My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 23:1-37

1 Then the King sent, and there gathered unto him all the Elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.

2 And the king went up into the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the Priests and Prophets, and all the people both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant, which was found in the house of the Lord.

3 And the king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, that they should walk after the Lord, and keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all their heart, and with all their soul, that they might accomplish the words of this covenant written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

4 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high Priest, and the Priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven, and he burnt them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the powder of them into Bethel.

5 And he put down the Chemarims, whom the kings of Judah had founded to burn incense in the high places, and in the cities of Judah and about Jerusalem, and also them that burnt incense unto Baal, to the sun and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

6 And he brought out the grove from the Temple of the Lord, without Jerusalem unto the valley of Kidron, and burnt it in the valley Kidron, and stamped it to powder, and cast the dust thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.

7 And he brake down the houses of the Sodomites, that were in the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

8 Also he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the Priests had burnt incense, even from Geba to Beersheba, and destroyed the high places of the gates, that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which was at the left hand of the gate of the city.

9 Nevertheless the Priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, save only they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren.

10 He defiled also Topheth, which was in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man should make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech.

11 He put down also the horses that the Kings of Judah had given to the sun at the entering in of the house of the Lord, by the chamber of Nethan-Melech the eunuch, which was ruler of the suburbs, and burnt the chariots of the sun with fire.

12 And the altars that were on the top of the chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord did the king break down, and hasted thence, and cast the dust of them in the brook Kidron.

13 Moreover the King defiled the high places that were before Jerusalem, and on the right hand of the mount of corruption (which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the idol of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the idol of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon)

14 And he brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

15 Furthermore the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place made by Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin, both this altar and also the high place, brake he down, and burnt the high place, and stamped it to powder and burnt the grove.

16 And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the graves that were in the mount, and sent and took the bones out of the graves, and burnt them upon the altar and polluted it, according to the word of the Lord, that the man of God proclaimed, which cried the same words.

17 Then he said, What title is that which I see? And the men of the city said unto him, It is the sepulcher of the man of God, which came from Judah, and told these things that thou hast done to the altar of Bethel.

18 Then said he, Let him alone: let none remove his bones. So his bones were saved with the bones of the Prophet that came from Samaria.

19 Josiah also took away all the houses of the high places, which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to anger the Lord, and did to them according to all the facts that he had done in Bethel.

20 And he sacrificed all the Priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burnt men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.

21 Then the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the Passover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.

22 And there was no Passover holden like that from the days of the Judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, and of the kings of Judah.

23 And in the eighteenth year of King Josiah was this Passover celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.

24 Josiah also took away them that had familiar spirits, and the soothsayers, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were espied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, to perform the words of the Law, which were written in the book that Hilkiah the Priest found in the house of the Lord.

25 Like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might according to all the Law of Moses, neither after him arose there any like him.

26 Notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath wherewith he was angry against Judah, because of all the provocations wherewith Manasseh had provoked him.

27 Therefore the Lord said, I will put Judah also out of my sight, as I have put away Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem, which I have chosen, and the house whereof I said, My name shall be there.

28 Concerning the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

29 In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Perath. And king Josiah went against him, whom when Pharaoh saw, he slew him at Megiddo.

30 Then his servants carried him dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulcher. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.

31 Jehoahaz was three and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

32 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.

33 And Pharaoh Necho put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath while he reigned in Jerusalem, and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

34 And Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king instead of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away, which when he came to Egypt, died there.

35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, and taxed the land to give the money, according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he levied of every man of the people of the land, according to his value, silver and gold to give unto Pharaoh Necho.

36 Jehoiakim was five and twenty years old, when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

37 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 22:1-20

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one and thirty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

2 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and bowed neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

3 And in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the chancellor, to the house of the Lord, saying,

4 Go up to Hilkiah the high Priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people.

5 And let them deliver it into the hand of them that do the work, and have the oversight of the house of the Lord, let them give it to them that work in the house of the Lord, to repair the decayed places of the house:

6 To wit, unto the artificers and carpenters, and masons, and to buy timber, and hewed stone to repair the house.

7 Howbeit, let no reckoning be made with them of the money, that is delivered into their hand: for they deal faithfully.

8 And Hilkiah the high Priest said unto Shaphan the chancellor, I have found the book of the Law in the house of the Lord: and Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

9 So Shaphan the chancellor came to the king, and brought him word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it unto the hands of them that do the work, and have the oversight of the house of the Lord.

