Josiah-Smashing Idols

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 34

From the Journals of the Josiah

Photo Courtesy

I turned sixteen at my birthday party, yesterday. For eight years I have ruled the people of Judah with the help of advisors. No one expected a kid to rule a kingdom.

At sixteen, though, I started to put the pieces together of what had been happening in our city. The prophet Zephaniah taught me about the history of our people. He told me stories of some amazing people like Moses, David, and my great grand father, Hezekiah. These men worshipped God and lived their lives honoring Him.


And think, I am related to all of these men. Wow. I'd like to be like them.

As I grew, Zephaniah taught me the commandments God wanted us to obey. I may have been a kid, but I could still see the people of Judah were not following God's laws, and this bothered me. 

Now that I could understand more of what Zephaniah said, he spent more time with me, teaching me about God's love, what He has done for us, and what we should do to worship God.

When I turned twenty-years-old, I couldn't take the idol worship any more. I understood how very wrong this was. How could the people do that to the very God who made them and loved them? I went throughout Judah and Jerusalem to the high places and ripped down the Asherah poles, destroyed the carved idols and the images made by our people.

Energy flowed through my muscles. I really enjoyed smashing those idols. I took the pieces and threw them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. I got rid of the priests who worshipped the idols.

I didn't stop there. Something inside me bubbled, an energy to destroy more idols. Everyone needed to know God was the only one to be worshipped. I led the army north into Ephraim, Simeon, Manasseh and as far as Napthali in the far north and the ruins around them. I tore down every altar and Asherah pole I saw. 

My muscles grew stronger each day. When I saw an idol I took and crushed it to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. That's right. I even went into Israel to clean up the idol worship. 

I tell you, my insides were warm, like the sun shining in my heart. May the Great God, the Lord Almighty be the only one we worship. Praise God for His mercy and kindness to us.

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1. What happened when Josiah turned sixteen?
2. Who taught Josiah the stories of great men of God?
3. Why did this mean so much to Josiah?
4. When Josiah turned twenty, what did he do?
5. How far did Josiah travel to do this job?
6. Why did Josiah feel good in the end?

Zephaniah-God Cares for His Own

By Mary Vee
Zephaniah

From the Journals of the prophet Zephaniah

Photo Courtesy

My great-great grandfather, King Hezekiah ruled Judah. 

Since Hezekiah died we have had a lot of trouble here in Judah. 

When I was little, my father told me what had happened to our people long ago. He said, "After years of trouble and disobeying God while King Ahaz led us, we celebrated when his son, King Hezekiah took over the throne. 

"Your great-great-grandfather Hezekiah proved his love for God by tearing down the idols, opening the temple doors, and teaching the people to worship God as He had commanded."

He looked at me with a tear in his eye. "Yes, Hezekiah was a great king." He sighed. "Then his son, Manasseh ruled. Manasseh liked all the glory that came with being king. He wanted to please the nations all around us instead of the Almighty God. 

"He brought back all the idols. The people of Judah listened to him, setting aside all the good Hezekiah had taught them." He squeezed his eyes shut. "Terrible. Just terrible. The new children born in the country didn't know about God. They learned to worship these awful idols."

"Then what happened?" I asked him.

"Well, son, God did as He said He would. The people were punished. The Assyrian army came and took many of the rich and smart men, women, and children from Judah and made them slaves. We who are here are all that is left. 

"Manasseh cried out to God and said he was sorry. God heard his prayer and let him come back home. His son, Amon became king and did bad things like his father had done. There were and still are many of us who are afraid of the kings."

My father had taught me the stories of what had happened to our people, even from the days of Moses. I loved learning the wonderful things God did, but was very sad to hear about the bad things our people did.


Now that I'm older, I have the chance to tell others how God took care of us and about the good leaders we had like Moses, Joshua, David, Hezekiah, and others. 

Bad king Amon has since died and his son, eight-year-old Josiah has been crowned king. He is too young to make decisions right now. I have been appointed as an advisor for him. 

Recently, God gave me a message that I wrote down. 

The message is: because of the years of disobedience to God's Word, the people of Judah would be punished. The day of the Lord is coming. 

No matter what I said, many of the people didn't care. They didn't listen to me or God's message. They kept doing the bad things they enjoyed.

The punishment will come. They will see. But after a time, God said,
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you.
He will quiet you with his love.
He will rejoice over you with singing."

I especially liked delivering the last phrase. Just think, God will rejoice over us with singing. Isn't that good news?

