2 Kings – Chapter 20

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?” 2 Kings 20:19 – Depending how you read this, you can walk away with very different outlooks on King Hezekiah. The king had just been told by the prophet Isaiah that Babylon would one day come and cause havoc in his land and to his people. What is the response from Hezekiah? This word is good. If understood as Hezekiah respecting the word of the Lord and accepting the Lord’s consequences on his sin, then him saying this is “good” makes sense and we can respect that. If understood as Hezekiah saying as long as my days are peaceful and secure, I’m good with whatever havoc God wants to bring to the land and people after I’m gone, then that’s an extremely selfish posture for the king. Which is the way to understand this? Likely a bit of both, but difficult to pinpoint for scripture doesn’t elaborate on it. For our takeaway hopefully we can address both. The Lord’s word will always be good, even if it speaks hard things. Yet if our embracing of God’s word causes us to somehow settle in not caring for others, then we’ve missed the mark. If we hear the good message of “you are secure in Christ and your sins are washed clean,” but then settle in a posture of carelessness for the outcome of the life of those around us, we’re in sin. Absolutely it’s a good word to hear we are saved from our sin, but if the people around us are perishing still, we should never settle in our security, forsaking the lives of those around us who are still in danger. Embrace the promise that you are safe with God and step out to be the gospel bringer to those who aren’t saved yet. While it’s a good word that you are saved, it’s a better word that the world has heard the Gospel and has the opportunity to embrace Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3086

Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 2 Kings 20:5 – How beautiful are these words of God? God is leaning into Hezekiah’s weakness and sharing exactly what he needed to hear. That his God hears him, sees him, and is able to change things in his story. What I want you to see though is this message was for Hezekiah. This story of God bringing life again to a dying body and this reassurance that God is with them is for Hezekiah. I know sometimes we can feel like God isn’t listening or seeing us when we read stories like this and then look at our life and see we are still in our weakness. Yet while the message of healing was for Hezekiah, the one giving the message hasn’t changed. What we get from the passage is a beautiful description of the type of relationship God desires with us. Not one that’s disconnected with us, but one that hears our prayers, sees our story, and actually brings help within our life. What Hezekiah needed to hear is what you need to hear today. God hears you, God sees you, and God is able to change things in your story. While the message of healing was for Hezekiah, the same God who spoke into him is the same God we follow. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 391

Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 2 Kings 20:5 – God hears the prayer of the faithful and answers. Hezekiah’s story unfolds that truth for us. He walked with God, prayed when the struggle came, and God heard and answered. As we walk faithfully with God we can be assured that God sees our struggles, hears our prayers, and will answer. Understand the answer may not be exactly what we envision it to be, but He does answer with what’s best. That where we need to trust Him. Simply hear today God sees your pain, hears your prayer, and He is working. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1043

At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. 2 Kings 20:12-13 – In showing hospitality to his guest, the king showed the envoy of Babylon all that was present in his kingdom. Nothing of the possessions and grandeur of his kingdom was kept from them. Yet, many commentators speak into the lack of any word spoken about if Hezekiah in this presentation ever spoke about who it was that provided him this kingdom or if he took any chance to speak to them about the foolishness of their idolatrous worship practices. Whether the king took these opportunities or not we’ll never know, but one thing we do know is the opportunities were there to do so. Within this new year, you’ll be blessed with opportunities like this too. To give God credit for all you have and to speak about the foolishness of following after anything else other than God. When, not if, these opportunities arise, will you take advantage of them this year? Let others not only see the blessings you have been given but introduce them to the Lord who blessed your story with such blessings. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2226