Mon.’s Devo - Hezekiah’s Downfall

Read: 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13; Romans 15:23-16:9; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 20:16-18 Of course, Satan was not happy about Hezekiah restoring the Temple, so he sent his army against them. He used the Assyrian’s to fight on earth for him. When Hezekiah heard their intentions, he fortified his wall and even built another wall outside the other to double fortify his city. Then he had large numbers of weapons and shield made and appointed military officers over the people and encouraged them in the Lord. He reminded them that even though the Assyrians had a powerful army, greater was the Lord who was with them then Satan who was with the Assyrians. The Assyrians were mere men. King Sennacherb of Assyria sent his officers to Jerusalem to intimidate the people and spread fear. Fear is one of the biggest tactics of Satan. The officers taunted them by saying, “How do you think you can stand against us and say that your god can deliver you. Hezekiah has misled you by destroying all the Lord’s shrines and altars and commanded you to only worship at the altar at the Temple. Surely you have heard of all the Assyrians have done to all the gods of the other nations. Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. Your god cannot stand against King Senacherib.” They shouted these lies in Hebrew so the people on the wall could understand and be afraid and lose their power. King Hezekiah and Isaish stood and cried out to God in heaven and God sent his angel to destroy the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers so Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace. When he got home, his own sons killed him with a sword. There was peace in Judah and King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations and many gifts for the Lord and the king came to Jerusalem. Hezekiah became sick and cried out tot he Lord. God heard his prayer and gave him 15 more years to live. When God healed him he did not respond correctly and instead became proud. When ambassadors came from Babylon to see his kingdom, he showed them everything because he was so proud of what he had done. God told him it would cost him his kingdom. When he died, his son, Manasseh became the king. Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king and he was as pagan as his father was godly. He led the nation in idolatry worse than the other kings of Judah. God sent prophets to turn them back to the Lord, but they refused to repent. The Assyrians came and took Manasseh captive to Babylon. He humbled himself and repented and the Lord heard him and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the Lord was the only God. In Romans, Paul was finally going to get to come to Rome and visit the church there. First, he was going to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. The Christians in Macedonia and Achaia had taken up an offering to give them. Paul asked the church in Rome to pray for his travels. He would go to Spain on his way and preach to the people there who had not heard the gospel. Then he would be there to encourage them in their walk. Paul gave a list of people who had been faithful to help him in his ministry. Lord, thank you for faithful people who continue to spread your Good News. Thank you for the revival that is happening right now in our land. May we be faithful to share your good news everywhere we go.