After the seven days during which they offered sacrifices in praise of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, they all decided to celebrate for another seven days. So they celebrated with joy.
The best of times. 😊 I so look forward to our great reunion and celebration, Father (Hebrews 12:22-24).
The priests and the Levites asked the Lord’s blessing on the people. In his home in heaven God heard their prayers and accepted them.
Intoxicated on religion. Religiousity (1 Samuel 23:21) – no thanks. Please make me to be attractive to those who are perishing, Lord!
After the festival ended, all the people of Israel went to every city in Judah and broke the stone pillars, cut down the symbols of the goddess Asherah, and destroyed the altars and the pagan places of worship. They did the same thing throughout the rest of Judah, and the territories of Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh; then they all returned home.
Sanctification is essential (Juges 6:25-27; Acts 19:18-20).
…King Hezekiah did what was right and what was pleasing to the Lord his God. He was successful, because everything he did… he did in a spirit of complete loyalty and devotion to his God.
May you find me to be this way, Father. And may I be successful one day…
After these events, in which King Hezekiah served the Lord faithfully, Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities and gave orders for his army to break their way through the walls.
Being faithful doesn’t necessarily lead to an absence of problems!