Sun.''s Devo - Ten Steps Backwards

Read: 2 Kings 20:1-22:2; Acts 21:18-36; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 18:9-10 King Hezekiah became termanally ill so Isaiah went to visit him and tell him to put his affairs in order because he would die. When Isaiah left, Hezekiah cried out to the Lord and reminded him of his faithfulness to Him. *** Before Isaih could leave the courtyard, God told him to return and tell Hezekiah that he had heard his prayer and seen his tears. God would heal him and give him 15 more years. He would also rescue him and Jerusalem from the Assyriahs who had promised to return. *** Hezekiah asked Isaiah for a sign that this would happen and Isaiah gave him the choice of the shadow on the sundial going forward or backwards. He chose for the shadow to go 10 steps backward. This was prophetic about his life. He went backwards into the sins of his fathers. *** Soon after he was healed, Merodack-Baladan, the king of Babylon sent ambassadors to congradulate him for recovering and sent him a gift. Unwisely, Hezekiah showed off all the wealth of his kingdom to them. When they had gone, Isalah came and questioned him about what they had seen. He told him all he had showed them. Isaiah told him that everything he had showed them would one day be taken by them and they would be taken to Babyon as their captors. *** After his 15 years, Hezekiah did die and his son who was born during his 10 steps backward became king. His name was Manasseh. He was one of Judah's worse kings that led Judah into perverse idolatry. He defiled God's Temple by bringing pagan altars into it. He sacrificed his own sons and did detestable acts. The prophets warned that God would judge Judah like he had Israel and even the remnant would be plunder for their enemies. When Manasseh died, he was buried in the garden of Uzza and his son, Amon became king. He was evil like his father Manasseh and only ruled 2 years. His own officers killed him in his palace. The people of the land killed his assasins and made his son Josiah the next king. Josiah was only 8 when he became king and reigned for 31 years. Surprisingly, he was good and pleased God following the example of David. *** In Acts, Paul met with the other believers in Jerusalem and testified about his ministry to the Gentiles. They received this news with joy. They told Paul about all the false rumors they had heard about him preaching against circumcism and Moses' law. They urged him to prove his allegiance to the law by paying for the purification ceremony of four of their men who had made a vow. Then everyone would see that Paul followed the law. *** Paul agreed to do this but when he went ito the Temple, he was met by a mob and thrown out. They intended to kill him but were stopped by Roman officers. They arrested Paul and had him chained. When they asked the crowd what he had done, the crowd went into an uproar shouting to "kill him." *** The Jews were going through a massive transition from law to grace and many were not making the transition smoothly. Many never made it and became enemies of Christ and his followers. But those who had the truth of Christ and had received the Holy Spirit were filled with boldness and joy and nothing could disuade them from the truth in their hearts. *** Lord, may we be like these believers who have given our soul to you. May we be bold in the face of opposition and true to your Word.