April 26 "Belonged to the Beloved" II Kings 17:41

Burned in a fire by his father's doing,

Hezekiah turned out dependent on the Divine.

His identity was not wrapped up in success or ministry.

Don't bow, don't serve, don't sacrifice anything to any other god whether it be time, money, reasonableness, ministry, even children, even marriage.  God brought the children of Israel up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm.  God has brought you and me to this very place where we stand this day---by His Great Power and Outstretched Arm.  II Kings 17:36.  Observe His Word.  Fear the Lord your God.  He will deliver you from all your enemies, even the enemy of your own soul.  

They say that History repeats itself.  The history we find in today's reading in unimaginable.  In the commentaries, they write that Ahaz may well have been the most notorious infamous King of Judah.  He made his sons pass through fire or between fire---even Hezekiah.  The evil ambitious King Ahaz had a great father but his son Hezekiah turns out to be even more noble than all.  God kept Hezekiah in that fire.  Grasped by a Good God.  Hezekiah and David experienced rejection from their families like no other.  And they found God not a better self image.  They did not let their experiences define who they were.  They belonged to the Beloved and that changed everything for them.  The Rock of Ages,  Who reaches into our history this day.

And what I take away from this reading is t.h.i.s. ~ II Kings 17:40 ~ "However, they did not listen, but they did according to their earlier custom.  So while they feared the LORD, they served idols. II Kings 17:41. Their children and their grandchildren, too.  And they do to this day.  Are we like them?  Is our nation any better than this?  No.  No.  No.  God have mercy on our many sins.  May we repent from the idols of our heart.

PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Dear Father, We pray the words penned by David.  It turns out that these verses describe a future king named Hezekiah.  Like this ancient of old, may our salvation and honor depend on you, God, and nothing else.  You are our Mighty Rock, our Refuge.  O my soul, trust in Him at all times.  O my soul, pour out my heart to God for You are our Refulge.  Psalm 62:15-17.

OVERVIEW: II Kings 15-17
Image:  Shilke, Phil.  Documerica