2 Kings 20:1-11 — Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
2 Kings 20:12-21 — Hezekiah’s Folly and the Babylonian Envoys
2 Kings 21:1-18 — Manasseh Reigns in Judah and is Denounced
2 Kings 21:19-26 — Amon Reigns in Judah
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This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Hezekiah did well in the eyes of the Lord and was not only healed from his illness, but given 15 more years of life AND an amazing sign where the shadow on the “stairway of Ahaz” when back 10 steps. However, Hezehiah choose to build an allegiance with Marduk-Baladan by receiving his gifts and showing his envoys “all that was in his storehouses” (2 Kings 20:13). Isaiah let Hezekiah know, “The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord” (20:17).
Manasseh becomes king of Judah and reigns 55 years as the longest of the corrupt kings in Judah’s history. “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (21:2) including sacrificing “his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger” (21:6). The Lord is extremely angry…not a good thing at all! “I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” (21:13). Amon follows in his fathers footsteps and does “evil in the eyes of the Lord” (21:20) and was eventually assassinated in the palace (21:23). Josiah, his son, was appointed king…more on that in the next chapter.
So what do we learn from these two chapters? Hezekiah did great things for the Lord, but ended up making a huge mistake with the Babylonians. Next his sons turn the tables completely and started worshipping idols. Yet through it all, God works his plan and his purpose. Paul tells us, “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” in 1 Cor 10:6; we should learn from these bad examples. Are we not shocked at the horrible nature of these people? Lord I pray that I’m not to desensitized to simple read through such accounts without being horrified by their selfish desires to simply please themselves. Help me to see the idol worship in this day and age and steer far from such people…better yet, help others see their own idol worship and guide them back to you!