10 Also Shaphan the chancellor showed the king, saying, Hilkiah the Priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the King.

11 And when the king had heard the words of the book of the Law, he rent his clothes.

12 Therefore the king commanded Hilkiah the Priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the chancellor, and Asahiah the king’s servant, saying,

13 Go ye and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written therein for us.

14 So Hilkiah the Priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah went unto Huldah the Prophetess the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas keeper of the wardrobe: (and she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college) and they communed with her.

15 And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,

16 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and on the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read,

17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burnt incense unto other gods, to anger me with all the works of their hands: my wrath also shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched:

18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The words that thou hast heard, shall come to pass.

19 But because thine heart did melt, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants of the same, to wit, that it should be destroyed and accursed, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me, I have also heard it, saith the Lord.

20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be put in thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. Thus they brought the king word again.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 21:1-26

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: his mother’s name also was Hephzibah.

2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord after the abomination of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he went back and built the high places, which Hezekiah his father had destroyed: and he erected up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven and served them.

4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, of the which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my Name.

5 And he built altars for all the host of the heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 And he caused his sons to pass through the fire, and gave himself to witchcraft and sorcery, and he used them that had familiar spirits and were soothsayers, and did much evil in the sight of the Lord to anger him.

7 And he set the image of the grove, that he had made in the house, whereof the Lord had 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, will I put my Name forever.

8 Neither will I make the feet of Israel move anymore out of the land, which I gave their fathers: so that they will observe and do all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.

9 Yet they obeyed not, but Manasseh led them out of the way, to do more wickedly than did the heathen people, whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.

10 Therefore the Lord spake by his servants the Prophets, saying,

11 Because that Manasseh king of Judah hath done such abominations, and hath wrought more wickedly than all that the Amorites (which were before him) did, and hath made Judah sin also with his idols.

12 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I will bring an evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that who so heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem, as a man wipeth a dish, which he wipeth, and turneth it upside down.

14 And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall be robbed and spoiled of all their adversaries,

15 Because they have done evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the time their fathers came out of Egypt until this day.

16 Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood exceedingly much, till he replenished Jerusalem from corner to corner, beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord.

17 Concerning the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, even in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

19 Amon was two and twenty years old, when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem: his mother’s name also was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

20 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh did.

21 For he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them.

22 And he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lord.

23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the King in his own house.

24 And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against King Amon, and the people made Josiah his son King in his stead.

25 Concerning the rest of the acts of Amon, which he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

26 And they buried him in his sepulcher in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 20:1-21

Greetings in the name of our Risen Savior Christ Jesus

I was meditating yesterday how omnipotent and omnipresent is our Creator and as the old expression goes, it blew my mind. He is strong enough to make the heavens tremble, yet gentle enough as to not let you know He's holding you up in His hands. . He can be in every house of worship all the time on any given day and hear all praises, worships, glories, and prayers given unto Him at the same time. And what is more He acts upon them as well. He well knows all our fears and comforts us all at the same time as would any Father. When someone asks me where is my proof that God exists, I just say look at the heavens at night, to the child sleeping in their bed. Both were created by Him, both for different purposes to suit His wish to bless us.  Herein then we see how when we turn our cares to Him, He answers. 

1 About that time was Hezekiah sick unto death: and the Prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Put thine house in an order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,

3 I beseech thee, O lord, remember now, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight: and Hezekiah wept sore.

4 And afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle of the court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and seen thy tears: behold, I have healed thee, and the third day thou shalt go up to the house of the Lord,

6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years, and will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city for mine own sake, and for David my servant’s sake.

7 Then Isaiah said, Take a lump of dry figs. And they took it, and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

8 For Hezekiah had said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?

9 And Isaiah answered, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do that he hath spoken, Wilt thou that the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to pass forward ten degrees: not so then, but let the shadow go back ten degrees.

11 And Isaiah the Prophet called unto the Lord, and he brought again the shadow ten degrees back by the degrees whereby it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

12 The same season Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard how that Hezekiah was sick.

13 And Hezekiah heard them, and showed them all his treasure house, to wit, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, and in all his realm, that Hezekiah showed them not.

14 Then Isaiah the Prophet came unto King Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they to thee? And Hezekiah said, They be come from a far country, even from Babylon.

