Day 118

A Very Good Man

Read: 2 Kings 18-20

Hezekiah now became king of Judah. He did what was right in the sight of God. He broke down the altars throughout the land where the people did not worship as they should. He trusted the Lord. He was better than any of the kings before him or after him. He kept the commandments God had given to Moses.

What are your goals? Are they to become rich, to be highly regarded by man, to enjoy as much pleasure as you can? Those are the wrong goals. Instead, seek to be godly, to be good as God measures goodness.

The result of Hezekiah’s godliness was that the Lord was with him and he prospered. Jesus taught a similar principle: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33 ESV).

Godliness does not guarantee that we will have no trouble. The king of Assyria, who had captured Israel, now came to attack Judah. He boasted that since the gods of other nations could not protect them, neither would the Lord be able to protect Judah against him. But Hezekiah knew where to turn in the midst of his problems. He took the threatening letter and laid it before the Lord. He prayed for deliverance and God, through the prophet Isaiah, assured him of that deliverance.

PRAYER
Father, give us the grace to live godly lives knowing you will be with us in our need. In Christ. Amen.