I am wondering what young Josiah will do as king. Will he be a good king like Hezekiah or a bad king?

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1. Who is Zephaniah?
2. Had the people of Judah obeyed God?
3. Why or why not?
4. Who is the new king?
5. How old is he?
6. Why is Zephaniah helping the king?
7. Did you know God sings?

Manasseh- Following the Crowd

By Mary Vee
II Kings 20-21

From the Journals of Isaiah

a Baal idol Photo Courtesy

What amazes me is how easily the people of a nation follow their leader.

I thought, really hoped, the people of Judah had changed their hearts, truly loved God and loved to follow his laws as Hezekiah showed them.

I thought they had seen and felt the joy that could only come by following his ways. 

Instead they chose to do what was popular. 

Manasseh was only a boy of twelve-years-old when he became king. He didn't know what he was doing. 

He had friends that talked him into looking at what all the nations around Judah did. He didn't want to listen to his father's advisors. 

Manasseh and his friends didn't want to stand alone in a faith worshipping the Almighty God when all the other nations around them had idols decorating their cities and villages.

Manasseh's dad, King Hezekiah, was dead. This meant Manasseh could do what he wanted as the new king. He listened to his friends and rebuilt the high places his father had destroyed. He built altars to Baal and made new Asherah poles for the people to worship like his grandfather, Ahab had done. 

Manasseh bowed down to the stars and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord. I wept and tried to speak with him. He would not listen to me.

Instead he built more idols. He added altars to all the starry hosts in both courts of the Temple, and sadly, even offered his own son for a sacrifice to these idols. 

He became excited and encouraged the people to join him in practicing sorcery. He even went to fortune tellers. I am so sad to say they people did as he asked. No one that he was willing to listen to rebelled or try to teach him to turn away.

Then one day he took the carved Asherah poles that he ordered to be made and put it in the temple. God's temple! The temple God said, "In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever....if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them."

But the people did not listen.

Manasseh sadly led them astray. The people of Judah did more evil than the nations God had punished before them.

One thing I can tell you, though. Manasseh may be leading the people down a wrong path and this may look like he has won, but God has already said the people of Judah will be punished for not obeying His laws.

They wouldn't have to be punished, if they would only say they were sorry.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling they are enjoying all these bad things too much to care. Come back to see what happens. 

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1. Who was Manasseh's father?
2. What did Manasseh want to change for what his father did?
3. Why did he want to make these changes?
4. Who tried to help him?
5. How old was Manasseh when he became king?
6. Why did the people follow him?
7. Do you think this will turn out well? Why?

Hezekiah-His Last Good Works

By Mary Vee
II Kings 20, II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Isaiah

The people of Jerusalem mourned deeply when King Hezekiah's died. I have seen other kings of Israel and Judah die and not receive this kind of respect mainly because they were not good kings. But the people had seen what a good king Hezekiah had been and how much he loved God.

He wasn't perfect. No one but God is. But God told me to write Hezekiah's acts of devotion in the sacred books so that everyone could read about this faithful king.

I'd like to share with you one of the most important acts Hezekiah did that saved the city. 

The pool of water used by the people was outside the city walls. Walking to get water was not a problem. But when an army came to attack, the soldiers could take the water then stand guard to keep the people of Jerusalem away.

Hezekiah mapped out a plan to dig a tunnel going from the center of the city to the pool outside the walls. The direction of the water moved through the tunnel to the center of the city. He then blocked off any access to the water to anyone outside the city walls.

This was not an easy project. It took several years. To speed the process, Hezekiah assigned men to dig from both sides. One team started in the city and the other started out at the pool. 

He used our best skills, but knew if one team angled a bit one way or the other the two ends would never meet. Hezekiah prayed asking God to help them with the project. 

One miraculous day the men broke through, connecting the two tunnels. The water flowed into the new pool inside the city. I wish you could have heard the people rejoicing.

But the work wasn't done. The teams had to make a block to prevent anyone from stealing the water from outside the city. The soldiers and workers spent long hours finishing the project. 

This new water system saved the city. If an attacking army didn't have water to drink, they couldn't stay long. This is one of the projects Hezekiah did during his rein as king of Judah.

And so the people mourned Hezekiah, the good king of Judah.

From Mary Vee: Here is some interesting news. This tunnel, built by Hezekiah so many years ago is still used today to supply water to the city! Imagine the work that was done to make it last so long!

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1. Was Hezekiah a good or bad king?
2. How did God honor Hezekiah?
3. Isaiah shares one of the many good acts down by Hezekiah. What did he do?
4. What problems did the workers have?
5. Why was this such an important project?

