Day Seven--July 7, 2026--"But God.."

 

2 Chronicles 32:1-8

Hinge Verses:32:7-8

Hezekiah is one of my favorite kings of Judah to read about.  There is a series of books called "Chronicles of the Kings" that covers Hezekiah's life and reign and it's one of my favorite series of all time! From our list yesterday, which listed and labeled the Kings of Israel and Judah--Israel never had a good king after Solomon and Judah only had 8--Hezekiah is listed as "the best".  Hezekiah's dad, King Ahaz, is labeled "heinous".  In fact, Hezekiah was likely never meant to be king, but Ahaz had sacrificed his son in the fire to foreign gods.  (2 Kings 16:3)  So when Hezekiah takes the throne as a 25-year old man, he is left with a country far from God.  His first order of business--in the first month of his reign--is to open the temple doors and repair all his father had broken in his final defiance as king of Judah. Once King Hezekiah had given order to the priests and the people to get busy and right the wrongs of the generation before them, restoration happened quickly. One of my favorite parts of Hezekiah's story  "After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done",  he and his country are invaded by Assyria.  Hezekiah came up with the idea to divert the water that was coming into the city, so the king of Assyria could not use their water source to gain entry.  He worked hard to complete this tunnel before the coming attack.  {Side note--I could write about this for hours because it fascinates me.  There have been recent discoveries tying Hezekiah to this tunnel, including a seal with the inscription "Belonging to Hezekiah, son of Ahaz King of Judah".  I have a file on my computer filled with recent archaeological finds that prove time and time again that God's Word is TRUE!!!}

As King Hezekiah assembled military officers, he encouraged them with our pivotal, hinge Verses today:

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.  With him is only the arm of the flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to helps us fight our battles." But God is with us.  

We learned about the Battle of Long Island yesterday.  It was the first major battle fought in America after they declared independence on July 4, 1776.  The situation seemed dire going into the Battle, no one doubted that.  The Battle took place in August, and as early as May, troops were repositioned and strategies were planned out.  On July 2, 1776, George Washington rallied his troops with this encouragement:

"The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves... The fate of unknown millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army... We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die. Our own Country’s honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions."

But God...His Name is verse 8 is Elohim, singular yet plural.  One God with many attributes.  Eternal, faithful, good, gracious, holy, just, sovereign, wise....I'm standing on Your faithfulness.   You are the same God.  You are the same God.