2Ki 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
My notes beside this verse ask the question, was Hezekiah being selfish? Is wanting peace during his time on earth while knowing that perilous times would befall his descendants how the Lord would have him to think?
And the companion verse...
Isa 39:8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.
Gill's take: he said moreover, for there shall be peace and truth in my days; or a confirmed peace, lasting prosperity, peace in the state, and truth in the church, plenty of temporal mercies, and the truth of doctrine and worship, which he understood by the prophet would continue in his days, and for which he was thankful; not that he was unconcerned about posterity, but inasmuch as it must be, what was foretold, and which he could not object to as unjust, he looked upon it as a mercy to him that there was a delay of it to future times; or it may be considered as a wish, "O that there were peace" (g), &c.
What a battle...not desiring evil to befall the coming generations, but desiring peace for oneself. Truth in my generation...how fervently do I pray for it? Am I more focused on self versus the glorification of God? O Lord, help Your people to pray with fervent hearts, poured out to You. Seeking and calling upon Your name. Asking for Your mercies, Your guidance and Wisdom. Praying for peace and truth to prevail in this season of time. O Lord, awaken Your Bride, stir her to be ever watchful and diligent to proclaim Your truth, to speak Your Word.
O Father, raise up godly men and women to boldly stand for Your truth, to press into the throne room of Grace, petitioning for Your wisdom and power, might and mercy. O Lord, raise up bold warriors for Your kingdom. God help us to want to know Your heart, to proclaim it with fervency and boldness. Cleanse Your bride and prepare her for the work that lies before us.
Just one more God among those whose lands they had already conquered...
2Ki 17:27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
Pray to all of them...keep *them* happy...the gods of those lands you have conquered...how wrapped up in our *gods* are we? Where are we allowing competition, favor, desire, passion for something, or someone, to turn our attention away from the Sovereign?
2Ki 17:30 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
2Ki 17:31 And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
2Ki 17:32 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
2Ki 17:33 They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
Feared? H3372 - A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten.
They were afraid of the LORD, so they served their own gods? Gill's commentary on 32 and 33 is good. The gist of what I took from it...they worshipped as they had learned. So what have we learned? Do we take at face value all the rites and rituals of religion? Do we examine them against Scripture? Can we substantiate by the Word why we do or believe something?
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