May 2 - Evening
"At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, 'What did those men say, and where did they come from?'
'From a distant land,' Hezekiah replied. 'They came from Babylon.'
The prophet asked, 'What did they see in your palace?'
'They saw everything in my palace,' Hezekiah said. 'There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.'
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'
'The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,' Hezekiah replied. For he thought, 'Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?' "
- Second Kings 20:12-19
Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, 'What did those men say, and where did they come from?'
'From a distant land,' Hezekiah replied. 'They came from Babylon.'
The prophet asked, 'What did they see in your palace?'
'They saw everything in my palace,' Hezekiah said. 'There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.'
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'
'The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,' Hezekiah replied. For he thought, 'Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?' "
- Second Kings 20:12-19
Merodach-Baladan, King of Babylon, Sends Envoys to Hezekiah
During the days of Hezekiah (715-686) the Assyrian Empire had to face a man from Babylon named Merodach-Baladan (also called Marduk-apal-iddina) who rose up as king of Babylon from 721-710 and then again briefly before he was defeated in 703-702 by the Assyrians and fled south into Elam as a fugitive. While Merodach-Baladan was in hiding in Elam he continued to organize revolts against Assyria and petition others to support the rebellion.
It is at this time, after Hezekiah has “defeated” Sennacherib and after Merodach-Baladan has been driven into Elam by Assyria that envoys from Babylon visit Hezekiah, or actually, envoys from the Babylonian rebel Merodach-Baladan, come to honor Hezekiah and seek his support in the rebellion against Assyria.
Isaiah 39 records this same event. Here is a portion of the text taken from Isaiah 39:1-2:
“At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.”
The Lord did all this to test Hezekiah's heart according to 2 Chronicles 32:31:
"But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart."
Dialogizomai (Gr) – Reason (Eng) – means “to bring together different reasons and reckon them up,” “to reckon up the reasons” or “to reason.” Dialogizomai is used to refer to engaging in discussion, debate or even, an argument in order to resolve a challenging situation or question.
Dialogizomai can be done as a group bringing their ideas together or as an individual
weighing out options in their own heart. (Matthew 16:7-8; Matthew 21:25; Mark 2:6-8; Mark 9:33)
Dialogizomai can be done as a group bringing their ideas together or as an individual
weighing out options in their own heart. (Matthew 16:7-8; Matthew 21:25; Mark 2:6-8; Mark 9:33)
When the Lord tests my heart will I show pride in my actions and words?
Will I consider my own well-being before I consider the well-being of others when I am tested?
Will I consider my own well-being before I consider the well-being of others when I am tested?
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Physical strength
Church
Minister to the lonely
Nation
Taxation
World
Cote d'Ivoire
Someone to Quote
“The evidence of God’s existence and His gift is more than compelling, but those who insist that they have no need of him or it will always find ways to discount the offer.” – Blaise Pascal
Something to Ponder
Why did God punish David for taking a census by killing 70,000 people? Best Answer: According to Exodus 30:12 a census of the people was only to be taken to collect the census tax of 2/10 of an ounce of silver per person which was to be used for the tabernacle (or, the temple) (Exodus 30:12). But, David did not have a tabernacle (it had been destroyed by the Philistines) and the temple had not been built yet. So, David’s only reason for ordering the census was pride and security. David used God’s census to find out how many people he had instead of using it to finance the worship center. Joab saw this problem and warned David not to do it or he would face the curse. David ignored Joab and the word of God and took the census. But, since David did not collect the 2/10 of an ounce of silver, God sent the plague promised in Exodus 30:12.
Here’s a Fact
Hosea prophesied against the wealthy who abused their wealth that they gained during the prosperity that occurred during the reign of Jeroboam II as predicted by Jonah. In Tirzah, the capital city, in stratum III from the middle of the 700’s BC elaborate four room houses just south of the government headquarters building built with good material and good architecture. But, just a little further south was a neighborhood of poorly built, unaligned homes of the poor.
Proverb
"Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path."
- Proverbs 2:9
- Proverbs 2:9
Coach’s Corner
Sometimes you need to give a little ground in a battle in order to gain a better foothold to win the war.
Isaiah 39
New International Version (NIV)
Envoys From Babylon
39 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”
“From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”
4 The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
New International Version (NIV)
Envoys From Babylon
39 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”
“From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”
4 The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
1 Kings 4
New International Version (NIV)
Solomon’s Officials and Governors
4 So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 2 And these were his chief officials:
Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder;
4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;
Zadok and Abiathar—priests;
5 Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;
Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;
6 Ahishar—palace administrator;
Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.
7 Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. 8 These are their names:
Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim;
9 Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;
10 Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh and all the land of Hepher were his);
11 Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);
12 Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;
13 Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);
14 Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim;
15 Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);
16 Baana son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth;
17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar;
18 Shimei son of Ela—in Benjamin;
19 Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.
Solomon’s Daily Provisions
20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. 21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.
22 Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors of the finest flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.
26 Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.
27 The district governors, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.
Solomon’s Wisdom
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
New International Version (NIV)
Solomon’s Officials and Governors
4 So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 2 And these were his chief officials:
Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder;
4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;
Zadok and Abiathar—priests;
5 Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;
Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;
6 Ahishar—palace administrator;
Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.
7 Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. 8 These are their names:
Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim;
9 Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;
10 Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh and all the land of Hepher were his);
11 Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);
12 Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;
13 Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);
14 Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim;
15 Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);
16 Baana son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth;
17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar;
18 Shimei son of Ela—in Benjamin;
19 Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.
Solomon’s Daily Provisions
20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. 21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.
22 Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors of the finest flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.
26 Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.
27 The district governors, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.
Solomon’s Wisdom
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
Psalm 106
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 106
1
Praise the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?
3
Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.
4
Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them,
5
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.
6
We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7
When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
8
Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.
9
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10
He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11
The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
12
Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
13
But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
14
In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.
15
So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
16
In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord.
17
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram.
18
Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.
19
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
20
They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
21
They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
22
miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
23
So he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.
24
Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise.
25
They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord.
26
So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
27
make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
28
They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
29
they aroused the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.
30
But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.
31
This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.
32
By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
33
for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips.
34
They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them,
35
but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
36
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
37
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods.
38
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
39
They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.
40
Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.
41
He gave them into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them.
42
Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.
43
Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
44
Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;
45
for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.
46
He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy.
47
Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
48
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 106
1
Praise the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?
3
Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.
4
Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them,
5
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.
6
We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7
When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
8
Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.
9
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10
He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11
The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
12
Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
13
But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
14
In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.
15
So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
16
In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord.
17
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram.
18
Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.
19
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
20
They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
21
They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
22
miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
23
So he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.
24
Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise.
25
They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord.
26
So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
27
make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
28
They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
29
they aroused the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.
30
But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.
31
This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.
32
By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
33
for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips.
34
They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them,
35
but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
36
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
37
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods.
38
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
39
They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.
40
Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.
41
He gave them into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them.
42
Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.
43
Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
44
Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;
45
for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.
46
He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy.
47
Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
48
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the Lord.
2 Chronicles 32:1-5
New International Version (NIV)
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
32 After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. 4 They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. 5 Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.
2 Chronicles 32:30
New International Version (NIV)
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.
New International Version (NIV)
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
32 After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. 4 They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. 5 Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.
2 Chronicles 32:30
New International Version (NIV)
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.