​My son, if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
    he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
    and watching over the way of his saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
    and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 discretion will watch over you,
    understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
    from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
    to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice in doing evil
    and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose paths are crooked,
    and who are devious in their ways.
 
16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
    from the adulteress with her smooth words,
17 who forsakes the companion of her youth
    and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 for her house sinks down to death,
    and her paths to the departed;
19 none who go to her come back,
    nor do they regain the paths of life.
 
20 So you will walk in the way of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
    and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
 
 
Meditation
After receiving the throne from his father David, God approached Solomon and asked what he wanted to establish his kingdom. Solomon saw his vast call and asked for “wisdom and knowledge” (2 Chronicles 1). Solomon’s heart sought walking in God’s ways and delighting in God’s direction more than gaining wealth, power, and influence.
 
Solomon passes wisdom to his son through cautioning him to cultivate a heart that listens and obeys the words and ways of the Lord. Wisdom is passively received by listening and actively sought through seeking. When we seek God’s word and God’s ways as our highest treasure then we will seek God with all our hearts (1-8).
 
Notice the glorious description of what wisdom wins for our hearts (9-11): Righteousness. Justice. Equity. Protection. Delivering from the way of evil. Fruitfulness in the ways of righteousness.
Wisdom protects from evil and devious people whose paths are crooked and corrupt. Wisdom guards from adulterous and deceptive people whose ways lead to ruin.
 
Wisdom leads to the fullness of God’s blessings and promises. Foolishly rejecting wisdom leads to trouble and treachery (22). Solomon’s rule exemplified both! And his instruction today invites us to choose which path we will walk.
 
Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24) and Jesus teaches disciples to diagnose what we treasure by examining what our heart seeks (Matthew 6:21). When we seek first Jesus and His kingdom, the wisdom of His ways, everything else will be added (Matthew 6:33).
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from Proverbs 2 in regards to both the passive and active ways to gain wisdom, to listen and to seek?
 
-Where do you see the folly of your heart seeking after the ways of the world?
 
-How does God’s grace in Christ invite you to return to the righteous path of walking in God’s ways and seeking His divine design for your life? WHERE do you need to specifically return to God’s wisdom for the path you are walking?
 
Key Verse
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;

The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:3 You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ 4 Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign plan offers disciples eternal significance and solid joy. In Christ, God has prepared work for Christians to do (Ephesians 2:10). Grace invites us to discover God’s eternal agenda as our ambition and not our earthly ambition as God’s agenda.
 
Baruch is an important unimportant person. Baruch was Jeremiah’s loyal scribe who does triple duty in chapter 36 (writing and then re-writing the scroll before hiding Jeremiah at the risk of his own life) and faithfully stays with Jeremiah when confined to the courtyard of the king (32).
 
Baruch was loyal as a scribe but apparently had ambition to do “great things” (5). Ambition is not bad when godly, in line with God’s will. But Baruch’s ambition was out of touch with reality as Babylon was taking Jerusalem into captivity. God takes Baruch’s ambition and sets it within context of His global agenda: Judgement is coming, but I will preserve your life (5). God’s grace does not condemn Baruch but shows compassion and assures the scribe of his protection.
 
Baruch was an essential part of God’s plan to preserve and proclaim God’s word and protect God’s prophet, but he was not content.  The scribe desired more, but God reminded Baruch of His sovereignty and mercy.
 
When we desire “great things” from our life and leadership we must discern if our ambition is truly God’s agenda. Only God’s work will remain after the final judgement (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) and only God’s agenda will bring full joy today (Psalm 40:8).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Where do you identify with Baruch, wanting to do “great things” in your life and leadership?
 
-Why is it important to have your ambition align with God’s agenda?
 
-How can you respond to God’s grace by making space to discern what work God has prepared in advance for you to do?
 
Key Verse
5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not…

​Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 7 And the carved image of the idol that he had made he set in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever, 8 and I will no more remove the foot of Israel from the land that I appointed for your fathers, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the rules given through Moses.” 9 Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
Manasseh's Repentance10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
14 Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into the Fish Gate, and carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah.15 And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city. 16 He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.17 Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 19 And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers. 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.
Amon's Reign and Death21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them. 23 And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more. 24 And his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his house. 25 But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon. And the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
 
 
Meditation
The revelation of God’s grace is astounding: “Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more” (Romans 5:20).  This means that no matter how great your sin, God’s grace is greater.
 