15 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures, that I have not showed them.

16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord.

17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and whatsoever thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: Nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.

18 And of thy sons, that shall proceed out of thee, and which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

19 Then Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, The word of the Lord, which thou hast spoken, is good: for said he, Shall it not be good if peace and truth be in my days?

20 Concerning the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his valiant deeds, and how he made a pool and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 19:1-37

1 And when King Hezekiah heard it, he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth, and came into the house of the Lord,

2 And sent Eliakim which was the steward of the house, and Shebna the chancellor, and the Elders of the Priests clothed in sackcloth to Isaiah, the Prophet the son of Amoz.

3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of tribulation and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth.

4 If so be the Lord thy God hath heard all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to rail on the living God, and to reproach him with words which the Lord thy God hath heard, then lift thou up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.

5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

6 And Isaiah said unto them, So shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a noise, and return to his own land: and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

9 He heard also men say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he therefore departed and sent other messengers unto Hezekiah, saying,

10 Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, and say, Let not thy God deceive thee in whom thou trustest, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, how they have destroyed them: and shalt thou be delivered?

12 Have the gods of the heathen delivered them which my fathers have destroyed? as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden, which were in Telassar?

13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Shepharvaim, Hena and Ivah?

14 So Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and Hezekiah spread it before the Lord.

15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the Cherubims, thou art very God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made the heaven and the earth.

16 Lord bow down thine ear, and hear: Lord open thine eyes and behold, and hear the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to blaspheme the living God.

17 Truth it is, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

18 And have set fire on their gods: for they were no gods, but the work of man’s hands, even wood and stone: therefore they destroyed them.

19 Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know, that thou O Lord, art only God.

20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have heard that which thou hast prayed me, concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.

21 This is the word that the Lord hath spoken against him, O Virgin daughter of Zion, he hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn: O daughter of Jerusalem, he hath shaken his head at thee.

22 Whom hast thou railed on? and whom hast thou blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the holy One of Israel.

23 By thy messengers thou hast railed on the Lord, and said, By the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the top of the mountains, by the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the high cedars thereof, and the fair fir trees thereof, and I will go into the lodging of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.

24 I have dug and drunk the waters of others, and with the plant of my feet have I dried all the floods closed in.

25 Hast thou not heard, how I have of old time made it, and have formed it long ago? and should I now bring it, that it should be destroyed, and laid on ruinous heaps, as cities defensed?

26 Whose inhabitants have small power, and are afraid, and confounded: they are like the grass of the field, and green herb, or grass on the house tops, or as corn blasted before it be grown.

27 I know thy dwelling, yea, thy going out and thy coming in, and thy fury against me.

28 And because thou ragest against me, and thy tumult is come up to mine ears, I will put mine hook in thy nostrils, and my bridle in thy lips, and will bring thee back again the same way thou camest.

29 And this shall be a sign unto thee, O Hezekiah, Thou shalt eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and the next year such as grow without sowing, and the third year sow ye and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.

30 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah, shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

31 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and some that shall escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.

32 Wherefore thus saith the Lord, concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not enter into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a mount against it:

33 But he shall return the way he came, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord.

34 For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for David my servant’s sake.

35 And the same night the Angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of Assyria an hundred four score and five thousand: so when they rose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went his way, and returned and dwelt in Nineveh.

37 And as he was in the Temple worshipping Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons slew him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararat, and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. (a)

(a) Editor’s notation - Read Job 36:9-14; Matthew 26:52-53 - note that Sennacherib, lived by his conquests, that is to say by the sword, so likewise he died by sword.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 18:1-37

1 Now in the third year of Hoshea, son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

2 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi the daughter of Zechariah,

3 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

4 He took away the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it, and he called it Nehushtan.

5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel: so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, neither were there any such before him.

6 For he clave to the Lord and departed not from him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.

7 So the Lord was with him, and he prospered in all things which he took in hand, also he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

8 He smote the Philistines unto Gaza, and the coasts thereof, from the watchtower unto the defensed city.

9 And in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, (which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel) Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

10 And after three years they took it, even in the sixth year of Hezekiah: that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel was Samaria taken.

11 Then the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor, by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

12 Because they would not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant: that is, all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded, and would neither obey nor do them.

13 Moreover, in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the strong cities of Judah, and took them.

14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent unto the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended: depart from me, and what thou layest upon me, I will bear it. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.

