Devotion 399

“And The People Rested Themselves Upon The Words Of Hezekiah”

Reference: 2 Chronicles Chapter 32

If only we will rest upon the Word of Jesus Christ.

John 7:38-39 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified).”

If we could simply rest (believe) His Word to seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We will receive all of God.

If we will simply rest (believe) His Word, we have passed from death unto life.

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

If we rest (believe) His Word, we will never see death. We will simply be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

If only we could rest in His Word.

The people rested in the words of Hezekiah.

Let’s read:

2 Chronicles 32:1-7 “After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. [2] And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, [3] He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. [4] So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? [5] Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. [6] And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, [7] Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:”

They were the Words of God to Moses and to Joshua.

Deuteronomy 31:6-7 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. [7] And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.”

It was the Word directly to Joshua from the Lord.

Joshua 1:1,9 “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, [9] Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

It’s the same Word to us today.
Stand still, and rest on His Word.

Hezekiah was a man of the Word.

We continue our reading:

2 Chronicles 32:8-20 “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 rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. [9] After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, [10] Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? [11] Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? [12] Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? [13] Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? [14] Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? [15] Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? [16] And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. [17] He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. [18] Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. [19] And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. [20] And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.”

Hezekiah did not take his concern to any man or woman on earth but to Heaven. He knew where his defense came from. He rested in His Word. He believed in His Word.

We continue our reading:

2 Chronicles 32:21-23 “And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. [22] Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. [23] And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.”

Righteousness will always exalt a nation. Sin (unbelief) remains a reproach to all.

We conclude our reading:

2 Chronicles 32:24-33 “In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. [25] But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. [26] Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. [27] And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; [28] Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. [29] Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. [30] This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. [31] Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. [32] Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. [33] And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.”

Pride is a form of unbelief. If we believe Him then we will be just as humble as He was. He was humble even to a Cross.

Hezekiah lifted up his heart in pride but quickly humbled himself in faith. God will restore anyone who turns back in faith.

Let the Word of God be our resting place. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. Thy Word is life, in Christ!

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