Hezekiah-The Bully Walked Away in Silence

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19, Isaiah 37

From the Journals of Hezekiah

I have seen God's amazing power in action. Since I am one of His creations, I don't think it bothers God too much when I am surprised at what He can do.

I have faith He can do anything. But sometimes, I am just so blown away when I see what He's done. My heart pumps hard and I feel a bubbly happiness inside. 

God sent Isaiah to tell me He would take care of the problem with king Sennacherib of Assyria.

And He did!

Last night God sent the angel of the Lord to Sennacherib's army camp and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand of their men. This was not all of their army. There were plenty more soldiers.

When the remaining soldiers and Sennacherib woke the next morning and found the dead bodies he ordered the remaining soldiers to break camp and go back home.

He didn't say anything.

He didn't yell at those of us watching from the city walls.

He didn't cry out, raise his fist, or say any more mean things.

Instead, he and his men left in silence....ashamed.

He and his army returned to Nineveh, their home, and stayed there. They didn't gather new troops to come back and attack. They just stayed home.

Word spread about what the Almighty God did, and how powerful He is. Countries all around us brought gifts to the people of Jerusalem and offerings to present to the Lord. 

For the rest of my days as king, the nations all around us respected Judah and our God.

A while back I was very sick. I cried to the Lord for healing. He said I could live fifteen more years. That time has come to an end. I am thankful for the extra time to help Jerusalem walk in the ways of the Lord and hope that I have please Him.

Praise and glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Almighty One.

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1.  Who did God send to give Hezekiah a message?
2.  What was the message?
3.  What did God do?
4.  What did Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem see the next morning?
5.  What did Sennacherib and his men do?
6.  What did the nations around Jerusalem do?

Hezekiah-God's Promise to Punish the Bully

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19, Isaiah 37

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Last time I told you about the mean things Sennacherib had done. He is the king of Assyria.

That guy is such a bully. And when bullies yell mean things, nothing can be said back. If anyone tries to say anything back, the bully works very hard to say even meaner things.

I walked away from him and went to the temple where I prayed to God.

In my day, God sent messages to people through his prophets. The prophet Isaiah lives here and loves the Lord with all his heart. 

Isaiah came to my chamber and said God had a message for me. God said, "I have heard your prayers about Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and have said these things against him:

"Who are you to insult Jerusalem? Your insults are really against me, the Holy One of Israel.

You have sent messengers who have shouted cruel things against me.

You brag about things you have done to frighten the people of Jerusalem.

What you didn't know is I had planned for you to succeed in those very things.

I even know where you live and when you come and go 

and how you are so angry against me.

Because you have been so angry, I will force you to go back to your homes 

and end the battles."

God then said to me: "This year, Hezekiah, you will eat what grows by itself from the crops, and next year too. But the third year, plant seeds and reap a harvest. A group of people from Judah will stand strong like the crops. There will be survivors staying in Jerusalem."

This made me feel better. I knew then that we would be able to stay.

Isaiah finished telling me God's message by saying what would happen. "Sennacherib will not enter Jerusalem. He won't shoot an arrow here. He won't bring his army or his weapons. He will go back home and not enter Jerusalem.

"I will defend this city and save it for my sake and for the sake of David my servant."

I must admit. I felt so much better knowing God would take care of the bully.

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1. Bullies sure can cause us to feel bad. What was the first thing Hezekiah did to stop the bully?
2. In the days that Hezekiah lived, what is one way God sent messages to people?
3. Describe the prophet Isaiah.
4. God said not to worry. The bully meant their mean words against ___________
5. What did God say he would do to the bully?
6. What did God say would happen to Jerusalem?

Hezekiah-What to Do When the Bully Comes Back

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and II Chronicles

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo courtesy

Sennacherib, king of Assyria was an evil man. He has been bullying my people. This king told the people of Jerusalem that God couldn't help them. He also said they should surrender to him and he would take good care of them. Of course he wasn't telling the truth.

God sent a message to me, Hezekiah, king of Judah and loyal servant of the Almighty God, saying not to be concerned. He would punish Sennacherib.

Sennacherib heard that the king of Egypt was marching across the land to fight him. After hearing the report he sent messengers to me again. Can you imagine that?

I am not afraid of him because God said He would take care of the problem. 

Still I will tell you what Sennacherib said, "Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them? The gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar. Where are all those kings? You will end up like them.

I did not answer him.

