The King Of Ashshur Attacks Yahudah In
Chizkiyahu's Time
18:1Now
it happened in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Yisra'el, that
Chizkiyahu the son of Achaz king of Yahudah began to reign. 18:2He was twenty-five years old when he began
to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Yerushalayim: and his mother's
name was Avi the daughter of Zekharyah. 18:3He
did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his
father had done. 18:4He removed the
high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in
pieces the brazen serpent that Moshe had made; for to those days the children
of Yisra'el did burn incense to it; and he called it Nechushtan. 18:5He trusted in Yahweh, the Mighty One of
Yisra'el; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Yahudah,
nor among them that were before him. 18:6For
he joined with Yahweh; he didn't depart from following him, but kept his
commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moshe. 18:7Yahweh
was with him; wherever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the
king of Ashshur, and didn't serve him. 18:8He
struck the Pelishtim to `Aza and the borders of it, from the tower of the
watchmen to the fortified city.
18:9It
happened in the fourth year of king Chizkiyahu, which was the seventh year of
Hoshea son of Elah king of Yisra'el, that Shalman'eser king of Ashshur came up
against Shomron, and besieged it. 18:10At
the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Chizkiyahu, which was
the ninth year of Hoshea king of Yisra'el, Shomron was taken. 18:11The king of Ashshur carried Yisra'el
away to Ashshur, and put them in Chalach, and on the Chavor, the river of
Gozan, and in the cities of the Madai, 18:12because
they didn't obey the voice of Yahweh their Mighty One, but transgressed his
covenant, even all that Moshe the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not
hear it, nor do it.
18:13Now
in the fourteenth year of king Chizkiyahu did Sancheriv king of Ashshur come up
against all the fortified cities of Yahudah, and took them. 18:14Chizkiyahu king of Yahudah sent to the
king of Ashshur to Lakhish, saying, "I have offended; return from me: that
which you put on me will I bear." The king of Ashshur appointed to
Chizkiyahu king of Yahudah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents
of gold. 18:15Chizkiyahu gave him
all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of
the king's house. 18:16At that time
did Chizkiyahu cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of Yahweh, and
from the pillars which Chizkiyahu king of Yahudah had overlaid, and gave it to
the king of Ashshur.
18:17The
king of Ashshur sent Tartan and Rav-Saris and Ravshakeh from Lakhish to king
Chizkiyahu with a great army to Yerushalayim. They went up and came to
Yerushalayim. When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the
upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. 18:18When they had called to the king, there
came out to them Elyakim the son of Chilkiyah, who was over the household, and
Shebnah the Sofer, and Yo'ach the son of Asaf the recorder. 18:19Ravshakeh said to them, "Say you now
to Chizkiyahu, Thus says the great king, the king of Ashshur, 'What confidence
is this in which you trust? 18:20You
say (but they are but vain words), There is counsel and strength for the war.
Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me? 18:21Now, behold, you trust on the staff of
this bruised reed, even on Mitzrayim; whereon if a man lean, it will go into
his hand, and pierce it: so is Par`oh king of Mitzrayim to all who trust on
him. 18:22But if you tell me,
"We trust in Yahweh our Mighty One"; isn't that he whose high places
and whose altars Chizkiyahu has taken away, and has said to Yahudah and to
Yerushalayim, "You shall worship before this altar in Yerushalayim?" 18:23Now therefore, Please give pledges to my
master the king of Ashshur, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you be
able on your part to set riders on them.' 18:24How
then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's
servants, and put your trust on Mitzrayim for chariots and for horsemen? 18:25'Am I now come up without Yahweh against
this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, "Go up against this land, and
destroy it."'"
18:26Then
said Elyakim the son of Chilkiyah, and Shebnah, and Yo'ach, to Ravshakeh,
"Please speak to your servants in the Arammian language; for we understand
it: and don't speak with us in the Yahudim' language, in the ears of the people
who are on the wall." 18:27But
Ravshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master, and to you,
to speak these words? Hasn't he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat
their own dung, and to drink their own urine with you?"
18:28Then
Ravshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Yahudim' language, and
spoke, saying, "Hear you the word of the great king, the king of Ashshur. 18:29Thus says the king, 'Don't let Chizkiyahu
deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand: 18:30neither let Chizkiyahu make you trust in
Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be
given into the hand of the king of Ashshur."' 18:31Don't listen to Chizkiyahu: for thus says the king of
Ashshur, 'Make your shalom with me, and come out to me; and eat you everyone of
his vine, and everyone of his fig-tree, and everyone drink the waters of his
own cistern; 18:32Until I come and
take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a
land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive-trees and of honey, that you may
live, and not die: and don't listen to Chizkiyahu, when he persuades you,
saying, "Yahweh will deliver us." 18:33Has
any of the mighty ones of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand
of the king of Ashshur? 18:34Where
are the mighty ones of Chamat, and of Arpad? Where are the mighty ones of
Sefarvayim, of Hena, and `Ivvah? Have they delivered Shomron out of my hand? 18:35Who are they among all the mighty ones of
the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh
should deliver Yerushalayim out of my hand?'" 18:36But the people held their shalom, and answered him not
a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, "Don't answer him." 18:37Then came Elyakim the son of Chilkiyah,
who was over the household, and Shevna the Sofer, and Yo'ach the son of Asaf
the recorder, to Chizkiyahu with their clothes torn, and told him the words of
Ravshakeh.
