DAVID ANOINTED KING OF ISRAEL

PROCLAMATION

“Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king of Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before The Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of The Lord by Samuel.”  1 Chronicles 11:3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The words First and Second Chronicles were written as one Bible book under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although Jewish tradition suggests, and some current Bible scholars believe, that this book was written by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar.  After the death of King Saul, David the son of Jesse was anointed king over Israel in the city of Hebron. (1 Chronicles 11:1-3)  David had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel while he was a boy (1 Samuel 16:13) and later the people anointed king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4) before now being made king of Israel.  Then David went to Jerusalem and found it to be inhabited by Jebusites.  They told David not to come into the city but he did not listen to them and took Zion as his own.  Joab the son of Zeruiah led some men and defeated the Jebusites, and David made him captain of the army. (1 Chronicles 11:4-6)  David dwelt in the castle there and the city became known as the city of David.  He became greater and greater because The Lord of Hosts was with him. A number of mighty men of valor joined with King David. (1 Chronicles 11:7-10)  The remainder of chapter eleven lists the mighty men who joined David and some of their accomplishments. (1 Chronicles 11:11-47)

 

APPLICATION

The Word of The Lord will be fulfilled according to His timeframe.  David had to wait for his time to be the king.  The Lord God has made promises to us in His Holy Word.  Because we have the promises of God we ought to act more Christ-like. (2 Corinthians 7:1)  We will just have to wait for Him to bless us and provide them for us.  So, let us be patient, and be of good courage, and wait on The Lord.  “Wait, I say, upon The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)  “They that wait upon The Lord shall renew their strength …” (Isaiah 40:31)

 

KILLED FOR HIS TRANSGRESSIONS

PROCLAMATION

“So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against The Lord, even against the word of The Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;  And enquired not of The Lord; therefore He slew him …”  1 Chronicles 10: 13-14 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The words First and Second Chronicles were written as one Bible book under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although Jewish tradition suggests, and some current Bible scholars believe, that this book was written by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar.  After nine chapters of genealogies, chapter ten covers the death of King Saul.  The Philistines were fighting a war against Israel. The men of Israel were losing the battle and fled before the Philistines.  The Philistines slew the three sons of Saul.  During the battle, Saul was wounded by archers.  Saul asked his armor bearer to thrust him through with a sword and kill him so that the Philistines would not take him and abuse him.  However, his armor bearer would not kill him, so Saul himself took a sword and fell upon it and died. (1 Chronicles 10:1-6)  When the Philistines found Saul’s body, they stripped off his amor and cut off his head.  They took his armor and his head to the temple of their idol god Dagon.  When the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead heard what had been done to Saul, they went and got the bodies of Saul and his three sons and buried them in Jabesh. (1 Chronicles 10:7-12)  Saul died for his transgressions against The Lord.  After Saul’s death the kingdom was turned over to David, the son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10:13-14)

 

APPLICATIONS

To sin is wrong.  It is wrong to go against The Holy Word of God.  However, it is even worse to put someone or something ahead of The Lord God.  The sins idolatry which reject The Lord God and favor something or someone else make Him angry. (Exodus 20:3-5)  It is not good for us to sin in such a manner that we make God angry and incur the wrath of God.  We should not put anything ahead of our worship of The Lord.  Do not deny, insult, condemn, or disrespect The Lord God.  If we seek Him first, then everything else that we need will be given unto us. (Matthew 6:33) 

 

 

NINE CHAPTERS OF GENEALOGIES OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH

PROCLAMATION

“So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgressions.”  1 Chronicles 9:1 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

The words of this Book of The Bible were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although Jewish tradition suggests that, and some current Bible scholars attribute, this book was written by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar.  It was written to the Jewish people of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas on their return from 70 years of captivity in Babylon.  In the original Hebrew copies of the scriptures, First and Second Chronicles were both part of one Bible Book, as was Samuel and Kings.  The first nine chapters in the Bible Book of First Chronicles contain Biblical genealogies.  Chapter one begins with Adam and ends with the three dukes of Edom. (1 Chronicles 1:1-54)  Chapter two begins with the sons of Israel and ends with the sons of Salma. (1 Chronicles 2:1-58)  Chapter three begins with the sons of David and ends with the seven sons of Elioenai. (1 Chronicles 3:1-24)  Chapter four begins with the sons of Judah and ends with the sons of Shiphi who smote the Amalekites. (1 Chronicles 4:1-43)  Chapter five begins with the sons of Reuben and includes the sons of Abihail and then states that these are genealogies of Judah and Israel. (1 Chronicles 5:1-17)  Then the author briefly describes the war that the sons of Reuben, and the Gadities, and half of the tribe of Manasseh  made war against the Hagarites, and defeated them and took their flocks and their land. (1 Chronicles 5:18-23)  The heads of the tribes are listed, and these men transgressed against The Lord and sought other gods.  The Lord God caused Pul and Tilgath-pilneser, the kings of Assyria, to rise up against them, defeat them, and carry them away into captivity. (1 Chronicles 5:24-26)  Chapter six includes more genealogies and begins with the sons of Levi and includes how the land was divided up and assigned to each of the tribes. (1 Chronicles 6:1-81)  Chapter seven begins with the sons of Issachar and ends with the sons of Asher. (1 Chronicles 7:1-40)  Chapter eight begins with the sons of Benjamin and ends with the sons of Ulam. (1 Chronicles 8:1-40)  Chapter nine records the people that dwelt in Jerusalem, (1 Chronicles 9:1-13), the responsibilities of the Levites, (1 Chronicles 9:14-34) and the family of King Saul. (1 Chronicles 9:35-44)

APPLICATION

There is an old saying which goes, “Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.”  Actually that quote a paraphrase from the original saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (George Santayana)  Knowing one’s history and one’s ancestry can be important.  Knowing one’s roots can give a person strength of character.  Those who grow up without the knowledge of their genealogy do not know who they really are.  The same is true for knowing how we came to believe in what we believe.

THE FALL AND CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH

PROCLAMATION

“And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath.  So Judah was carried away out of their land.”  2 Kings 25:20-21 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  After Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had set up Zedekiah as king of Judah, the Chaldean army attacked the city.  Zedekiah and his army fled by night via the king’s garden gate and went into the plains.  The Chaldean army pursued them and his army scattered.  Zedekiah was captured and taken to Babylon.  There they slew the sons of Zedekiah as he watched, then they put out his eyes and bound him. (2 Kings 25:1-7)  Then Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard in Babylon, went to Jerusalem and burned down the house of The Lord, and the king’s house, and all of the other houses in Jerusalem.  He carried away all of the people except the very poor who were left to be vinedressers and husbandmen. (2 Kings 25:8-12)  He stripped the gold, silver and brass from all of the pillars and fixtures from the house of The Lord and the king’s house before they burned them down.  He took the priests, the officers, and the well-to-do people of Judah to Babylon and slew them all. (2 Kings 25: 13-21)  For the poor people that were left in Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, to be their ruler.  When the men of valor who had scattered heard that Gedaliah had been made governor of Judah, they returned.  But he told them to serve the king of Babylon and all would be well.  However, they disagreed with him and got together and killed him. (2 Kings 25:22-25)  When the people heard what they had done, they fled to Egypt for fear of what the Chaldean and Babylonian armies might do in retaliation.  However, the new king of Babylon, Evil-merodach, took Jehoiachin the king of Judah out of prison and treated him like one of the kings of Babylon. (2 Kings 25:26-30)

APPLICATION

The Word of God will be fulfilled, and all of the promises of The Lord will come to pass. (Joshua 21:45)  We will receive all that has been promised to us because we are believers and partakers of His divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4)  However, if we do not believe and do not obey His Holy Word, then we will receive the punishment that was promised. (Revelation 20:15)

THE PROMISED PUNISHMENT FULFILLED

PROCLAMATION

“For through the anger of The Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until He had cast them out from His presence …”  2 Kings 24:20 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  After the king of Egypt had put the puppet king Jehoiakim son of Josiah over Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon made war against him and took him captive and made him his servant.  He turned against Nebuchadnezzar after three years and he rebelled against him.  Then The Lord sent a series of armies against Judah and Jerusalem to destroy them as punishment for the sins of Manasseh. (2 Kings 24:1-4)  When Jehoiakim died his son Jehoiachin reigned in his stead.  He also did that which was evil in the sight of The Lord.  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon then seized Judah and took King Jehoiachin, his mother, his servants and all of his officers captive.  He also seized Jerusalem and took all of the leaders, officers, the army and all of the craftsmen captive leaving only the poorest of the people behind. (2 Kings 24:6-16)  Then the king of Babylon put another puppet king, Mattaniah the son of Josiah, to rule over the poor people who were left behind in Jerusalem, but changed his name to Zedekiah.  He also did that which was evil in the sight of The Lord.  All of this came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah because of the anger of The Lord. (2 Kings 24:17-20)

 

APPLICATION

We can rest assured that The Word of God will be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)  All of the promises of The Lord shall come to pass. (Joshua 21:45)  When The Lord God makes a covenant with His people, we can be sure that He will be faithful and fulfill His word. (Deuteronomy 7:12)  He will not let us down.  We just need to be sure that we do our part and obey His word. 

 

THE SON WAS NOT LIKE THE FATHER

PROCLAMATION

“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to The Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”  2 Kings 23:25 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  After hearing what “Thus saith The Lord” from the prophetess Huldah, King Josiah gathered together all of the elders of Judah, and all of the priests and prophets, and all of the people of Judah and read the book of the covenant to them. (2 Kings 23:1-2)  Then he commanded the priests to take everything related to Baal out of the temple and burn them.  He put down all of the priest who had burned incense unto Baal and he broke down all of the high places where they offered their sacrifices.  He burned the grove and broke down the houses of the sodomites.  He got rid of everything that was associated with idol worship. (2 Kings 23:3-15)  He even took the bones out of the sepulchers of those who had worshiped Baal.  However, he did not disturb the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.  He slew all of the priests of Baal and then burned their bones. (2 Kings 23:16-20)  Josiah reinstituted the keeping of the Passover in Jerusalem.  He performed the words of the law as it was written in the book which was found in the house of The Lord.  There was no king before him who was like him, and neither was there any after him that was like him. (2 King 23:21-25)  However, none of this changed God’s mind regarding the punishment He had in store for Judah and Israel.  King Josiah went to war against Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt and was killed.  The people carried his body back to Jerusalem in a chariot and buried him.  His son Jehoahaz was anointed king of Judah.  He did that which was evil in the sight of The Lord.  He only reigned for three months before the king of Egypt put him in chains and made his brother Eliakim the king.  The king of Egypt changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim, and as king of Judah he gave silver and gold to Pharaoh. (2 Kings 23:26-35)

APPLICATION

Some of the time boys grow up to be just like their fathers, with the same career and the same behavior.  There is an old saying, “Like father, like son.”  However, that was not the case here.  Josiah was not like his father Amon who did evil, and Jehoahaz was not like his father Josiah who did that which was good.  If we are going to copy or imitate someone, we should choose someone who is a believer and follows The Lord.  Better yet, we should pattern our life after Jesus, The Christ, and not after any man. (Psalm 118:8)  For only in The Lord should we trust. 

 

SPARED FOR FOLLOWING THE WORD OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before The Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith The Lord.  Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shall be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place …”  2 Kings 22:19-20 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  Josiah the son of Amon was eight years old when he began to reign as the king of Judah.  He did that which was right in the sight of The Lord. (2 Kings 22:1-2)  When he was eighteen years old, he sent Shaphan the scribe to the Hilkiah the high priest telling him to take the silver from the treasury and pay the workers who were to repair the house of The Lord. (2 Kings 22:3-7)  While going through the treasury, the high priest found the book of law in the house of The Lord.  The priest gave the book to Shaphan who read the book.  Then Shaphan took the book and showed it to the king, and read it to him.  When King Josiah heard the words of the book, he tore his clothes.  He commanded Hilkiah the high priest to enquire of The Lord concerning the words of the book, knowing that his father and the people had not followed the book and that the wrath of The Lord was kindled against them. (2 Kings 22:8-13)  The high priest and his servants went to Huldah the prophetess in Jerusalem and they communed with her.  She told them that The Lord was going to bring a great evil upon this place and upon the inhabitants thereof.  However, she also told Hilkiah that because of the tender heart of King Josiah, who humbled himself before The Lord when he heard the words of the book, he would die in peace and not see the evil that would come upon this place. (2 Kings 22:14-20)

APPLICATION

Doing the right thing when those around you are doing that which is wrong may cause you to be spared the punishment which they will receive.  When we know what is right, we ought to do what is right.  “Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better.” (Maya Angelou)  Let us know what is right and choose to do what is right. (Job 34:4)  There are severe consequences in store for us when we know what is right and yet choose not to do it, especially when this pertains to The Word of God.