Instead I went up to the temple of the Lord and laid the papers with the message out before the Lord. I prayed these words: 

"O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, O Lord, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. 

"It is true, O Lord that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire an destroyed them, for they were not god but only wood and stone, made by men's hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand so that all the kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord are God."

Come back next time to see what God said. 

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1. What lies did Sennacherib tell the people of Jerusalem?
2. Even after he heard the king of Egypt was marching against him, Sennacherib did what?
3. Did Hezekiah listen to the bully's words?
4. What did Hezekiah do?

Hezekiah-God Comforts When Bullies Are Mean

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and Isaiah

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

I couldn't handle the horrible news Eliakim, Shebna and Joah brought to me. 

As king of Judah, it is my duty to lead my people. They all heard Sennacherib's cruel words about the Almighty God. 

I could handle him saying lies about me, but when he said, "How can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand." He made fun of the power of God. Big mistake.

Yes, I know God can easily take care of Sennacherib, but I love God and would not want anyone to speak evil of Him. 

I felt embarrassed to even speak to the prophet Isaiah about the problem so I sent Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah to tell him my thoughts:

"This day is a terrible day, One where cruel and mean things are said by the bullies surrounding us. It's like having no strength to give birth. It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria has sent to make fun of the living God. And when He hears those words He will punish Sennacherib for what he has done. Isaiah, please pray for those from all Israel that still survives."

Isaiah sent a message back to me. "This is what the Lord says. Do not be afraid of what you have heard. Every word the king's helpers said against me I have heard. The words are not against you. Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report he will return to his own country, and there I will have Sennacherib put to death.

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1. Why was King Hezekiah upset?
2. King Hezekiah tore his clothes and wept. He went to the temple. Why didn't he talk to the prophet Isaiah?
3. What message did he send to the prophet?
4. What did message did God give to Isaiah to say to Hezekiah?

Hezekiah- Bullies Like to Lie

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

As king of Judah and a man who loves to serve God, hearing men say mean things about God really hurt my heart.

I didn't like listening to Sennacherib's official shouting lies to the people of Jerusalem. They said them so loud, all my soldiers and citizens standing on the wall heard them. 

I looked at the people's faces and saw their strength drain from them. They were listening to the bullies. 

After my official Eliakim, Shebna and my field commander, Joah asked the Assyrians to speak in the Aramaic language, the bullies refused and shouted  louder in Hebrew, the language our people understood.

The Assyrians said, "Do you think we only want Hezekiah and you to hear our message? No we want the soldiers and the citizens to hear. They need to know we will conquer and force them to have nothing to eat."

The commander stepped away from the officials and set his hands by his mouth to help his voice go farther. "Hear the word of the great king of Assyria. People of Jerusalem, do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He can't save you from us. Don't let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord. We will conquer Jerusalem. 

"Don't listen to Hezekiah. Make peace with us and come join us. Every person who surrenders will have plenty to eat and drink. You will be taken to a land like Jerusalem. A land of bread and vineyards, olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death."


I wanted to cover my ears. I have served God as king of Judah and tried to teach the people to always worship Him. I wish I could make the bullies stop shouting. I wish the people of Jerusalem couldn't hear them. But the bullies didn't stop.

The official shouted again. "Don't listen to Hezekiah. He is misleading you when he says the Lord will deliver you. Has the god of any nation ever delivered them from our hands? Where are their gods now? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"


I can't even write any more of the horrible things the officials said. They called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem standing at the wall just to scare them in order to capture our city. They even insulted our God by saying the God of Jerusalem was the work of men's hands. I couldn't stop my tears. The Almighty God, our creator, should not have to hear such words.

But, thanks be to God, the people of Jerusalem kept silent and said nothing back to the bullies. I had commanded them not to answer anything the bullies said. 

When the officers came back inside the city and told me the rest of the mean things the bullies said about us and God, we fell to our knees and tore our clothes. We put on sackcloth and went to the temple of the Lord and cried out to Him.

Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  Who were the bullies?
2.  The bullies said mean things about Jerusalem, king Hezekiah, and God.  What did the people do?
3.  Did any of the people from Jerusalem rush out accept the gifts from the bullies?
4. When the officials came back in the city and told king Hezekiah the rest of the message, what did they all do?

Hezekiah - Sennacherib the Bully

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

A few days after we finished rebuilding Jerusalem and preparing for war, I received a message from Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Like I've said before, this man is a bully. 

He sent his supreme commander, his chief officer, and his field commander with a large army to deliver the message. Did he really have to send that many people?