15 Therefore Hezekiah gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house.

16 At the same season did Hezekiah pull off the plates of the doors of the Temple of the Lord, and the pillars (which the said Hezekiah king of Judah had covered over) and gave them to the king of Assyria.

17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan, and Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up, and came to Jerusalem, and when they were come up, they stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is by the path of the fuller’s field,

18 And called to the king. Then came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was steward of the house, and Shebna the chancellor, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Tell ye Hezekiah, I pray you, Thus saith the great king, even the great king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

20 Thou thinkest, Surely I have eloquence, but counsel and strength are for the war. On whom then doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

21 Lo, thou trustest now in this broken staff of reed, to wit, on Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God, is not that he whose high places, and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

23 Now therefore give hostages to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able to set riders upon them.

24 For how canst thou despise any captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

25 Am I now come up without the Lord to this place, to destroy it? the Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah said unto Rabshakeh, Speak I pray thee, to thy servants in the [m]Aramites’ language, for we understand it, and talk not with us in the Jews’ tongue, in the audience of the people that are on the wall.

27 But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words, and not to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

28 So Rabshakeh stood, and spake, saying, Hear the words of the great king, of the king of Assyria.

29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of mine hand. (a)

30 Neither let Hezekiah make you to trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given over into the hand of the king of Assyria.

31 Hearken not unto Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make appointment with me, and come out to me, that every man may eat of his own vine, and every man of his own fig tree, and drink every man of the water of his own well,

32 Till I come, and bring you to a land like your own land, even a land of wheat and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive’s oil, and honey, that ye may live and not die: and obey not Hezekiah, for he deceiveth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.

33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

34 Where is the god of Hamath, and of Arpad? where is the god of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivah? how have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

35 Who are they among all the gods of the nations, that have delivered their land out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

36 But the people held their peace, and answered not him a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer ye him not.

37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah which was steward of the house, and Shebna the chancellor, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

(a) Editor’s thought - Re: Vs 29-35 - How much does this sound like our spiritual enemy, Satan, who lies to us, saying that our heavenly Father cannot deliver us from any situation, but that instead we should place our hopes and trusts in other people, places or things. 

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 17:1-41

Greetings in the name of our Redeemer Christ Jesus, to all people

In today’s reading we continue to see how the children of Israel, and Judah abandoned the covenant made between God and themselves.  As can be expected things did not go well for them afterwards.  Note that many times, through the prophets God spoke to them to cease from their ways, to put away all things, all idols, (and remember we’ve spoken upon this topic that idols can be anything that is sought after first, before God), so that they would return to Him.  

We often hear of those who question the love that God has for us by pointing out all the evil that befell the Israelites in the OT.  Many times we hear such people say how can He be so merciful if He allowed all this to happen. When asked if they’ve read His word, they say, yes, I’ve read it, however, when a following question is asked, that being, now, have you studied it, the response is usually no.  It is then necessary to point out to them that God did not abandon the Israelites but they abandoned Him.  When we turn from God, and seek not His words, His wisdom, and abandon His covenant, He then allows us to wallow in the miseries  of our own creation.  

Today, I call upon all people to seek Him daily. Study His word, both in the OT, and NT.  Return to Him that created you, for you were created in His image, that of holiness, and love. 

1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel, and reigned nine years.

2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel, that were before him.

3 And Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.

4 And the king of Assyria found treason in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present unto the king of Assyria, as he had done yearly: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and put him in prison.

5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went against Samaria, and besieged it three years.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away unto Assyria, and put them in Halah, and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

7 For when the children of Israel sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and feared other gods,

8 And walked according to the fashions of the Heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel, and after the manners of the kings of Israel, which they used,

9 And the children of Israel had done secretly things that were not upright before the Lord their God, and throughout all their cities had built high places, both from the tower of the watch, to the defensed city,

10 And had made them images and groves upon every high hill, and under every green tree,

11 And there burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen, whom the Lord had taken away before them, and wrought wicked things to anger the Lord,

12 And served idols: whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall do no such thing,

13 Notwithstanding the Lord testified to Israel, and to Judah by all the Prophets, and by all the Seers, saying, Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments, and my statutes, according to all the Law, which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the Prophets.

14 Nevertheless they would not obey, but hardened their necks, like to the necks of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.

