:16-18) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Try Jesus, you’ll like Him!

Peace!

Jun 21st I Have and I Will

Today’s Reading – Psalm 26 – 31 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 1 Peter 1 – 5; Psalms 101 – 105; Proverbs 21)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 51:11

Read the “0621 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Joy Cometh in the Morning.”

“1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; [therefore] I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3 For thy lovingkindness [is] before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands [is] mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD. (Psalm 26:1-12)

This Psalm is another one of the Psalms of David. Possibly, it was written during the times that King Saul was pursuing David, or possibly it was at the time that his son Absalom was in rebellion.

This Psalm has an interesting structure. You will notice often the phrases, “I have” and “I will” repeated over and over again throughout the Psalm.

I have walked in integrity (v. 1); I have walked in truth; I will walk in integrity (v. 11)

I have trusted (v. 1); I shall not slide (v. 2)

I have not sat (v. 4); I will not go (v. 4)

I have hated (v. 5); I will not sit (v. 5)

I will wash (v. 6); I will compass (v. 6)

I have loved (v. 8); I will bless (v. 12)

I          David Asks the Lord to Examine, Prove, and Try Him. (v 2)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)

The word “examine” means to scrutinize, or to look closely at something.

“The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” (Psalms 11:4 )

The word, “prove,” means to examine, tempt, or to put to the test:

“And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.” (Psalms 78:18)

“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.”(Daniel 1:12)

The word “try” is the word that is used to refine metal.

“And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:”(Isaiah 1:25)

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:7)

Notice that he asks God to do this to both his reins and his heart.

The word translated “reins” is sometimes used for the word “kidney”, the physical organ. It is used here and in many other places to refer to the seat of emotion and affection.

“Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” (Psalms 7:9)

The word heart can be used to refer to almost the same thing, but it can also refer to the soul and mind.

So what is David asking here?

He is asking God to take a close look at his mind (his thinking), and his emotions (his attitude, his will). He wants God to test them, and to try them. When a person has heart problems today, the doctor will look him over carefully, and then he will send him for a battery of tests, and then he may “try” him by putting him through a stress test. Here in our text, David was asking for a thorough examination. The Word of God and the Spirit of God examine us as well:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

II         David Acknowledges His Love for the House of God (vs. 8, 12)

The House of the Lord in the Old Testament was the temple. Notice v. 12 speaks of congregations (plural). David loved the Lord’s house – the temple; but he also loved to be with God’s people and he testified (blessed the Lord) wherever God’s people were gathered.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Notice in v. 12, the reference to the “even place,” meaning level terrain. This means that David was standing on ground and following a path that would keep him from falling into sin. He kept away from places that were spiritually dangerous for him. The House of God, which was the Tabernacle in David’s day, was a safe place for Him. The church house with God’s people gathered together and the Word of God being proclaimed is a safe, “even” place for us today. The Bible also refers to “sliding” (v. 1), and “slippery” places (Psalm 73:18; Jeremiah 23:12), which are places that people sometimes go that will be spiritually dangerous and conducive to falling.

III       David Asserts His Disdain for the Works of the Wicked (vs. 4 – 5; 9 – 10)

“1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (Psalms 101:3)

Jun 15th Are Ye Not Much Better? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Job 36 – 38 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 2 Timothy 1 – 4; Psalms 71 – 75; Proverbs 15)

Read the “0615 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

(Job 38:39-41) “Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, (40) When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? (41) Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.”

(Psalm 104:27-28) “These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. (28) That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.”

(Psalm 147:9) “He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.”

(Matthew 6:26) “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

Good morning. I’m in the process of resealing the roof of my RV. You see a lot when you’re up twelve feet in the air. I look past the awning, and I see my two dogs: Louie, and Rosie. They are both looking at Preacher and Justin’s backyard. Talking in a normal voice I call Louie’s name. They are still focused on the backyard. I call again, a little louder, and he looks up at me. He goes toward the gate to pick up his tennis ball. He looks up at me again and lets the ball drop to the ground as if to say, “Hey, get down here and throw the ball for me.”

But being on top of the RV, you can see a good portion of the backyard. God sees us the same way, but not just a portion. God sees everything. He controls the universe, but still makes time to answer our prayer. He answers yes, or no, or what I told Louie: not right now. When was the last time you counted your blessings? Can you remember God answering your prayer? When you think about how God has blessed you, you know He cares for you and is watching you, ready to show Himself strong in your sight. And you also know that God keeps His Word.

(Philippians 4:19-20) “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (20) Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Peace.

Jun 8th Though He Slay Me – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Job 12 – 14 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – Ephesians 4 – 6; Psalms 36 – 40; Proverbs 8)

Read the “0608 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

(Job 13:13-16) “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. (14) Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? (15) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. (16) He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Good morning. Job is being “comforted” by his friends. And Job told them so…

(Job 16:2) “I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.”

Job was a man who walked with God.

1) Job trusted God (v. 15).

2) Job knew bad things happen in life (v. 15). Jesus said…

(John 16:33) “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

3) Job made the decision to maintain his own ways before God (v. 15)

4) Job knew God was his Saviour (v. 16)

(Acts 4:10-12) “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

And if you don’t have Jesus, how will you ever get through what is happening in the United States?

(Romans 10:13) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Peace!

Jun 1st Are You Hearing God’s Word – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Nehemiah 8 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 1 Corinthians 13 – 16; Psalms 1 – 5; Proverbs 1)

Read the “0601 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

(Nehemiah 8:1-8) “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. (2) And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. (3) And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. (4) And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. (5) And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: (6) And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. (7) Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. (8) So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

(Hebrews 10:23-25) “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Good morning. Many times, while out soul winning, I would encounter people who would tell me that they don’t need to go to church. The Bible clearly states that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It is important to be in God’s house. The Jews of the Old Testament knew this. In Nehemiah 8:1-2, the people gathered themselves together, and compelled Ezra, the priest to bring out the word of God and read it. In vs3 we find that he read it from morning to midday. Verse 3 also tells us that their ears were all attentive to God’s Word. Verses 5-6 tell us that the people stood as Ezra read, and worshiped the LORD. And verse 8 tells us that they read (those in verse 7) in the Book of the Law distinctively, and gave sense, and caused the people to understand the reading.

Do you want to understand what the Bible says, then you need to be in church: church that believes what the Bible says.

Peace.

May 25th The Protection Of God – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 32 – 33 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – Romans 1 – 4; Psalm 119; Proverbs 25)

Read the “0525 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

2Chronicles 32:7-8 “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: (8) With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

Good morning. God’s Word is powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It gives us comfort in knowing that God is with us.

1) We can be strong and courageous.

2) We do not have to be afraid or dismayed.

3) We have God to help us.

4) We have God to fight for us.

5) We do not have an arm of flesh like our enemies; we have the LORD our God.

(Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

There are many examples of men in the Bible who refused to believe God.

In this chapter it was Sennacherib king of Assyria.

(2Chronicles 32:9-22) “After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, (10) Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? (11) Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? (12) Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? (13) Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? (14) Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? (15) Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? (16) And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. (17) He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. (18) Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. (19) And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. (20) And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. (21) And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. (22) Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.”

God protects His people. And with God’s protection comes…

Peace!