Listening

I am still reading in the book of 2 Chronicles.  I am reading about Hezekiah, a good king. He restored worship to the one true God and led Judah back to the Lord God. In Kings we read where he was going to die and Hezekiah prayed to God and before the prophet of God had left his house giving him the bad news. The Lord told the prophet to turn around  and inform Hezekiah that he had added 15 years to his life.
 20Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 21And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.
2 Chronicles 31:20-21
So we read here that Hezekiah sought the Lord and served God with his whole heart and prospered. God watches our lives and looks to the condition of our heart.  Toward the end of his life in 2 Chronicles it sounds like Hezekiah became a little prideful and became sick, Hezekiah humbled himself, I don't know if this is the same time as recorded in the book of kings when Hezekiah prayed and God added 15 years. Kings and Chronicles tell some of the same history. He is remembered as one of the good kings. He followed God's precepts, rules, and the law. That is what those things are put there for, for us to live the best life possible. Success is doing what God intends for us. One thing that has really stuck in my mind in reading the Old Testament was Samuel listening for God's voice and when Eli the old prophet told him when you hear that voice again say, speak Lord for your servant is listening.  It is my hope to hear from God as I read his word. Many of the principles we live by can be found in the Old Testament. We learn what God expects and how God responds and what moves the heart of God.  Humility touches the heart of God. 4The reward for humility and fear of the Lord  is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22: 4.  Hezekiah trusted in God  and led the people back to God. Even when he got sick, he turned to God and God blessed him. He sought God with his whole heart. If we are seeking riches or serving God to get riches, I think we will miss it.  Solomon when told by God to ask for anything, he asked for wisdom to lead God's people.  The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is what many people seek for. But is is in knowing God and seeking him that we are blessed. It is in living according to his commands, his precepts, that we are blessed. Over and over I see God responding to humility. Ahab an evil king, humbled himself and God responded by delaying his judgment to the next generation.  Fear of the Lord is a respect for God. We acknowledge who God is and that he is sovereign. These are things we can learn from the Old Testament. What moves the heart of God for good and bad.  Humility and the fear of the Lord, (respect) is moving in the right direction. Psalm 119 talks over and over again about following God's precepts, laws, commands, rules, standards. I think there are about 7 different words that repeat themselves in that Psalm, it is in following God's ways that we are blessed. God wrote the rules for life in his book the Bible. That is what Hezekiah tried to do, to follow God according to the law he knew, and God blessed. I don't want to give the impression that the way to riches is through following God. We can prosper in many ways, health, long life, friends etc. I think when we seek riches our heart is on the wrong path.  God is looking on the condition of the heart, and God does not give us more than we can handle. Riches can be a downfall for many. God did bless Hezekiah for his faithfulness. Hezekiah humbled himself before God, sought God for direction and honored and praised God and led God's people back to the one true God. Hezekiah was a good King. I am listening for God's voice as I read in the Old Testament. What will God speak to me through his word. God bless, LVZ.