I sent my officers out to meet with them.

The field commander from Assyria delivered this message:

"Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king of Assyria said: 'What makes you think you can be so confident? You say you have strategy and military strength, but your words mean nothing. Who are you depending on to give you the power to rebel against me? Look. You are depending on Egypt to save you.

"And if you say to me, 'We are depending on the Lord our God'--isn't he the one whose altars you removed? Didn't you say to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem"? 

"When you say, 'The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' you are  misleading your people. You want them to die of hunger and thirst.

"Don't you know what my fathers and I have done to all the peoples of other lands? Did the god of those nations deliver them from my hand? Were any of the gods from other lands able to save their country from me?

"Listen to my advice, people of Jerusalem. Don't let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Don't believe him because no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver you from my hand! I'll give you a chance. Make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I'll give you two thousand horses, that is, if you can put riders on them. Hah.

"How can you turn me down by depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? You know I have come to attack and destroy this land without any word from your God. The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it." This ended his message.

My officials were quite concerned. The Assyrian messengers shouted their words loud enough for our soldiers on the walls to hear. The words sounded right, even though they were wrong. We didn't know how many of our soldiers would surrender to that bully Sennacherib.

My officials, Eliakim and Shebna and my field commander, Joah said to the Assyrian officials, "Please speak to your men in Aramaic since we understand it. Don't speak in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall."

Do you think they spoke quieter?  Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  Who was the bully?
2.  Who did the bully pick on?
3.  This bully lied. He said ___________ could not help them because no other god had helped any other land.
4.  Why did Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah ask the Assyrians to speak in Aramaic instead of Hebrew?

Hezekiah- Using Water to Win a War

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

The king of Assyria invaded Judah. He attacked several of our fortified cities and threatened Jerusalem. Sennacherib, king of Assyria wanted these cities for himself.

When I heard he planned to attack Jerusalem, I called together my officials and military staff.

"Gentlemen, I have an idea. Let's block off the water from the springs outside the city. If Sennacherib doesn't have water for his army, he will have to leave. And why should he have access to our water?"

The men agreed with me. And we went to work.

We called for a large force of men to help. Together we blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land outside the city. 

We moved our workforce to the city walls. Night and day we worked to repair broken areas where the enemy could get through. We built new towers for watch keepers. Next, for added protection, we built a second city wall outside the first one. The men put supports on the terraces while another group made a large number of weapons and shields.

I appointed military officers over the people and called them all together in the city square near the gate after we finished our work and said: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of  the vast Assyria army. There is a greater power with us than with him. The king os Assyria only has the arm of flesh, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."

All the people cheered with these words.

We were ready to see what God would do for us.

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1.  What king invaded Judah?
2.  What country was he king of?
3.  What did king Hezekiah choose to do first?
4.  What did he do second? (what did he fix)
5.  What did Hezekiah order third?
6.  What did Hezekiah have made fourth (it was a second one)?
7.  What did Hezekiah make to protect themselves?
8.  What encouraging words did Hezekiah say to the people?

Hezekiah-The Good, Bad, and Selfish

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

The people of Jerusalem, Judah, and I spent several days repenting of our pride.  God decided not to punish us during my life time.

I needed to lead the city and country back to dedicating our lives to God and taking care of what He has given us.

The Lord had bless us with riches. Before this time I hadn't done anything with the wealth for God. That will change.

The countries around us respected me and so did the people. We received more wealth from them. I built treasuries for the silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and other valuables. I also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, wine, and oil. I had stalls built for various kinds of cattle and pens for the flocks. We built villages and added to the number of flocks and herds. All these things God had given were stored in safe places until they were needed.

We used the wealth to feed the people and for improving the city. The west side of Jerusalem didn't have enough water. We started a building project to block the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side where the people needed it.

The Lord helped me to succeed in all the projects I worked on during the added fifteen years of life He gave me.

I knew I must be doing things the way God wanted me to. We had peace and prosperity.

One day, messengers from Babylon brought letters and gifts from their king. They seemed so kind. The king said he had heard I was sick and wanted to send me a gift. I welcomed the messengers in and showed them around the palace. 

They seemed interested in what I said and asked me to tell them more. I showed them our storehouses, the silver, gold, spices, fine oil, armory and everything God had given us in our treasury. I had so much fun showing them the blessings from God.

After they left, the prophet Isaiah came to me. "What did those men say and where did they come from?"

He seemed unhappy. I didn't understand why. "They came from a distant land, Babylon."

