Hezekiah: Inheriting a Mixed Legacy

The Old Testament dedicates a large portion of its pages to recording the history of the Jewish people.  Why did God and the writers of the Hebrew Scripture think it was so important to record these stories and other facts? 
 
I think the answer starts with the fact that history is simply the aggregate story of lives lived.  Biblical history is the story of life lived in relation to God.  In biblical history, we see God revealing Himself to humanity--some respond in faith and submission, most rebel or wander or otherwise prove unfaithful.  We see in Scripture the real-life ways people grapple with God's revealed path, the blessings of walking in His ways, the reasons and ways people fall, and the dire consequences of veering from God's will for our lives. 
 
These next couple of months, we as a church are going to zoom in on one figure in history.  Hezekiah may not be the most well-known of the Jewish kings, but he was among the best.  The Bible says of him, "Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him" (2 Kings 18:5).  To understand Hezekiah's remarkable achievements and character as the political and spiritual leader in Judah, we have to understand the legacy he inherited from his forefathers.  He was 13 generations from David, and during that time, the kingdom of Israel had split into two kingdoms, nearly lost everything to Baal worship, and had gone through some half-hearted reforms, all while the political and material strength of the nation decayed.

What happened to make God's people fall so far?  The story can be told through its kings.  God had given a blueprint for kings to be successful spiritual leaders through Moses (Deuteronomy 17), and the kings' collective failure to keep those guidelines resulted in disaster.

Each of us has a place of spiritual leadership and influence, whether it is at home, church, work, or among a group of friends.  As you listen to the story of Israel's kings, ask God to reveal to you how to fulfill your responsibility as a spiritual leader in your life.

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Love Never Fails

Most of us know the verse "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).  It's something that is used in Christian wall art and whatnots, it's the heart of fairy tales about "true love"... it's a phrase that warms the heart.  But our experience tells us that love DOES fail us at times.  People who are supposed to love you hurt you instead, even sometimes when they are trying their best to love.  So what does the Bible mean when it says "Love never fails"?  As we wrap up the Love Pledge series, let us consider how we can experience and practice the unfailing love of God.

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Love Always Protects, Always Trusts

Some things are fundamental to love.  One of these foundations is the exchange of the promise to protect and the offer of trust.  Without this exchange, love cannot exist.  That's why Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:7 writes, "Love always protects, always trusts..."  Listen this week as we explored our pledge to protect and love one another.  (And 10 minutes shorter than last week!)

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Love Does Not Delight in Evil

With our team coming back from Alaska and our youth recently back from camp, we asked the question, "How do you keep a good thing going?" Part of the answer is in 1 Corinthians 13:6-"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

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