SOME LEADERS ARE JUST BAD

 PROCLAMATION

“And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards; he wrought much wickedness in the sight of The Lord, to provoke Him to anger.”  2 Kings 21:6 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  Manasseh the son of Hezekiah was twelve years old when he began his reign as the king of Judah.  He did that which was evil in the sight of The Lord.  He built up the things for idol worship which his father Hezekiah had destroyed.  He even sacrificed his son by fire. (2 Kings 21:1-6)  Manasseh led Judah to do more evil than the nations which The Lord had destroyed.  Because of this, The Lord said that He would bring such a punishment upon Jerusalem and Judah that the ears would tingle on whosoever hears of it. (2 Kings 21:7-12)  When Manasseh died his son Amon reigned as king of Judah.  He did that which was evil in the sight of The Lord as his father had done.  He reigned for two years before his servants conspired against him and slew him.  The people of Judah rose up and slew all of the people that conspired against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his stead. (2 Kings 21:13-26)

APPLICATION

The Lord God does not like any sin.  However, some sins are worse than others.  Some sins are an abomination to Him, like pride, lying, killing the innocent, wicked scheming, being quick to sin, false witness, and sowing discord. (Proverbs 6:16-19)  There are some sins which are referred to as the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.  There are also some sins which provoke God to anger.  These are the sins idolatry which reject The Lord God and favor something or someone else. (Exodus 20:3-5)  It is not good for us to sin in such a manner that we make God angry.  We do not want to incur the wrath of God.  We should not put anything ahead of our worship of The Lord.  If we seek Him first, then everything else that we need will be given unto us. (Matthew 6:33)  Do not deny, insult, condemn, or disrespect The Lord God.  The worst sin is blasphemy against The Lord God or The Holy Spirit of God, for this sin cannot be forgiven. (Mark 3:28-30)

A PRAYER FOR A LONGER LIFE IS GRANTED

PROCLAMATION

“Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people, ‘Thus saith The Lord, The God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears; behold, I will heal thee … And I will add unto thy days fifteen years …’ ”  2 Kings 20:5-6 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  Hezekiah the king of Judah was sick unto death.  The prophet Isaiah went to him and told him to get his house in order for he would die.  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to The Lord.  He reminded The Lord that he had kept His commandments and walked in His way.  Then Hezekiah wept. (2 Kings 20:1-3)  The prophet Isaiah left King Hezekiah after telling him that he would die, but he had not gotten out of the courtyard before The Lord told him to turn around and go back to Hezekiah with a message.  Isaiah was told to tell Hezekiah that The Lord had heard his prayer, and had seen his tears, and He would heal him and add fifteen years to his life. (2 Kings 20:4-6)  The account of Hezekiah’s faithfulness was followed by an account of his foolishness.  Hearing that Hezekiah was sick, the king of Babylon sent letters and a present to him by messengers.  For whatever reason, probably pride, Hezekiah showed the messengers all of his house and all of his treasures.  Later the prophet Isaiah asked him what did the men want and what did they see.  Hezekiah told him that they brought him letters and a gift from the king of Babylon, and that he had shown them everything.  Then Isaiah said that the day would come when all of his treasures would be carried away into Babylon.  Isaiah also said that all of Hezekiah’s sons would be taken away and made to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. (2 Kings 20:12-18)

APPLICATION

No one knows the hour or the day when their life will end or when The Lord will come. (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32, and Revelation 3:3)  The Bible says that our lifetime shall be seventy years, “… threescore years and ten …” (Psalm 90:10) but our days on earth can be lengthened or shortened. (Exodus 20:12, 1 Kings 3:14, and Proverbs 10:27)  Our sinful behavior can shorten our life. (Proverbs 10:27)  Praying and asking The Lord God for a long life will not get us one if our walk is not in His ways, and we have not kept His statutes and His commandments. (1 Kings 3:14)

