The stories of four kings again today, starting with the end of the reign of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah has brought Judah back to God’s ways and we finished with much celebration and plenty.

Now the King of Assyria has come to take over Jerusalem. He starts a campaign to revile God, getting his servants to plant seeds of doubt against God.

But Hezekiah gathers his people and tells them to have faith. He also stops up all the external water supplies around Jerusalem and builds a tunnel of water so the city itself can be watered.

Naturally, the King of Assyria is sent packing!

The last chapter of his story is interesting: “Regarding the ambassadors fo the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him that he might know all that was in his heart.”

Obviously Hezekiah passed that test, as he died peacefully.

His son Manasseh goes back to desecration days, and is caught “with hooks” by his enemies. But he submits to God, and is allowed home for a subsequently peaceful, although not glorious, reign.

Then Josiah comes on the throne. I have told the story of Josiah already – in this account he begins setting aright the temple, and the book of law is found after an undisclosed period of being lost and uncared about.

So Josiah begins to set things aright, again!

Psalm 68 is long and complex and I will try to look at it again tomorrow, but here are two verses that struck me:

“Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home divides the spoil.

“Though you lie down among sheepfolds, You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold….”

Dear God, Thank you for today, a glorious blue and bright day. Thank you for my beautiful daughter, my lovely boys, my husband. Please be with my family, my friends – and those who dislike me for the bad thinsg I have done. I know you forgive me those things. Please bring peace to them where they still feel anger or pain. Please be with P, give him strength, and with N. Please be with S and P. I love you God, please help me follow your paths and teach my children to do so too. In Jesus’ name, Amen