Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the LORD in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses. So the LORD was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city. [2 Kings 18.5-8]
We will do well today to notice what Hezekiah's obedience and devotion to God looked like in Hezekiah's life.
In the first verses of chapter 18, Hezekiah purged Judah of all things pagan. So, that is partially what obediently following God looks like.
But further still, following God looks like this: Hezekiah was successful in everything he did.
In contrast, other kings chronicled in the BIble who were deemed "not pleasing" to the LORD, experienced failure and defeat.
So, let's see, Godliness and obedience equals success, and Godlessness and disobedience equals failure and defeat.
It is important to point out here that the success mentioned here is not 'spiritual' success. In other words, the success discussed here is actual success - not a religious "victory in the trials" spiritualization of success!
If then we are experiencing failure, should we not conclude there is need for repentance?
Father, the Bible is so clear on the relationship between success and Godliness. Forgive me for ever translating my failures as anything other than indicators of my need to repent!
No comments:
Post a Comment