THE LORD WILL FIGHT OUR BATTLES

PROCLAMATION

“Therefore thus saith The Lord concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. … For I will defend this city, to save it, for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.”  2 Kings 19:32-35 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  When King Hezekiah heard the report from Eliakim telling him what Rab-shakeh, the spokesman for Sennacherib the king of Assyria, He tore his clothes Hezekiah, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of The Lord. (2 Kings 19:1)  sent Eliakim, who was over his household staff, to Isaiah the prophet to share with him what had been said by Rab-shakeh.  Isaiah told him to tell Hezekiah what thus saith The Lord.  “Be not afraid … I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” (2 Kings 19:2-7)  When Rab-shakeh returned to Sennacherib, he found him at war with Libnah.  Then he heard that the king of Ethiopia was going to fight against them.  Again he sent messengers to Hezekiah telling him of all the kings and lands Assyria had destroyed.  He also said that The Lord God could not save them. (2 Kings 19:8-13)  Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers, read it, then he took it to the house of The Lord, spread it out before The Lord, and prayed and beseeched Him to save them. (2 Kings 19:14-19)  Then Isaiah sent word to Hezekiah that The Lord had heard his prayer.  He said that Sennacherib had blasphemed The Holy One of Israel.  He knew all that he had done and said via his messengers.  The Lord said because of his rage against Him, that He would put His hook in his nose, and His bridle in his lips, and drag him back to Assyria. (2 Kings 19:20-28)  The Lord said concerning the king of Assyria, “He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow … For I will defend this city, to save it, for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.” (2 Kings 19:32-34)  And it came to pass that night that the angel of The Lord went out and killed the one hundred eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian army.  Early the next morning when the men of Jerusalem arose, they beheld nothing but dead corpses.  Having no army with him, Sennacherib departed and went to Nineveh.  It came to pass that as he was worshiping his idol god, that two of his sons got together and slew him in the temple. (2 Kings 19:35-37)

APPLICATION

If we believe in The Lord God and obey His Holy Word and keep His commandments, then He will fight our battles for us. (2 Chronicles 20:17 and 32:8)  No weapon formed against us will be effective. (Isaiah 54:17)  He shall be our protection. (Job 29:4 and Isaiah 4:6)  The Lord God is our refuge, and our strength, and our help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)  We will be safe and protected under His wings. (Psalm 91:4)

 

HE TRUSTED GOD AND GOD WAS WITH HIM

PROCLAMATION

“He trusted in The Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.  For he clave to The Lord, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which The Lord commanded Moses.  And The Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth …”  2 Kings 18:5-7 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  While Hoshea was king in Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz began to reign in Judah.  Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.  He did that which was right in the sight of The Lord.  He removed all of the high places for sacrifices, broke all of the idol images, and cut down all of the idol groves. (2 Kings 18:1-4)  He trusted The Lord God and The Lord was with him.  He prospered in all that he did, and he rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.  He fought and defeated the Philistines and took back Gaza. (2 Kings 18:5-8)  During this time, Shalmaneser king of Assyria went to war against Samaria, and conquered the northern kingdom, and took the children of Israel as captives.  This was their punishment for they had turned away from The Lord and worshiped idols. (2 Kings 18:9-12)  Eight years later, when Sennacherib was king of Assyria, he captured the walled cities of Judah except Jerusalem.  Hezekiah offered Sennacherib a ransom including all the gold and silver in the house of The Lord and in the king’s house.  He even took the gold which overlaid the doors and the pillars and gave it to him, but it wasn’t enough for him.  Sennacherib sent a large army to go up against Hezekiah.  Before attacking them, their spokesman Rab-shakeh, called to Hezekiah to surrender.  Hezekiah sent out Eliakim the son of Hilkiah to negotiate with him. (2 Kings 18:13-18)  Rab-shakeh then stated all of the reasons why they should surrender.  Then he spoke loudly so that the people on the wall could hear him and offered the people peace and deportation to a productive land if they surrendered.  Eliakim did not respond but returned to Hezekiah and reported all that was said. (2 Kings 18:19-37)

APPLICATION

When we follow The Lord God, it does not mean that we will not have trials and tribulations.  What it means is that He will be with us through the troubled times.  The world may hate us because of our belief in Him but they hated Him first. (John 15:18)  He will be with us always. (Matthew 28:30)  We just need to be faithful and endure until the end. (Matthew 10:22)  Because we know that in the end we will be victorious. (1 Corinthians 15:57)