TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13
Romans 15:23-16:9
Psalm 25:16-22
Proverbs 20:16-18
2 Chronicles 32:1 — We met Sennacherib last month in 2 Kings 18.
2 Chronicles 32:9 — Sennacherib was at Lachish. Yes, indeed he was. In Lachish today you can see the siege ramps Sennacherib built:
In the British Museum you can see the massive Lachish Reliefs that depict this battle:
2 Chronicles 32:18 — Today this is called PsyOps:
Psychological operations (PSYOPS) are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.
2 Chronicles 32:21 — The Chronicler simplifies the account, noting that Hezekiah prayed, and the LORD sent an angel to deliver them.
2 Chronicles 32:25 — Hezekiah was the great king of Judah who started with such an urgent following of God. He was also the king who had previously stripped the temple of the gold to bribe Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:14-16), who had lifted up his heart (2 Chronicles 32:25), and who had boasted to the Babylonians of his wealth (2 Chronicles 32:31). Even good rulers can struggle greatly, but in spite of his sins, he was recognized as one of the chiefest sons of David (2 Chronicles 32:33).
2 Chronicles 33:1 — The worry of every parent’s heart.
2 Chronicles 33:9 — The son of the great King Hezekiah, made the people “do worse than the heathen.” But God wasn’t done with Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:13)!
Romans 15:24 — Interestingly, there is some debate as to whether Paul reached Spain. Since the answer is not found within Scripture, it is hard to be dogmatic on the issue.
Romans 15:27 — Paul contrasts carnal things with spiritual things as a motive for Christian giving. The spiritual things are by necessity better, but they can be recognized with the carnal things.
Psalm 25:16 — Like Hezekiah, the Psalmist cries out for mercy. Can God bring people out of distress (Psalm 25:17)? Hezekiah can emphatically testify, “Yes!”
Proverbs 20:16 — Solomon argues against cosigning for people. We’ve addressed the fact that up to 75% of borrowers with a cosigner end up defaulting on their loan. If you are dealing with someone who is surety (a cosigner) for a stranger (much less a close relative), know that this is someone without wisdom and makes very poor (unwise) financial choices. He is headed for bankruptcy soon. Don’t lose your collateral (garment).
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