Isaiah said, "What did they see in your palace?"

"I showed them everything God had given us. There is nothing among my treasures I didn't show them." I had no idea why he asked the questions.

Isaiah closed his eyes for a long time, then spoke. "Hear the word of the Lord. The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your children will be taken away and forced to serve as slaves in the palace of the king of Babylon."

"Yes, but didn't God say there would be peace my whole lifetime?"

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1.  What did Hezekiah do right?
2.  Where were the messengers from?
3.  What did they bring with them?
4.  What did Hezekiah show them?
5.  Why did Hezekiah show the men these things?
6.  What did the Prophet Isaiah tell Hezekiah?
7.  What do you think is wrong with what Hezekiah said at the end of this story?

Hezekiah- Pride and Punishment

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

God had healed my terrible illness. I felt so much better.

The people in Judah seemed happy. We had everything we needed. 

I went about my work, enjoying the people, doing my kingly business. All the reports I received said the country was doing well. 

We ate, had celebrations, did our chores.
I felt really good about it. Yep, I was a great king.

One day the prophet Isaiah came to my chambers. He couldn't have any bad messages. Everyone in the country seemed happy and no one had attacked us. I was doing a great job.

"King Hezekiah, You have been wicked."

I couldn't believe my ears. I have not been wicked. "What do you mean?"

"You have been prideful in your heart. You have not shown God thankfulness for what He has given to you. Instead you take all the credit yourself, calling yourself a great king. Therefore the Lord's wrath is on you and Jerusalem and Judah."

I could hardly speak. I thought about what I had been doing since the Lord healed me from my illness. Isaiah spoke the truth. I have been full of pride. I dropped to my knees. "You are right. I have been full of pride. Please forgive me."

These words would not be enough, I knew right away. I ran out of the palace and to the temple where I could call all the people of Jerusalem together. "People of Jerusalem and Judah, I am guilty of pride. I have been calling myself a great king because of how well things are here in our city and country. 

"I am not the one who has kept us safe and prosperous. It was the Lord, the Almighty God. I ask you to join me in repenting of our ways and asking the Lord to forgive us."

The people joined me. We all put on sackcloth and repented. Cries of sorrow and tears flowed. We prayed to God, asking for His forgiveness.

While I still sat in sorrow, the prophet Isaiah came to me. "The Lord has a message for you. He has seen your repentance and the tears of the people. He has decided to hold off the punishment while you still live."

"I will change and work to serve the Lord in all my ways."

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1.  What happened in Judah after Hezekiah was healed?
2.  What did Hezekiah do wrong?
3.  Who told him?
4.  What did Hezekiah do about it?
5.  What did the people of Jerusalem and Judah do?
6.  What did God say after Hezekiah led the people to the right answer?
7.  What did Hezekiah decide to do?

Hezekiah-A Thankful Heart for Fifteen More Years

By Mary Vee
Isaiah 38

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

I didn't deserve God's mercy.

He healed me from a disease that nearly killed me. 

During all the days I have ruled Judah, I have tried to obey God. I'm not perfect, which means I made mistakes, but I kept trying my best. 

God rewarded my devotion to Him by letting me live fifteen years more.



This is my thanksgiving praise to God:

I said,
“In the prime of my life
I shall go to the gates of Sheol;
I am deprived of the remainder of my years.”

 I said,
“I shall not see the Lord,
The Lord in the land of the living;
I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

 My life span is gone,
Taken from me like a shepherd’s tent;
I have cut off my life like a weaver.
He cuts me off from the loom;
From day until night You make an end of me.

 I have considered until morning—
Like a lion,
So He breaks all my bones;
From day until night You make an end of me.

 Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered;
I mourned like a dove;
My eyes fail from looking upward.
O Lord, I am oppressed;
Undertake for me!

 “What shall I say?
He has both spoken to me,
And He Himself has done it.
I shall walk carefully all my years
In the bitterness of my soul.

 O Lord, by these things men live;
And in all these things is the life of my spirit;
So You will restore me and make me live.

 Indeed it was for my own peace
That I had great bitterness;
But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

 For Sheol cannot thank You,
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.

 The living, the living man, he shall praise You,
As I do this day;
The father shall make known Your truth to the children.

 “The Lord was ready to save me;
And we will sing with stringed instruments
All the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.”

************************************************
1.  Who was Hezekiah?
2.  What problem did Hezekiah have?
3.  Who healed him?
4.  How many more years did God give him?
5.  What did Hezekiah do next?