2 Chronicles 31:1–32:33; 1 John 2:15–17; Psalm 104:16–35
We do not earn God’s favor by our obedience, but He
certainly encourages it by His blessing. He knows what is good for us,
something like a father who does not want his child playing in traffic. Doing
what He says keeps me out of trouble and often produces unexpected results.
This happened with King Hezekiah who restored God’s temple
and encouraged the people to donate towards it. They responded in great
abundance and Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the enormous
amount of giving. Azariah the chief priest replied, “Since
they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and
have plenty left, for the Lord has
blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.” (2
Chronicles 31:9–10)
Hezekiah obeyed God by doing “what
was good and right and faithful before the Lord
his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God
and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did
with all his heart, and prospered.” (2 Chronicles 31:20–21)
He also encouraged the people to do the right thing, and to
trust God: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid
or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for
there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us
is the Lord our God, to help us
and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of
Hezekiah king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 32:7–8)
When the Assyrians attacked, the Lord sent an angel. “He cut off
all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of
Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came
into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the
sword. So the Lord saved Hezekiah
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria
and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side.”
(2 Chronicles 32:21–22)
Hezekiah slipped a bit after that and became proud of his
accomplishments, yet he “humbled himself for the
pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath
of the Lord did not come upon them.”
(2 Chronicles 32:26)
I’m encouraged by Hezekiah, and also by the admonition of
the New Testament reading. It says, “Do not love
the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh
and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is
from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but
whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17)
Like that ancient king, I’ve known God’s blessing for
obedience. His wrath? That was poured out on Christ on the Cross, which means
the punishment for every sin I’ve committed was willingly borne by Jesus, my Savior.
Because of what He has done for me, I can repent of my foolishness and sin, and
turn to Him. He forgives and gives me His love and the desire to do His will.
What a blessing to know and share in the grace of God!
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on
the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will
sing to the Lord as long as I
live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be
pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
(Psalm 104:31–34)
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