2 Kings: Take A Lump Of Figs

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2016
Chapters: 2 Kings 18-20
Message: 2 Kings: Take A Lump Of Figs

Hello My Friend,

I was doing an internet search for a picture of Jesus and came across one that said, I follow Jesus, not the Bible. My goodness, the lengths that people go to live they way they please, pretend that they know Jesus and keep from following the word of God. That reminds me of the kids I watched briefly, the parents even joined a “Baptist church” and they did not even know what sin was. Ha, ha, I laugh because it is no wonder Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:22,23. The world, and apparently the majority of so called Christians today are blind to one great truth, Jesus is the Bible. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14.

From the time God created the earth people have been making their own or themselves god, and even though Israel had the one and only living God that did not stop them from going after or making their own gods. Now, with the Northern Kingdom being invaded and most of Israel being taken into Assyria, the Assyrians thought it would be easy to invade the only tribe in left in Israel, Judah. They were wrong when they found out that Hezekiah, a very godly king turned Judah around, bringing it back to a godly kingdom. As the Assyrians realize Hezekiah was not about to give into them they resort to attacking their mind, asking them why they trust God.

“Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand? But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.” - 2 Kings 18:31-36.

“Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered” Every nation believes their god is the true God, but fail to realize they are man made, and that there is only one living and true God, who in fact, made them. It is easy to believe that a god they create is real when they have power and prosperity, but the second adversity comes their god is nowhere to be found. Every god has a book, they too are man made, but not every god is God, and not every book labeled Holy Bible contains His inspired words. We do not make the word of God into something that resembles the world, we make us into something that the word of God resembles. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:2.

The Assyrians did not realize that all those nations they were able to take over and destroy was not because their god was not able to stop them, it was because they were dead gods. There is only one God, one living God, and only He can deliver a country out of the hands of the enemy. Hezekiah did the one and only thing he was capable of doing to defeat Assyria, he prayed to God and He heard his prayer.

“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. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.” - 2 Kings 19:32-37.

“and for my servant David's sake.” All you have to do is stop and think of all the things that Jesus actually saves you from you realize God does not save us for our own sakes, but Jesus. God is forever merciful and graceful for the very reason that He promises to never leave nor forsake anyone who believes in and receives His Son, it is His finished work in the cross that saves us all from suffering what we really deserve. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” -Isaiah 64:6-8.

Shortly after their victory over Assyria, Hezekiah became very ill and was on the verge of death, the prophet Isaiah came to meet with him and told him to be prepared to die. Hezekiah was not ready to die, so he turned to God in prayer. “Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 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: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.” - 2 Kings 20:2-7.

“remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart,” Hezekiah does not speak to God as if He needed to be reminded of the things he had done, he spoke from his heart and humbly, cried before God. Because of that prayer, God added fifteen more years to his life, we may not always get relief from battles, but we can see an expected end and God's hand in it. Those who receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour get more than fifteen years, they get eternity, not because of any good they have done, but for Christ's sake. He defends and delivers all who believe in His Son out of the hands of source of all wickedness, the devil. “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:” - Galatians 1:4.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Hezekiah who removed all the idols out of Jerusalem. Jesus destroyed everything evil in the temple the week He came into Jerusalem. “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” - Matthew 21:12,13.

Today's Prayer: (taken from Psalm 23) God, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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