Manasseh was the most evil king in the history of Judah, doing “more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel” (9). Manasseh’s rap sheet in verses 2-8 is enough for most people in my home state to see him worthy of the death penalty (Manasseh even sacrificed his son!). Sin abounds in Manasseh’s life and leadership- But God has enough grace for that!
 
Manasseh was taken captive and carried by hooks from his homeland. In Babylon the king “humbled himself greatly” and prayed to the Lord, just as 2 Chronicles 7:14 prescribed. And just as God promised, God heard the prayer of a humble heart, forgave Manasseh’s sin, and restored him to Jerusalem (10-20). The amount of grace God has for a heart that humbles itself before His throne is truly astounding.
 
God forgave wicked Nineveh (Jonah 3). Jesus highlights the invitation for forgiveness by pointing to the penitent tax collector praying in the temple crying out, “God have mercy on me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:9-14).  God wants to forgive you, too.
 
The richness of God’s grace is accessed by faith alone in the work of Christ alone. Jesus was a perfect king who died the death appointed for evil men so that all who commit evil can humble themselves before His throne of grace, confessing sin, repenting, and being cleansed (1 John 1:9).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you astonished by the grace God gives to Manasseh? Why or why not?
 
-Do you truly believe God is this rich in grace, free to lavish his love on the worst sinners, to cover the worst sins, and to cleans the most rebellious places of your own heart? Do you really believe “there is enough grace?”
 
-What difference does this revelation of God’s grace make in your life? Do you need to humble yourself and repent? Forgive others of sinning against you? Rediscover the joy of salvation?
 
Key Verse
12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth--
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Enticement of Sinners8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
    let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
    we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”--
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;
    hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
    and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
    in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
    it takes away the life of its possessors.
The Call of Wisdom20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
    in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
    at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,[a]
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
    I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
    have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
    and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
    and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
    and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
 
Meditation
Wisdom is available for anyone who wants it. God gives wisdom graciously to all who ask in faith (James 1:5-6). God wants to give you wisdom.
 
Wisdom is revelation for the heart (2:2, 10), illuminating your head (knowledge- 7, 29), and walked out through following God’s ways for life (15). Wisdom acknowledges God is God and we are not, so we fear Him by asking for revelation of who He is and how He has designed us to live in His world. Wisdom (ḥāḵ·māh) is a skill (as Exodus 31:1-6). It is applied knowledge of how to walk in God’s ways with the goal of living well in God’s world.
 
Wisdom can be defined, then, as “skill in the art of godly living.” In today’s reading, wisdom is described (2-7) as instruction, training, understanding, insight, shrewdness, direction (a way to walk), knowledge, and learning that begins with fearing the Lord. God is the designer and creator and to fear Him is to live dependently on His instructions for all of life.
 
Wisdom is given from love, as a father speaks direction to His children (8-19). Wisdom is personified and passionately pleads to be heard and harbored in hearts of God’s children (20-33). Wisdom is rejected by the simple minded, scoffers, and fools. But all who hear wisdom’s reproof will turn to have God’s Spirit make wisdom’s words known to them (23).
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about wisdom from today’s reading? Why?
 
-Where do you identify with the simple, scoffers, and fools who reject God’s instruction?
 
-In Jesus is all the treasury of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Jesus’ work on the cross enables us to hear wisdom’s reproof, repent, and return to the love of our Father for instruction. Where do you need to welcome this grace to reveal how you can live with skill in godly living? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the disaster that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, 3 because of the evil that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. 4 Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’ 5 But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods.6 Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they became a waste and a desolation, as at this day.7 And now thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and child, from the midst of Judah, leaving you no remnant? 8 Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, so that you may be cut off and become a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers.
11 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for harm, to cut off all Judah. 12 I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to come to the land of Egypt to live, and they shall all be consumed. In the land of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine they shall be consumed. From the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword and by famine, and they shall become an oath, a horror, a curse, and a taunt. 13 I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, except some fugitives.”
15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: 16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. 17 But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18 But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” 19 And the women said,[b] “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands' approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”
20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who had given him this answer: 21 “As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them? Did it not come into his mind? 22 The Lord could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey the voice of the Lord or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day.”
24 Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. 25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows! 26 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the Lord, that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord God lives.’ 27 Behold, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them. 28 And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who came to the land of Egypt to live, shall know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. 29 This shall be the sign to you, declares the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that my words will surely stand against you for harm: 30 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.”
 
Meditation
Brazen disobedience serves to shine a spotlight on the Lord’s steadfast love. Scripture is unique communicating the sin of people because it is centered on revealing God’s covenant love. Sins of Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Paul… are the backdrop to the amazing truth of the gospel: There is no condemnation in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1)… and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29-39).
 
Jeremiah’s last word to “all the Jews in Egypt” included a historical review (2-6), specific judgement (7-10), and final verdict (11-14): Those who reject God, His word, and His ways are destined for God’s wrath. God’s mercy offers another invitation to a people who have rejected Him and His word.
 
Brazen disobedience jumps out of today’s reading and the narrative reads like a dysfunctional meeting.
 
The brazen disobedience is oddly familiar. They claim rebellion again and again- We want to worship the gods of Egypt! As much as I want to distance myself from this ridiculous scene, I believe I should identify. I too brazenly disobey God.
 
Redemption, rather than rebellion, is the center of God’s story. God’s amazing love is this: while we were brazen in disobedience to Him, Christ died for us.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What jumps out to you from today’s reading?
 
-Where do you identify with the brazen disobedience of the people, rejecting God and His word (it may help to read verse 16 again)?
 
-Rebellion is not the end of the story- Redemption is. Scripture never ends with people rejecting God! Jesus is the center and offers opportunity for people to recognize rebellion, repent, receive forgiveness, and begin again. Take a moment to welcome God’s gracious invitation by returning to God’s grace in Jesus. Be specific.
 
Key Verse
16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. 

After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?”5 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance.6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “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. 8 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.
Sennacherib Blasphemes9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? 15 Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”
16 And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the Lord, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.” 18 And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.
The Lord Delivers Jerusalem20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who 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. 22 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. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.
Hezekiah's Pride and Achievements24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.26 But Hezekiah 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 in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions.30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

Meditation
God is greater than any enemy we face in life. Jesus promises to never leave us or forsake us as He reinforces His authority reigns over Heaven and earth. Truly, if God is for us then nothing can stand against us (Romans 8:31).
 
“Be strong and courageous- Do not be afraid… there are more with us!... the Lord our God helps us to fight and win our battles” (7-8). King Hezekiah’s words were spoken as the most powerful army in the world surrounded Jerusalem. While sieging the city, the enemy sent servants to discourage the people, writing letters of contempt and shouting blasphemy against the Lord (9-19). Courage is standing in God’s promised faithfulness even when it looks and sounds like the enemy is winning.
 
Hezekiah is practical, enhancing Jerusalem’s defenses (2-6), but his courage was found in seeking the Lord. Hezekiah listened to the word of the Lord, trusting God’s promises, and prayed with Isaiah the prophet. True to His word, God had the Assyrian king executed (20-23).
 
God blessed Hezekiah and the people of Judah in ways that resemble the favor and fortune of king Solomon (24-33). God wants to bless all who take courage in Him today through King Jesus. Jesus fights for us and Christians can be sure of the power of His presence and promises:
 “I will never leave you or forsake you…All authority in Heaven and on earth are given to me.”
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the passage, especially God’s faithfulness?
 
-What are the enemies in your life, battles you fight? Do you believe the Lord will fight for you?
 
-Jesus has already fought, leading the way in the fight against evil and sin. Jesus has already won, dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Jesus is already ruling, ascending into Heaven and sitting on the throne. How does the victory of Jesus give you strength and hope to face the enemies of your heart and life?
 
Key Verse
7 “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. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”