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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">November 5, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>JUN
23 - 2 KINGS 18-21 - HEZEKIAH: REVIVAL AND EVIL AFTERMATH</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
18:3-4 (18:1-12, ESV) HEZEKIAH: THIRTEENTH KING OF JUDAH (SEVENTH
GOOD). <font size="3">“And he did what was right in the eyes of the
LORD, according to all that David his father had done. </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">4
</font><font size="3">He removed the high places and broke the pillars
and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent
that Moses had made, for until these days the people of Israel had
made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
we dedicate ourselves like Hezekiah, to remove all that offends You!
</span><b><i>Hallowed be your :Name!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>2.
18:35 (18:13-37) HEZEKIAH: INSULTED BY ASSYRIA. <font size="3">“Who
among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my
hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">What
foolish words! This man did not know You, Great Jehovah Elohim of
Israel! But we know You, and humbly bow before You in adoration and
say, </span><b><i>Your :kingdom come!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>3.
19:3 (19) HEZEKIAH: MIRACULOUSLY DELIVERED. <font size="3">They said
to Isaiah, “Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, of
rebuke, of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and
there is not strength to bring them forth.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">But
this was spoken before You came on the scene, Father! What victory
over Judah’s enemies You worked! And You are the same today! </span><b><i>Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>4.
20:6 (20:1-11) HEZEKIAH: SICKNESS AND HEALING. <font size="3">“And
I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this
city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this
city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">What
an amazing story and event! And what an amazing </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">sign</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
You granted Father, to confirm Your promise to Hezekiah. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>5.
20:16-17 (20:12-21) HEZEKIAH: PRIDE, PROPHECY AND DEATH. <font size="3">Then
Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">17
</font><font size="3">Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in
your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day,
shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD.”
</font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">What a sad legacy
Hezekiah left to his sons because of his pride! Father, strengthen us
in the time of victory, that we fall not in the hour of temptation.
</span><b><i>And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our
:debtors.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>6.
21:9 (21:1-18) NANASSEH: FOURTEENTH KING OF JUDAH. <font size="3">“But
they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil
that the nations had done whom the LORD destroyed before the people
of Israel.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">This king
was born in the 15 years of Hezekiah’s reprieve. Was he wise in
asking for these extra years? Father, help us to walk softly before
You, that we only ask that which is wise in Your sight. </span><b><i>And
bring us not into temptation!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>7.
21:20 (21:19-26) AMON: FIFTEENTH KING OF JUDAH. <font size="3">“And
he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his
father had done.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">What
two evil men did Josiah have as his predecessors! How do we explain
the sons of Hezekiah? And how do we explain Josiah? Father, we bless
You that these questions are </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u><span style="font-weight:normal">
our domain, but </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Yours</span></u><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</span><b><i>But deliver us from the evil </i>one!</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
18:11-12 (18:1-12) ISRAEL’S CAPTIVITY AND DEPORTATION. </b></span><b><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them
in Halah, and on the </span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">Habor,
the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">12
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">because
they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed
his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
They neither listened nor obeyed.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Did
this weigh on Your servant Hezekiah, Father? We are sure it did.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Of
all the kings of Judah, Hezekiah and Josiah - next to David - grip my
attention. These 3 only of the good kings of Judah - </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">removed</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
the </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">High Places</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">.
According to the Law of Types and Shadows - the High Places represent
the thoughts of our mind that have </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
been brought into the subjection of Christ! See 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
and Romans 12:1-2. Our thoughts </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">must
be</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">transformed</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
by the </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">renewing of
our minds</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
if we would become perfected in the sight of God. The majority of the
good kings of Judah did </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
remov</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">e</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
these high places, parallel to human thinking </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">set
above</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
the </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Word of God</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
for me is the high point in the life of Hezekiah, and the two others
- who are set above the remaining good kings of Judah.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">And
what other key lessons can we receive from the life of this good
king? When in great danger, he did not seek his own wisdom for
deliverance - but sought God through His prophet Isaiah. </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">This</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
no doubt pleased the LORD, for He miraculously delivered the king and
Judah from the vaunting threats of Assyria (now Iraq).</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">But
- with all his successes - Hezekiah was drawn away in pride, and
showed off his riches to those who were to become Judah’s
punishment for their sin of following evil rulers. And - Hezekiah
said, “At least God’s judgment for my pride will not take place
in </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">my</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
lifetime! But what of his sons and grandsons?</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
chapter from Proverbs for the day: 23:13-14 (23) PROVERBS FROM
SOLOMON. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Do
not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod,
he will not die. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">14
</span></font><font size="4"><span style="text-decoration:none">If you
strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">The
rod of instruction applied to the seat of learning, produces wisdom
in a child, in spite of what modern pedagogy says! Father, we honor
Your Word, and by doing so, </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallow
your :name!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
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