15 And they refused his statutes and his covenant, that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies (wherewith he witnessed unto them) and they followed vanity, and became vain, and followed the heathen that were round about them: concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them. (a)

16 Finally they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

17 And they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and used witchcraft and enchantments, yea, [j]sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to anger him.

18 Therefore the Lord was exceedingly wroth with Israel, and put them out of his sight, and none was left but the tribe of Judah only.

19 Yet Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked according to the fashion of Israel, which they used.

20 Therefore the Lord cast off all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hands of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

21 For he cut off Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat King: and Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin.

22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam, which he did, and departed not therefrom,

23 Until the Lord put Israel away out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the Prophets, and carried Israel away out of their land to Assyria unto this day.

24 And the king of Assyria brought folk from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: so they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

25 And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slew them.

26 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent Lions among them, and behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the Priests whom ye brought thence, and let him go and dwell there, and teach them the manner of the God of the country.

28 So one of the Priests, which they had carried from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

29 Howbeit, every nation made their gods, and put them in the houses of the high places, which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

30 For the men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth: and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31 And the Avites made Nibhaz, and Tartak: and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech, and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

32 Thus they feared the Lord, and appointed out Priests out of themselves for the high places, who prepared for them sacrifices in the houses of the high places.

33 They feared the Lord, but served their gods after the manner of the nations whom they carried thence.

34 Unto this day they do after the old manner: they neither fear God, neither do after their ordinances, nor after their customs, nor after the Law, nor after the commandment, which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob whom he named Israel,

35 And with whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Fear none other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

36 But fear the Lord which brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power, and a stretched out arm: him fear ye, and worship him and sacrifice to him.

37 Also keep ye diligently the statutes and the ordinances and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, that ye do them continually, and fear not other gods.

38 And forget not the covenant that I have made with you, neither fear ye other gods.

39 But fear the Lord your God, and he will deliver you out of the hands of all your enemies.

40 Howbeit they obeyed not, but did after their old custom.

41 So these nations feared the Lord, and served their images also: so did their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

(a) Editor’s notation - Re: Vanity defined -  Emptiness; want of substance to satisfy desire; uncertainty; inanity. Fruitless desire or endeavor.  Trifling labor that produces no good.  Emptiness; untruth.  Empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment.  Ostentation; arrogance.  Inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride, inspired by an overweening conceit of one''s personal attainments or decorations. - Source Webster’s Dictionary Edition 1848 

Such definitions still apply today, as we have seen, that the seeking of the material objects of this temporal plane, instead of the heavens, produce nothing of substantial gain in the end. 

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 16:1-20

1 The seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham King of Judah began to reign.

2 Twenty years old was Ahaz, when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not uprightly in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father:

3 But walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to go through the fire, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

4 Also he offered and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 Then Rezin King of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem, to fight: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

6 At the same time Rezin king of Aram restored Elath to Aram, and drove the Jews from Elath: so the Aramites came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

7 Then Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and deliver me out of the hand of the king of Aram, and out of the hand of the king of Israel which rise up against me.

8 And Ahaz took the silver and the gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent a present unto the king of Assyria.

9 And the king of Assyria consented unto him: and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus. and when he had taken it, he carried the people away to Kir, and slew Rezin.

10 And king Ahaz went unto Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria: and when king Ahaz saw the altar that was at Damascus, he sent to Urijah the Priest the pattern of the altar, and the fashion of it, and all the workmanship thereof.

11 And Urijah the Priest made an altar in all points like to that which King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the Priest against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

12 So when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near to the altar, and offered thereon.

13 And he burnt his burnt offering, and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings besides the altar.

14 And set it by the brazen altar which was before the Lord, and brought it in further before the house between the altar and the house of the Lord, and set it on the North side of the altar.

15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the Priest, and said, Upon the great altar set on fire in the morning the burnt offering, and in the even the meat offering, and the king’s burnt offering and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings: and pour thereby all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice, and the [brazen altar shall be for me to inquire of God.

16 And Urijah the Priest did according to all that King Ahaz had commanded.

17 And King Ahaz brake the borders of the bases, and took the caldrons from off them, and took down the sea from the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.

18 And the veil for the Sabbath (that they had made in the house) and the king’s entry without turned he to the house of the Lord, because of the king of Assyria.

