Day 132: 2 Kings 18-19

What is the Rab-Shakeh's assumption? That Hezekiah's actions in tearing down the high places betray a crass political motive: ensure the people come to the Royal city to worship. (2 Kings 18:22) It's actually a uniquely faithful act on the part of Hezekiah among the Judean kings to this point (2 Kings 18:4-6). And yet, is Hezekiah's hope (2 Kings 19:4) and prayer (2 Kings 19:15-19) for deliverance based on the faithfulness of people? No; it's on the reputation of the LORD, His own glory, that Hezekiah knows to be the best appeal; for until he had torn them down, Judah had persistently  maintained high places and groves. It's notable that this section is reproduced not just in the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 32 but in Isaiah 37-39. God knew generations of believers would rejoice over the day the blasphemy and pride of a mighty human kingdom was answered in one night by a single angel able to decimate the army of a world empire. It really puts Matthew 26:53 in context.

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