Day 35 – Repentance

2 Chronicles 32:24 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to JEHOVAH; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign.

 25 However, Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore, wrath loomed over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.

 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of JEHOVAH did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

 27 Hezekiah had great riches and honor. He made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for every kind of desirable item; 28 storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for every kind of livestock, and folds for flocks. 29 Moreover, he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for Elohiym had given him much property.

 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in his works.

 31 However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder done in the land, Elohiym withdrew from him, to test him, that He might know everything in his heart.

 32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, indeed they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

 33 Then Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper tombs of the sons of David; and everyone in Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Then Manasseh, his son, reigned in his place.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Healer

Grace

Tester

One fact of life you cannot ignore is that people die. You will die. However, many people who face death, survive to live longer than the doctors diagnosed. How do those who survive act when they live longer than expected?

Hezekiah became sick, leading to death. However, he prayed, and JEHOVAH healed him. However, pride got in the way and JEHOVAH tested him.

2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says JEHOVAH: ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’”

 2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to JEHOVAH, saying, 3 “Remember now, O JEHOVAH, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” Hezekiah wept bitterly.

 4 It happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of JEHOVAH came to him, saying, 5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says JEHOVAH, the Elohiym of David your father, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely, I will heal you. On the third day you will go up to the house of JEHOVAH. 6 I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”’”

 7 Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” Then they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

 8 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that JEHOVAH will heal me, and that I will go to the house of JEHOVAH on the third day?”

 9 Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from JEHOVAH, that JEHOVAH will do the thing which He has spoken: will the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?”

 10 Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.”

 11 Then Isaiah the prophet cried out to JEHOVAH, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.

Instead of being grateful for the additional years on his life, Hezekiah became prideful and disregarded the sign JEHOVAH gave him. Therefore, JEHOVAH brought His wrath on Hezekiah. When He did, Hezekiah humbled himself before Elohiym, and Elohiym didn’t bring His wrath on him in his lifetime. JEHOVAH also tested him when He sent the ambassadors from Babylon; ambassadors who would see the wonder of Jerusalem.

When you committed your life to Yeshuwa, you did so fully intending to obey Him in everything. However, pride gets in the way when you see how Yeshuwa helps you as He promised and instead of glorifying Him, you take Him for granted, become prideful about His role in your life as though He were your servant instead of your being His servant.

How do you redeem yourself in Yeshuwa’s eyes? Hezekiah humbled himself before JEHOVAH, and He took away the wrath He brought against him. Do you humble yourself before Yeshuwa? Do you repent of your pride, realizing that Satan brought pride into your life to take your eyes off Yeshuwa and take credit for what Yeshuwa did for you?

Pride seems harmless. Yet it does as much damage to your walk with Yeshuwa as any other sin you could commit. You need to be aware of pride, the silent killer, and evaluate your walk with Yeshuwa every day. When you do, you will see the areas you need to strengthen to keep yourself in right standing with Yeshuwa.

Don’t let Satan destroy your walk with Yeshuwa. Recognize his tactics and come against them with Yeshuwa’s Word in your mouth and in your heart.

Let’s pray: Father, help me recognize Satan’s schemes against my relationship with You. Let Your Word be on my tongue and in my heart so I can defeat him, and he will flee from me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 22 February 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux