After the misery of reading all about Israel's decline into spiritual depravity, I loved reading about Hezekiah's passion for God.
One part I found interesting was the smashing of the bronze snake Moses had made. Originally this bronze snake symbolized God's presence and power, and was a reminder to the people of His mercy and forgiveness. Unfortunately, it had become an object of worship instead of a reminder of whom to worship, and Hezekiah rightly had it destroyed. Even something that was not made to be an idol can become an idol by the way people use them. We have to be careful not to do the same thing - worship creation instead of the Creator, worship money instead of stewarding it for the kingdom, etc.
Our NT passage was a reminder that the heart of man is inherently sinful. We are not intrinsically good. We need a spiritual heart transplant. Thankfully, that's exactly what salvation is. God gives us a new heart, and puts new passions within us. This new heart will manifest itself in our actions, of course, but we need to always remember that everything flows from the heart. We also need to remember to nurture our new heart with spiritual food and not deprive it by filling our minds with trash.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 2 Kings 19-21; Matthew 15:21-39
2 comments:
In the NT passage I liked how Jesus answered the Pharisees question with a question. This was probably frustrating for the Pharisees because they were trying to criticize Jesus and His disciples for breaking tradition.
I also wonder how Peter felt with Jesus' response to him when Peter asked Jesus to explain the parable to them? And was Jesus getting frustrated with His disciples for still not understanding?
I also loved reading about Hezekiah.
5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered.
It shows that each of us is responsible for our own decisions. Regardless of what people are doing around us or the parents or guardians that raised us and given us examples on how to live, there is always a chance to change our course.
This fits with the passage from the NT:
4 Let them alone; they are blind guides.[c] And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
The generations of kings that turned from God to serve their own devices were kind of like the blind leading the blind. They were so far disconnected from God and then they lead their children down the same path.
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