Hoshea was king of Israel, when they decided to rebel and throw off Assyria’s power over them. Shalmaneser king of Assyria came to put Hoshea in prison and eventually seized Samaria, Israel’s capital. Israel had fallen to idolatry and all kinds of sins because they had forgotten the Lord and his commands and chosen to follow the gods of the nations God had delivered them from. Shalmaneser replaced the people of Samaria with his people and his gods. God sent lions among them to kill them because they didn’t know what God required. Shalmaneser sent a priest to teach the people God’s requirements, but there were such a variety of nations settled in Samaria and each of them worshiped their own gods their own way. They refused to give up their ways for God’s.
In Judah, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king. He is the only king that followed God like David had done. He even removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, cut down the Ashram poles, and broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made. He did a total spiritual reform of the nation of Judah. God blessed him in every way and he defeated his enemies and his oppressors.
Everywhere Paul went he encouraged the saints and stirred up the sinners. His enemies wanted him dead. Satan wanted him dead. But God wanted him alive and kept strengthening and sending him out. He was driven to Jerusalem even though he knew that prison and hardships were waiting there. Paul had one goal and that was to finish his race strong and accomplish everything God had in mind for him. He also knew that when he visited his churches that this was his good-bye tour.
Lord, help us to be like Paul and finish our race with purpose and determination.
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