Scripture: 2 Kings 20: 1-3

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Scripture Commentary:

Isaiah tells Hezekiah he is going to die soon and there is nothing that can be done.  Death will happen to all of us and there is nothing we can do about it.  It’s an appointment each of us will have to keep.

The question before you is what are you doing before you die?  Are you out partying and lounging around doing nothing or are you serving God to the best of your ability?

Your arrival date is recorded in the book of life as is your departure date.  But as you read on in 2 Kings 20, you see that God says, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.”  Hezekiah does not die right away; He is given 15 more years.  

Maybe someone you know was told they would die soon.  Maybe it was you.  But it didn’t happen and more time was given.  Did you acknowledge God for what He did?  Did you thank Him? And what will you do with that time?

Life is a one-time gift from God.  And death, also, is part of the journey.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Kings 20

Read Other Commentary from the Old Testament:

What Is Your Purpose?

Wait Upon the Lord

Scripture: Isaiah 47: 10-12

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’  Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’  ¹¹ Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away.  A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off with a ransom; a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you.  ¹² “Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries, which you have labored at since childhood.  Perhaps you will succeed, perhaps you will cause terror.

Scripture Commentary: There is no magic spell; no one knows the future.

The average person likes to check the astrology section of the newspaper to see what the stars have to say about their day.  Like a magic spell, they plan their day around what they read. 

This is what the citizens of Babylon did as they sought the advice of the astrologers and stargazers of their time.  The Babylonians were so caught up in their own power and greatness.  They felt secure, and their king, Nebuchadnezzar, thought of himself as a god.

Don’t put your trust in magic that cannot deliver you.

Sorcerers and soothsayers cannot tell you what God has planned for you.  They don’t know their own future; they cannot know yours. 

God took everything from Nebuchadnezzar.  The lesson here is not to get so self-centered that you forget who is really in charge.  God made us from earth and we will return to dust until God comes again and calls us back to His presence. 

If you want to know about your future, repent and turn your life over to God.  Put yourself in His Hands.  Spread the gospel of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  God will forgive, forget and wipe away your sins forever.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Isaiah 47

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Isaiah:

How Would You Answer the Call, “Whom Shall I Send?”

Christ Is a Great Light Piercing the Darkness

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33: 10-12

¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹ So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. ¹² In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.

Scripture Commentary:

Many of us are in distress, saying to ourselves, “I’ve sinned so many times that there’s no way God will ever forgive me. I am totally lost and will end up in hell.” Well, let me tell you about Manasseh who reigned over Jerusalem for 55 years. He was an evil, wicked king who built altars to, and worshipped, false gods. If you were to list corrupt evil kings, the name Manasseh would probably be at the top of the list.

After learning about Manasseh, you may say, “Well, I’m not that bad.” But sin is sin. There is no size to the sinful lifestyle. Manasseh realized his sinfulness and turned to God and repented for his sins.

Like the thief on the cross with Jesus, you can go to God and repent your sins. God listened to Manasseh and forgave him. Do not let overpowering guilt put a barrier between you and God.

There is no sin God will not forgive if you truly repent. Man may or may not forgive but God always forgives. Until you take your last breath God will be waiting with open arms and a loving heart, ready to accept you into His family.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Chronicles 33

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

Put Your Trust in God

The Congregation Lifted Up Their Voice

Scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

Scripture Commentary: Trust God in everything.

In a class on human behavior, the instructor divides the class into groups of 2. One person is blindfolded and turns around 3 times, after which they are told to fall backwards. They are to trust that someone will catch them.

In Proverbs 3, Solomon tells us to trust in the Lord with “all your heart.” We live by faith, not by sight, right? In the experiment above, the person who is blindfolded knows his/her classmate. S/he is to trust that s/he will be caught.

Trust and obey.

God, who you haven’t seen, tells you to trust in Him. Obey His commandments. Walk in His light and He will guide you. The proverb uses the word “heart.” This is not your physical heart. It is the Holy Spirit God has placed in you.

We think we know everything. So why ask God? We say we love God but we leave him outside our decisions.

Verse 6 says, “in all your ways submit to him.” Is God part of your decision making process? Solomon tells us what part God should play in our lives – everything! We should have an all encompassing, fully committed relationship with God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Proverbs 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Proverbs:

What Do Your Words Say About You?

What You Do For Christ Has Lasting Value