19:1It
happened, when king Chizkiyahu heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered
himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh. 19:2He sent Elyakim, who was over the
household, and Shevna the Sofer, and the Zakenim of the Kohanim, covered with
sackcloth, to Yesha`yahu the prophet the son of Amotz. 19:3They said to him, "Thus says
Chizkiyahu, 'This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for
the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. 19:4It may be Yahweh your Mighty One will hear
all the words of Ravshakeh, whom the king of Ashshur his master has sent to
defy the living Mighty One, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your Mighty
One has heard: why - lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'" 19:5So the servants of king Chizkiyahu came to
Yesha`yahu.
19:6Yesha`yahu
said to them, "Thus shall you tell your master, Thus says Yahweh, 'Don't
be afraid of the words that you have heard, wherewith the servants of the king
of Ashshur have blasphemed me. 19:7Behold,
I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear news, and shall return to his own
land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.'" 19:8So Ravshakeh returned, and found the king
of Ashshur warring against Livna; for he had heard that he was departed from
Lakhish.
19:9When
he heard say of Tirhakah king of Kush, "Behold, he is come out to fight
against you," he sent messengers again to Chizkiyahu, saying, 19:10"Thus shall you speak to Chizkiyahu
king of Yahudah, saying, 'Don't let your Mighty One in whom you trust deceive
you, saying, "Yerushalayim shall not be given into the hand of the king of
Ashshur." 19:11Behold, you have
heard what the kings of Ashshur have done to all lands, by destroying them
utterly: and shall you be delivered? 19:12Have
the mighty ones of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed,
Gozan, and Charan, and Retzef, and the children of `
19:15Chizkiyahu
prayed before Yahweh, and said, "Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el, who
sits above the Keruvim, you are the Mighty One, even you alone, of all the
kingdoms of the earth; you have made Heaven and earth. 19:16Incline your ear, Yahweh, and hear; open
your eyes, Yahweh, and see; and hear the words of Sancheriv, wherewith he has
sent him to defy the living Mighty One. 19:17Of
a truth, Yahweh, the kings of Ashshur have laid waste the nations and their
lands, 19:18and have cast their
mighty ones into the fire; for they were no mighty ones, but the work of men's
hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them. 19:19Now therefore, Yahweh our Mighty One, save
you us, I beg you, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you Yahweh are Mighty One alone."
19:20Then
Yesha`yahu the son of Amotz sent to Chizkiyahu, saying, "Thus says Yahweh,
the Mighty One of Yisra'el, 'Whereas you have prayed to me against Sancheriv
king of Ashshur, I have heard you. 19:21This
is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: "The virgin daughter of
Tzion has despised you and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Yerushalayim
has shaken her head at you. 19:22Whom
have you defied and blasphemed? And against whom have you exalted your voice
and lifted up your eyes on high? Even against the Holy One of Yisra'el. 19:23By your messengers you have defied the
Sovereign, and have said, 'With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to
the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Levanon; and I will cut
down the tall cedars of it, and the choice fir-trees of it; and I will enter
into his farthest lodging-place, the forest of his fruitful field. 19:24I have dug and drunk strange waters, and
with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Mitzrayim.' 19:25Haven't you heard how I have done it
long ago, and formed it of ancient times? Now have I brought it to pass, that
it should be yours to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps. 19:26Therefore their inhabitants were of small
power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field,
and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blasted
before it is grown up. 19:27But
I know your sitting down, and your going out, and your coming in, and your
raging against me. 19:28Because of
your raging against me, and because your arrogance is come up into my ears,
therefore will I put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I
will turn you back by the way by which you came." 19:29This shall be the sign to you: You shall
eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs
of the same; and in the third year sow you, and reap, and plant vineyards, and
eat the fruit of it. 19:30The
remnant that has escaped of the house of Yahudah shall again take root
downward, and bear fruit upward. 19:31For
out of Yerushalayim shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Tzion those who
shall escape: the zeal of Yahweh shall perform this. 19:32Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the
king of Ashshur, "He shall not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow
there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against
it. 19:33By the way that he came, by
the same shall he return, and he shall not come to this city, says Yahweh. 19:34For I will defend this city to save it,
for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake."'"
19:35It
happened that night that the angel of Yahweh went forth, and struck in the camp
of the Ashshur one hundred eighty-five thousand: and when men arose early in
the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 19:36So
Sancheriv king of Ashshur departed, and went and returned, and lived at
Nineveh. 19:37It happened, as he was
worshipping in the house of Nisrokh his mighty one, that Adrammelekh and
Sar'etzer struck him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararat.
Esar-Chaddon his son reigned in his place.
Yahweh Prospers The Ways Of His Faithful Servants
18:1-8 testifies, through Chizkiyahu's life, that when one serves Yahweh faithfully, Yahweh prospers the ways of that one.
Why Yisrael Was Sent Into Captivity
18:12 gives the reason for Yisrael's captivity. They didn't obey the voice of Yahweh their Mighty One, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moshe the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.
To avoid living our lives devoid of Yahweh's protection, a life similar to that lived by these rebellious Yisraelites, we need to avoid the mistakes these rebellious Yisraelites made. We should wholly obey the voice of Yahweh our Mighty One. We should abide by all of Yahweh's righteous laws, and should be glad to hear and do these laws.
Seeing that Elisha had Yahweh's protection, as evidenced by Yahweh's invisible army protecting him when the Arammian army came to capture him, it should be clear that Elisha faithfully served Yahweh. Elisha obeyed Yahweh's voice, and abided by Yahweh's covenant, even all that Moshe the servant of Yahweh commanded.
We should follow Elisha's example, rather than that of rebellious Yisrael.
The King Of Ashshur Did Not Understand Yahweh And
Yahweh's Ways
18:22 shows that the king of Ashshur, through his messengers, did not really understand who Yahweh was, or Yahweh's ways. For he equated the worship of Yahweh with the several high places and altars scattered throughout Yahudah that the people used in worship. The high places and altars that Chizkiyahu destroyed, as seen from 18:4.
Devarim 12 clearly outlines Yahweh's command to his people Yisrael regarding the manner they were to worship him regarding high places and altars. He specifically prohibited them from worshipping him in the manner that the nations they were dispossessing worshipped their mighty ones - in any location that seemed right to them. Yahweh specifically commanded Yisrael to worship him at the place that he was to choose out of all the tribes of Yisrael, to place his name there. It was to this place that Yisrael was to offer sacrifice to him, and not at any geographical locality that seemed appropriate to them.
Therefore, in the king of Ashshur equating the worship of Yahweh with the scattered high places and altars all over the land of Yahudah, he manifested his ignorance with respect to the worship of Yahweh.
The King Of Ashshur Was An Enemy Of Yahweh
18:30 shows that the king of Ashshur, through his servant Ravshakeh, was an enemy of Yahweh! For he sought to remove the Yahudim's trust in Yahweh. Yet Yahweh the Mighty One, the Creator, desires that all of us fully trust in him.
The King Of Ashshur Ridiculed Yahweh
18:33-35 shows that the king of Ashshur equated Yahweh with the mighty ones of the various nations that he had conquered. He thought that Yahweh was as worthless a mighty one as the mighty ones of the nations that he had conquered.
The King Of Ashshur Arrogantly Elevated Himself
To The Position Of A Mighty One
Also, 18:28-35 documents the proposal the king of Ashshur put before the people of Yahudah. If they were prepared to abandon trusting in Yahweh, and trust instead in the king of Ashshur, he would preserve their lives and reward them with property in another land. But if they continued to trust in Yahweh he would kill them. In other words, the king of Ashshur elevated himself to the category of a mighty one, and sought to displace Yahweh as the mighty one of the people of Yahudah!
Those among the people of Yahudah who knew Yahweh's words clearly knew the treachery that lay in the words of the king of Ashshur, treachery against Yahweh the Mighty One. They also knew that anyone who abandons Yahweh the Mighty One for another mighty one deserves to die, for such a one has broken faith with Yahweh!
The King Of Ashshur Defied The Living Mighty One
19:4 shows that Chizkiyahu clearly understood the import of the words of the king of Ashshur that Ravshakeh spoke on his behalf. The king of Ashshur was defying the living Mighty One, and not some dead idols taken to be mighty ones.
It Was Yeshayahu's Duty, As Prophet, To Pray For
The People
That Chizkiyahu sent his servants, and the Zakenim of the Kohanim, to Yeshayahu the prophet that the latter pray for the remnant of Yisrael shows that it was indeed the duty of Yahweh's prophet to pray for the people. The Zakenim of Yisrael understood that it is indeed a prophet's duty to pray for the people, as even Shemuel explained in his time, as already seen above. For it is sin for a prophet of Yahweh not to pray for the people.
Ridiculing Yahweh Is Blasphemy Against Yahweh
19:6 shows Yahweh describing the king of Ashshur's defiant words against Yahweh as blasphemy against Yahweh! In other words, when one belittles Yahweh, equating him with what are not mighty ones, belittling his power and authority, such a one blasphemes Yahweh!
Penalty For Blasphemy Against Yahweh
19:7 shows the penalty of those who blaspheme Yahweh - death!
The King Of Ashshur Accused Yahweh Of Deception
19:10 shows that on top of his blasphemy against Yahweh, the king of Ashshur further accused Yahweh of deception - deception regarding the fate of Yerushalayim with respect to the king of Ashshur's war campaign.
Do such foul-mouthed men expect to survive, especially in consideration that their foul mouths are directed at none other than HaElyon, Yahweh-Tzvaot, the Mighty One of mighty ones, the only Mighty One?
Death! Death! Death to such foul mouthed men!
The King Of Ashshur Repeated His Blasphemy And
Defiance Against Yahweh
19:11-13 shows the king of Ashshur again repeating his blasphemy and defiance against Yahweh, belittling Yahweh and equating him with the worthless mighty ones of the nations that he had conquered.
Seek Yahweh's Guidance When Faced With Difficulty
19:14-15 show that when Chizkiyahu was faced with a difficult situation he went, in prayer, to Yahweh with that difficult situation, and recounted it to Yahweh. Likewise, when we encounter difficult situations in our lives, we should go to Yahweh, in prayer, and relate to him those difficult situations that he may show us what to do.
Yahweh Responds To Our Prayers In The Manner He
Chooses
19:20 shows Yahweh's answer to Chizkiyahu through his prophet Yeshayahu. He did not respond directly to Chizkiyahu, but chose to do so through his servant Yeshayahu.
We should therefore note that it is Yahweh's prerogative to respond to us in whatever manner he chooses to, or not to respond to us at all, if he so chooses. He is Yahweh, the Mighty One, and we are just his servants. He is the one telling us what to do, not we telling him what to do. We are simply to do as he tells us.
Be Alert To Yahweh's Communication In Whatever
Manner He Chooses
In the context of receiving prayer responses from Yahweh, we should be alert to receiving Yahweh's response in whatever manner Yahweh chooses to send us his response. If Yahweh chooses to respond he may do so through a servant of his. Or he may do so through some other manner that he surely knows his message will reach its intended recipient. We should therefore be alert to receiving Yahweh's responses in whatever manner Yahweh chooses to send us his responses.
Seeing that Yahweh confirmed that he had heard Chizkiyahu's prayer against Sancheriv king of Ashshur, it is important to note the contents of Chizkiyahu's prayer against Sancheriv.
19:16 shows that Chizkiyahu acknowledged before Yahweh Sancheriv's defiant behaviour against Yahweh.
19:18 shows that idols are just the work of men's hands, and therefore are not mighty ones.
19:19 shows that Chizkiyahu begged Yahweh for salvation from the hand for Sancheriv, for the purpose of glorifying Yahweh's name - that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Yahweh, alone, is the Mighty One.
Chizkiyahu's Sought Yahweh's Deliverance To
Glorify Yahweh's Name
Because the reason Chizkiyahu gave Yahweh for his request for salvation from the hand of Sancheriv was for the glorification of Yahweh's name, rather than any comparative righteousness of the people of Yahudah versus the people of Ashshur, Yahweh responded. In other words, when an action for which Yahweh's action is sought is to glorify Yahweh's name, especially among a wide group of human beings, the likelihood of Yahweh responding in the manner requested is heightened.
Yahweh's Encapsulation Of Sancheriv's Sins
19:22 encapsulates, in Yahweh's words, Sancheriv's sins. Sancheriv defied and blasphemed Yahweh. Sancheriv exalted his voice and lifted up his eyes on high against Yahweh, the Holy One of Yisrael.
Why Sancheriv Gained Victory Over Many Nations
19:25-26 explains why Sancheriv attained his conquering victories over the nations that he subdued. It was all Yahweh's plan, planned from a long time prior to its occurrence, planned from ancient times. What was happening by the hand of Sancheriv was merely the realisation of what Yahweh had already planned from ancient times!
Why Major Geopolitical Events Occur In The Manner
That They Do
In this there is a lesson for us. When we see particular nations rise up and become powerful, overawing all before them, it is not because those particular nations suddenly rose up of their own power. It was all planned a long time ago by Yahweh, from ancient times, for Yahweh's own purposes! In other words, the significant geopolitical events that we see being played out right before our eyes are all in Yahweh's control and overall plan.
The particular players in geopolitical events may not realise that they are just mere instruments bringing about the realisation of events Yahweh planned a long time ago, from ancient times, especially if these players are the arrogant type. Nevertheless, whether or not they realise this fact, this is indeed the case.
Therefore we, as servants of Yahweh, should indeed recognise and realise that all the major, including, minor, events that take place in the world are under Yahweh's control and authority. No single leader or power will arise without it having been planned a long time ago, from ancient times. The powers of today are simply instruments for bringing about Yahweh will in geopolitical events at a particular point in time.
Servants Of Yahweh Should Not Be Overawed By Any
Human Power
Also, learning from Chizkiyahu and Yahudah's case, we should not fear any human power, no matter how powerful that power is. For it cannot stand against Yahweh the Mighty One. If a power defies and blasphemes Yahweh the Mighty One, even a power that Yahweh the Mighty One had intended to act as an instrument in bringing about plans he set in place a long time ago, in ancient times, that power will not stand. For Yahweh will indeed abase it, and another will take its place!
It is Yahweh the Mighty One that we all ought to rely on and place our complete and full trust and confidence in.
Pray According To Yahweh's Will
We should also note that for Yahweh to respond to our prayers we must indeed pray according to his will.
For example, if he had purposed from a long time ago, from ancient times, to give a particular domain over to a particular person or people, and we find that circumstances place us in a path opposed to this particular person or people, we ought to be careful in the manner we approach Yahweh in such a matter. For where it is his will to hand over that domain to this person, and yet we pray that Yahweh refrain from handing over that domain to this person, because he find ourselves opposed to this person, we will find ourselves praying against Yahweh's will! For Yahweh's will in that matter, purposed from ancient times, is to hand over that domain to that person.
Seek Yahweh's Will And Act Within It
It is therefore prudent for us, whenever faced with a situation whereby we do not know the outcome, to seek Yahweh's will in the matter. In seeking Yahweh's will in the matter we should already set it to heart to do our part to realise Yahweh's will, and to avoid attempting to thwart Yahweh's will in any manner. Then when we pray that Yahweh's will be done, and Yahweh shows us that he requires us to act in a manner that we thought he could not possibly ask us to act, we simply forsake our will and do Yahweh's will! But if we persist in our will, and simply expect Yahweh to ratify our will, even when our will is contrary to his, we will not succeed in our undertaking!
An example of such a case happened historically after the time of Chizkiyahu. One of Chizkiyahu's successors as king of Yahudah was Yoshiyahu. Yoshiyahu was largely faithful to Yahweh. Nevertheless a time came when Yahweh had purposed to give the king of Mitzrayim victory over a people with whom Yoshiyahu was friendly. Yoshiyahu therefore sought to fight on the side of his friends, and against the king of Mitzrayim. Yahweh even warned Yoshiyahu to keep off that particular battle, warning him not by a prophet known to Yoshiyahu, but by the king of Mitzrayim himself. But Yoshiyahu placed his will before that of Yahweh in this matter, because he thought that fighting with his friend was in that case more important that the realisation of Yahweh's will, even when against the apparent interests of his friend. The outcome of the matter was that Yahweh's will did not change even by one iota. The king of Mitzrayim duly attained his victory over Yoshiyahu's friend. And more, Yoshiyahu lost his life in the battle, for he did not heed Yahweh's warning to him by the king of Mitzrayim!
2 Divre Hayamim (Chronicles) 35:20-27 reads,
35:20After
all this, when Yoshiyahu had prepared the temple, Nekho king of Mitzrayim went
up to fight against Karkemish by the Perat: and Yoshiyahu went out against him.
35:21But he sent ambassadors to him,
saying, "What have I to do with you, you king of Yahudah? I come not
against you this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and the
Mighty One has commanded me to make haste: forbear you from meddling with the
Mighty One, who is with me, that he not destroy you." 35:22Nevertheless Yoshiyahu would not turn his
face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn't
listen to the words of Nekho from the mouth of the Mighty One, and came to
fight in the valley of Megiddo. 35:23The
archers shot at king Yoshiyahu; and the king said to his servants, "Have
me away; for I am sore wounded." 35:24So
his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot
that he had, and brought him to Yerushalayim; and he died, and was buried in
the tombs of his fathers. All Yahudah and Yerushalayim mourned for Yoshiyahu. 35:25Yirmeyahu lamented for Yoshiyahu: and all
the singing men and singing women spoke of Yoshiyahu in their lamentations to
this day; and they made them an ordinance in Yisra'el: and, behold, they are
written in the lamentations. 35:26Now
the rest of the acts of Yoshiyahu, and his good deeds, according to that which
is written in the law of Yahweh, 35:27and
his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of
Yisra'el and Yahudah.
Do Not Trust In Your Past Righteousness
It should therefore be clear to us that Yahweh's will is supreme! It should also be clear to us that we must all abide by Yahweh's will if we are to please Yahweh! We should not trust in our past righteousness, thinking that our past righteousness will stand us in good stead when we set about ignoring Yahweh's will in a particular matter! No!
Our past righteousness does not count for much with respect to our future conduct. Each situation that we face must be faced in application of Yahweh's word. If we reject Yahweh's word, relying on our past righteousness to stand us in good stead, then we are duly mistaken, as clearly shown in Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 33.
Yechezkel 33:12-20 reads,
33:12You,
son of man, tell the children of your people, "The righteousness of the
righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his disobedience; and as for the
wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turns
from his wickedness; neither shall he who is righteous be able to live thereby
in the day that he sins." 33:13When
I tell the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his
righteousness, and commit iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be
remembered; but in his iniquity that he has committed, therein shall he die. 33:14Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You
shall surely die'; if he turns from his sin, and does that which is lawful and
right; 33:15if the wicked restores
the pledge, gives again that which he had taken by robbery, walks in the
statutes of life, committing no iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not
die. 33:16None of his sins that he has
committed shall be remembered against him: he has done that which is lawful and
right; he shall surely live. 33:17Yet
the children of your people say, 'The way of the Sovereign is not equal': but
as for them, their way is not equal. 33:18When
the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall even
die therein. 33:19When the wicked
turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall
live thereby. 33:20Yet you say, 'The
way of the Sovereign is not equal.' House of Yisra'el, I will judge you
everyone after his ways.
It should therefore be clear to us that Yahweh's will is supreme. Therefore, in prayer, it is Yahweh's will that we should seek, seeking it in order to abide by it. And whatever Yahweh shows us we ought to do, that is what we ought to do, whether or not it was initially our will. In other words, it is not our will that ought to be done, but Yahweh's will that ought to be done, and will indeed eventually be done!
Chizkiyahu's Sickness To Death
20:1In
those days was Chizkiyahu sick to death. Yesha`yahu the prophet the son of
Amotz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, 'Set your house in
order: for you shall die, and not live.'" 20:2Then
he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Yahweh, saying, 20:3"Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you,
how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done
that which is good in your sight." Chizkiyahu wept sore. 20:4It happened, before Yesha`yahu was gone out
into the middle part of the city, that the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 20:5"Turn back, and tell Chizkiyahu the
prince of my people, 'Thus says Yahweh, the Mighty One of David your father, I
have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you; on the
third day you shall go up to the house of Yahweh. 20:6I
will add to your days fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city out
of the hand of the king of Ashshur; and I will defend this city for my own
sake, and for my servant David's sake.'" 20:7Yesha`yahu
said, "Take a cake of figs." They took and laid it on the boil, and
he recovered. 20:8Chizkiyahu said to
Yesha`yahu, "What shall be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I
shall go up to the house of Yahweh the third day?" 20:9Yesha`yahu said, "This shall be the
sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken:
shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?" 20:10Chizkiyahu answered, "It is a light
thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return
backward ten steps." 20:11Yesha`yahu
the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by
which it had gone down on the dial of Achaz.
Acknowledge Yahweh's Power Over Life
20:1-3 shows that when Yahweh had informed Chizkiyahu that the latter would die of his sickness, Chizkiyahu begged Yahweh in prayer and weeping that he might continue to live. He acknowledged Yahweh's power over life, understanding that Yahweh can both cut short a person's life, and also lengthen it.
The Basis Of Chizkiyahu's Request To Yahweh
The basis of Chizkiyahu's request to Yahweh, that Yahweh listens to his plea, lay in his unwavering faithfulness to Yahweh.
This time Chizkiyahu was not pleading to Yahweh for action on a ground involved with the glorification of Yahweh's name, as was the case in the matter of Sancheriv. This time it was a simple plea of a faithful servant of Yahweh, asking for compassion and mercy.
Chizkiyahu's Prayer Moved Yahweh To Show Him
Compassion
20:4-5 shows that Yahweh heard Chizkiyahu's prayer! Yahweh was moved to show compassion on Chizkiyahu by his pleading prayer and his sore tears. Yahweh therefore undertook to heal Chizkiyahu.
Yahweh's Eyes And Ears Are Open To The Prayers Of
His Faithful Servants
It should therefore be noted that there are times when the actions of Yahweh's faithful servants can move Yahweh to act on their behalf, even when Yahweh had initially indicated that a contrary action would take place. In other words, Yahweh's ears are not shut, nor are his eyes closed, to the prayer of his faithful servants. Therefore, on occasion, when his faithful servants pray to him for action in a particular manner, even an action that Yahweh himself had not purposed to do, he sometimes hears the pleading prayers of his faithful servants, and graciously acts according to their petition.
Yahweh Is Merciful And Compassionate
We can therefore petition Yahweh to act according to our will, provided our will is not contrary to Yahweh's will. If we are faithful servants of his, it is not unlikely that he will hear our pleas and cries to him, and respond to them. Yahweh is a merciful and compassionate Mighty One!
Yahweh Sometimes Extends The Lives Of His Faithful
Servants
20:6 shows that not only did Yahweh undertake to heal Chizkiyahu of his sickness, he also undertook to add 15 years to Chizkiyahu's life! In other words, the days that Yahweh had initially allotted to Chizkiyahu had already reached their number, explaining Chizkiyahu's illness near unto death. But because Chizkiyahu's pleaded for mercy, on account of his faithfulness to Yahweh, Yahweh added 15 years to his life!
It should therefore be noted that when servants of Yahweh are sick near unto death on certain occasions, it may actually be the case that the years Yahweh allotted to them for life have reached their number. Nevertheless, this need not be the end of the matter. For if it is not contrary to Yahweh's will that these faithful servants of Yahweh continue living, Yahweh can indeed extend their lives. Therefore, in such cases, if the sick servants of Yahweh desire to continue living, they can plead in prayer to Yahweh for his mercy. And the compassionate Yahweh is likely to hear their pleadings in prayer, for his eyes see and his ears hear the plight of his faithful servants. Yahweh is likely to extend their lives by whatever years he decides.
Why Yahweh Sometimes Does Not Heal His Servants
It should also be noted that if Yahweh does not hear such prayers from his faithful servants, then it is indeed the case that it is his will that those faithful servants of his die at the allotted time for the them to die. If they do not die at the allotted time it would be contrary to Yahweh's will.
A Time When Yahweh DID NOT HEAR Yah'shuah's
Prayer
For example, in the case of Yah'shuah the Messiah, Yah'shuah prayed to Yahweh that if it was possible the death he was about to go through be lifted up from him, and Yahweh's purpose be accomplished in a different manner. Nevertheless, Yah'shuah was also careful to preface his prayer with the statement - "not my will, by yours be done." In other words, Yah'shuah, the most faithful servant of Yahweh, subjugated his will to Yahweh's. And in this case Yahweh did not hear Yah'shuah's prayer. For Yahweh did not lift up that excruciatingly painful death from Yah'shuah, but had Yah'shuah undergo that death. It was therefore the case that Yah'shuah had to die at that precise time for Yahweh's will to prevail. And Yahweh's will prevailed, and Yah'shuah died at the appointed time.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 26:36-46 reads,
26:36Then
Yah'shuah came with them to a place called Gat-Shemanim, and said to his
disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and
pray." 26:37He took with
him Kefa and the two sons of Zavdai, and began to be sorrowful and severely
troubled. 26:38Then he said to them,
"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.
Stay here, and watch with me." 26:39He
went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away
from me; nevertheless, not what I want, but what you want." 26:40He came to the disciples, and found them
sleeping, and said to Kefa, "What, couldn't you
watch with me for one hour? 26:41Watch and pray, that you not enter into temptation. The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 26:42Again, a second time he went away, and
prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't
pass away from me, unless I drink it, your will be done." 26:43He came again and found them sleeping, for
their eyes were heavy. 26:44He left
them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 26:45Then he came to his disciples, and said to
them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold,
the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 26:46Arise, let us be
going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."
Live And Die According To Yahweh's Will
Therefore, faithful servants of Yahweh must learn to live or die by Yahweh's will. When Yahweh wills that they die at a particular point in time, they should accept Yahweh's will and prepare themselves for death. But if it is not contrary to Yahweh's will that they die not at the time originally appointed for them to die, they can plead with Yahweh for an extension to their lives, if they so desire. And Yahweh is likely to hear their pleading prayers, and allot more years to their lives.
May Yahweh's will be done in our lives.
Yahweh Is Gracious And Merciful
30:1Chizkiyahu
sent to all Yisra'el and Yahudah, and wrote letters also to Efrayim and
Menashshe, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at Yerushalayim, to
keep the Pesach to Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el. 30:2For the king had taken counsel, and his
princes, and all the assembly in Yerushalayim, to keep the Pesach in the second
month. 30:3For they could not keep
it at that time, because the Kohanim had not sanctified themselves in
sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to
Yerushalayim. 30:4The thing was
right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly. 30:5So they established a decree to make
proclamation throughout all Yisra'el, from Be'er-Sheva even to Dan, that they
should come to keep the Pesach to Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el, at
Yerushalayim: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is
written.
30:6So
the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all
Yisra'el and Yahudah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying,
"You children of Yisra'el, turn again to Yahweh, the Mighty One of
Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yisra'el, that he may return to the remnant that have
escaped of you out of the hand of the kings of Ashshur. 30:7Don't be you like your fathers, and like
your brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the Mighty One of their fathers,
so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see. 30:8Now don't you be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; but
yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has
sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your Mighty One, that his fierce anger may
turn away from you. 30:9For if you
turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children shall find compassion
before those who led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for
Yahweh your Mighty One is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his
face from you, if you return to him."
30:10So
the posts passed from city to city through the country of Efrayim and
Menashshe, even to Zevulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 30:11Nevertheless certain men of Asher and
Menashshe and of Zevulun humbled themselves, and came to Yerushalayim. 30:12Also on Yahudah came the hand of the
Mighty One to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the
princes by the word of Yahweh. 30:13There
assembled at Yerushalayim many people to keep the feast of matzah in the second
month, a very great assembly.
30:14They
arose and took away the altars that were in Yerushalayim, and all the altars
for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 30:15Then they killed the Pesach on the
fourteenth day of the second month: and the Kohanim and the Levites were
ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into the house
of Yahweh. 30:16They stood in their
place after their order, according to the law of Moshe the man of the Mighty
One: the Kohanim sprinkled the blood that they received of the hand of the
Levites. 30:17For there were many in
the assembly who had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the
charge of killing the Pesachim for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them
to Yahweh. 30:18For a multitude of
the people, even many of Efrayim and Menashshe, Yissakhar and Zevulun, had not cleansed
themselves, yet did they eat the Pesach otherwise than it is written. For
Chizkiyahu had prayed for them, saying, "The good Yahweh pardon everyone 30:19who sets his heart to seek the Mighty One,
Yahweh, the Mighty One of his fathers, though not cleansed according to the
purification of the sanctuary." 30:20Yahweh
listened to Chizkiyahu, and healed the people.
30:21The
children of Yisra'el who were present at Yerushalayim kept the feast of matzah
seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the Kohanim praised Yahweh
day by day, singing with loud instruments to Yahweh. 30:22Chizkiyahu spoke comfortably to all the
Levites who had good understanding in the service of Yahweh. So they ate
throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of
peace-offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the Mighty One of their
fathers. 30:23The whole assembly
took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept other seven days with
gladness. 30:24For Chizkiyahu king
of Yahudah did give to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven
thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten
thousand sheep: and a great number of Kohanim sanctified themselves. 30:25All the assembly of Yahudah, with the
Kohanim and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Yisra'el, and the
sojourners who came out of the land of Yisra'el, and who lived in Yahudah,
rejoiced. 30:26So there was great
joy in Yerushalayim; for since the time of Shelomo the son of David king of
Yisra'el there was not the like in Yerushalayim. 30:27Then
the Kohanim the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was
heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to Heaven.
30:17-20 shows that there were many people, including many of Efrayim, Menashshe, Yissakhar and Zevulun, who had not cleansed themselves according to the commandment of Yahweh's Pesach. Nevertheless, they ate Yahweh's Pesach. For Chizkiyahu prayed for them, that they be forgiven their transgression. For they had set their hearts to seek Yahweh the Mighty One, the Mighty One of their fathers, though they were not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
Yahweh listened to Chizkiyahu's prayer, and healed the people who had not been appropriately cleansed.
That Yahweh listened to Chizkiyahu's prayer, forgiving the unwitting sin of the people, and allowing them to partake of his Pesach, shows that Yahweh is indeed merciful. For Yahweh looked on the hearts of these people, and saw that they did set their hearts to seek him.
By healing them Yahweh made them clean, for purposes of the purification of the sanctuary.
Yahweh's Commands Have Priorities Of Importance
This action of Yahweh shows that his various commands have priorities of importance. It is more important to set one's heart to seek Yahweh, and sin unwittingly, than to comply with a command of Yahweh yet not truly setting one's heart to seek Yahweh. In other words, servants of Yahweh must truly seek him wholeheartedly, and do all of Yahweh's commands that they are aware of. As they continue to seek Yahweh they will in due course learn of the rest of Yahweh's commands, facilitating their doing these commands as they become aware of them.
Yahweh Is Merciful To The Humble
33:1Menashshe
was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in
Yerushalayim. 33:2He did that which
was evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the abominations of the nations whom
Yahweh cast out before the children of Yisra'el. 33:3For
he built again the high places which Chizkiyahu his father had broken down; and
he reared up altars for the Ba`alim, and made Asherot, and worshipped all the
host of the sky, and served them. 33:4He
built altars in the house of Yahweh, whereof Yahweh said, "In Yerushalayim
shall my name be forever." 33:5He
built altars for all the host of the sky in the two courts of the house of
Yahweh. 33:6He also made his
children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he
practised sorcery, and used enchantments, and practised sorcery, and dealt with
those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the
sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger. 33:7He
set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of the
Mighty One, of which the Mighty One said to David and to Shelomo his son,
"In this house, and in Yerushalayim, which I have chosen out of all the
tribes of Yisra'el, will I put my name forever: 33:8neither
will I any more remove the foot of Yisra'el from off the land which I have
appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have
commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances given by
Moshe." 33:9Menashshe
seduced Yahudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, so that they did evil more
than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Yisra'el.
33:10Yahweh
spoke to Menashshe, and to his people; but they gave no heed. 33:11Therefore Yahweh brought on them the
captains of the host of the king of Ashshur, who took Menashshe in chains, and
bound him with fetters, and carried him to Bavel. 33:12When
he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his Mighty One, and humbled himself
greatly before the Mighty One of his fathers. 33:13He
prayed to him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and
brought him again to Yerushalayim into his kingdom. Then Menashshe knew that
Yahweh he was the Mighty One.
33:14Now
after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of
Gichon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he compassed
`Ofel about with it, and raised it up to a very great height: and he put
valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Yahudah. 33:15He took away the foreign mighty ones, and
the idol out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in
the mount of the house of Yahweh, and in Yerushalayim, and cast them out of the
city. 33:16He built up the altar of
Yahweh, and offered thereon sacrifices of peace-offerings and of thanksgiving,
and commanded Yahudah to serve Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el. 33:17Nevertheless the people sacrificed still
in the high places, but only to Yahweh their Mighty One.
33:18Now
the rest of the acts of Menashshe, and his prayer to his Mighty One, and the
words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the Mighty One of
Yisra'el, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Yisra'el. 33:19His prayer also, and how the Mighty One
was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which
he built high places, and set up the Asherim and the engraved images, before he
humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai. 33:20So Menashshe slept with his fathers, and
they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place.
33:12-13 shows that Yahweh is indeed merciful, for he forgave Menashshe of all his sins and great abominations. For when Menashshe was in distress, and humbled himself, and sought Yahweh in prayer, Yahweh restored Menashshe back to his kingdom in Yerushalayim. Then did Menashshe acknowledge that Yahweh was indeed the Mighty One.
Servants of Yahweh should strive to always remain humble, abiding by Yahweh's commands. They should not allow their hearts to be lifted up in pride, causing them not to be fully submissive to Yahweh.
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