July 11

Written by Bill Grandi on July 11th, 2019

My title for this devotion is Choosing Wisely vs Choosing Poorly (or does the apple fall very far from the tree?)

As I continue reading 2 Kings, I am greeted again by familiar names-Hezekiah, Mannaseh, and Josiah. Amon is between the latter two but he was only on the scene for two years. I’m struck by their choices.

Hezekiah (H) was a good king. “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” Two situations though stand out to me. One was his depth of sorrow (can it be called pouting?) over his impending death.  God gave him 15 more years to live. The other situation involved his pride. When visited by a Babylonian envoy, he showed them everything. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G! The latter was a very poor choice on his part. When God pronounced judgement on him for showing them everything, I think his pride shows. God tells him through Isaiah that judgement would come from the Babylonians and H is relieved because it will not be coming during his reign. Very poor choice.

Mannaseh (M), his son, was next. Ironically, M was born during the extended 15 years of H’s life. This is one time when a desire turned into a bad thing. M was one of the most evil, wicked kings ever. 21:1-9 is mind-numbing in its evil. God’s pronounced judgement was also epic. Using the action of wiping a dish as an illustration, God shows the extreme consequences of M’s disobedience. A series of very bad choices.

Amon only reigned two years before his servants assassinated him.  He carried on his father’s sin. Bad choice.

Josiah, Amon’s son, was 8 years old and he broke the mold. He did a complete 360 from his father and grandfather. It can’t escape the reader that a big part of Josiah’s choices was based on the Law of God found in the temple by Hilkiah, the priest. It says in 22:11 “He (Josiah) tore his clothes.” A radical response of humility and repentance to the reading of the Word. 23:25 is a great summary of his life: “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”

4 kings. 4 choices.  Hezekiah-pouting and pride. Mannaseh-overwhelming evil. Amon-like father like son. Josiah-follow God’s Word. I, too, must choose.

“Father, may I choose Josiah’s path not that of the others. May it be said I turned to you with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my might. That would be MY CHOICE.”

 

6 Comments so far ↓

  1. I’d choose Josiah’s path any day!
    Blessings, Bill!

  2. Ryan S. says:

    Choices… What I like about this historical account is that it took 1 set of good choices to really begin to turn things around even after very poor choices.
    Shows the patience, forgiveness, and grace of a loving Father.

  3. floyd says:

    God is humble and loves a humble heart. I’m always struck by this constant lesson throughout the Word.

    Pride is the flesh at its worse.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      To be like God we would need to be humble. Unfortunately, the word seems to be missing from our vocabulary.