19 Concerning the rest of the acts of Ahaz, which he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 15:1-38

Greetings friends and brethren in Christ:

Once again we have read over the last few chapters that those who were kings over Israel, and Judah, did not fully follow God. Some openly defied Him, while others, believers as it may be said, did not take away the idolatry from the people. They allowed for the worship of idols made by hands of man.  As a result, there is much turmoil in those kingdoms. War, famine, enslavement, all plague the people.  

To sum it up,  this writer, quotes a popular bumper sticker; No God, No Peace, KNOW God, KNOW peace.

It may sound simplified, and perhaps to a degree it is so, however, one cannot deny, that when one does not have God in one’s life, life in general is a lot harder. 

1 In the seven and twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

2 Sixteen years old was he, when he was made king, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

3 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

4 But the high places were not put away: for the people yet offered, and burned incense in the high places.

5 And the Lord smote the king, and he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in an house apart, and Jotham the king’s son governed the house, and judged the people of the land.

6 Concerning the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

7 So Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

8 In the eight and thirtieth year of Azariah King of Judah, did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months,

9 And did evil in the sight of the Lord, as did his fathers: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin.

10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him, in the sight of the people, and killed him, and reigned in his stead.

11 Concerning the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

12 This was the word of the Lord, which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation after thee. And it came so to pass.

13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah King of Judah: and he reigned the space of a month in Samaria.

14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

15 Concerning the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the treason which he wrought, behold, they are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

16 Then Menahem destroyed Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah, because they opened not to him, and he smote it, and ripped up all their women with child.

17 The nine and thirtieth year of Azariah King of Judah, began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.

18 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and departed not all his days from the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin.

19 Then Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him, and establish the kingdom in his hand.

20 And Menahem exacted the money in Israel that all men of substance should give the king of Assyria fifty shekels of silver a piece: so the king of Assyria returned, and tarried not there in the land.

21 Concerning the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son did reign in his stead.

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, began Pekahiah the son of Menahem to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.

24 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel to sin.

25 And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria in the place of the king’s palace with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: so he killed him, and reigned in his stead.

26 Concerning the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel.

27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah King of Judah, began Pekah the son of Remaliah to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

28 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat that made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel Beth Maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali, and carried them away to Assyria.

30 And Hoshea the son of Elah wrought treason against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31 Concerning the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah King of Israel, began Jotham son of Uzziah King of Judah to reign.

33 Five and twenty years old was he, when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.

34 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35 But the high places were not put away: for the people yet offered and burnt incense in the high places: he built the highest gate of the house of the Lord.

36 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

37 In those days the Lord began to send against Judah, Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The Second Book of Kings

Chapter 14:1-29

1 The second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.

2 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

3 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father, but did according to all that Joash his father had done.

4 Notwithstanding the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people did sacrifice, and burnt incense in the high places.

5 And when the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, he slew his servants which had killed the king his father.

6 But the children of those that did slay him, he slew not, according unto that which is written in the book of the Law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children put to death for the fathers: but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

7 He slew also of Edom in the valley of salt, ten thousand, and took the city of Sela by war, and called the name thereof Joktheel unto this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.

9 Then Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that is in Lebanon, sent to the Cedar that is in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and the wild beast that was in Lebanon, went and trode down the thistle.

10 Because thou hast smitten Edom, thine heart hath made thee proud: brag of glory, and tarry at home. Why doest thou provoke to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, and Judah with thee?

11 But Amaziah would not hear: therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up: and he and Amaziah king of Judah saw one another in the face at Beth Shemesh which is in Judah.

12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to their tents.

13 But Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah at Beth Shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and the children that were in hostage, and returned to Samaria.

15 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his valiant deeds, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried at Samaria among the kings of Israel: and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.

17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen years.

18 Concerning the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

19 But they wrought treason against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.

20 And they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah which was sixteen years old, and made him king for his father Amaziah.

22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, was Jeroboam the son of Joash made king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned one and forty years.

24 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord: for he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin.

25 He restored the coast of Israel, from the entering of Hamath, unto the sea of the wilderness, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai the Prophet, which was of Gath Hepher.

26 For the Lord saw the exceedingly bitter affliction of Israel, so that there was none shut up, nor any left, neither yet any that could help Israel.

27 Yet the Lord had not decreed to put out the name of Israel from under the heaven: therefore he preserved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his valiant deeds, and how he fought, and how he restored Damascus, and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

29 So Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead.