week9 | the good king

image by gordonplumb
Isaiah ch. 34-39

We will be concluding our reading this week, by looking at the faithful king Hezekiah. He, as you will see, is the contrasting figure to king Ahaz which we saw earlier in our studies. Much of our studies have been focused on abstract principles of wickedness & rebellion being judged and righteousness and justice being promised. This concluding text will set all of that teaching into a concrete situation with real people making real decisions.

While you are reading this account of Sennacherib and Hezekiah, place yourself into the setting. Replace the foreign parts of the scenario with the familiar troubles of your own life. I doubt anyone has a nation impending upon them, but you can probably find an analog—maybe there is distress in your workplace; someone trying to push you out of your job, maybe there is the fear of a hostile buyout. I know questions of health are always looming, we see Hezekiah’s faith come alive, on what he thought would be his death bed.

Consider and reflect upon the principles of faithful living that we have been learning, seeing how Hezekiah lives them out; all the while, consider how all that reflects back on your life of faith.

Strengthen the feeble hands
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come…”
Isaiah 35:3-4