Friday, July 6, 2012

TALE OF TWO KINGS


Photo courtesy of colorkiddies.com

Two kings.
Both from the same family line.
Both began to rule at twenty-five years of age.
Both ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years.

But king one, Amaziah had apparently just one success.
Then much failure and ended fleeing with his enemies catching 
 and killing him.

About one hundred and thirteen years latter his 
great, great, grandson became king.  That is 
Hezekiah, our king number two.

King Hezekiah had constant success ending his rule
by being "buried in the supper section of the royal tombs,
... and all the people paid him great honor at his death."



Photo courtesy of colorkiddies.com

What was the distinguishing difference between
the two kings.

God said of Amaziah, the failure:

"He did what was pleasing to the LORD, but did it
reluctantly."
-2 Chronicles 25:2 (GNB)

God said of Hezekiah, the success:

"Throughout all of Judah, King Hezekiah did what 
was right and what was pleasing to the LORD his God.
He was successful, because everything he did for the 
Temple or in observance of the Law,
he did in a spirit of complete loyalty and 
devotion to his God."
-2 Chronicles 31:20,21 (GNB)




2 comments:

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

And there you have it! It's not so hard to see the truth, the rub comes when we are called upon to live it out every day. There's our way and God's way... that's it! I am so happy when I do it God's way! :)

Kathleen said...

The dividing line always seems to fall between obedience & disobedience. So many kings - then, as now - get to choose God's way or their own. Things haven't changed much, have they?

This I know: I long to hear Him say to me, "Well done, my good & faithful servant." All other options just don't sound or look so good.

What a powerful comparison!