Hezekiah's first response to crisis was doubt. (2 Kings 18:13-16. He humbled himself to the king and sent tribute. He even stripped the gold off of the temple and sent to Assyria. In doubt, he took away from God and gave to a man, to appease him. When that did not work, he went to God in desperation. Because Hezekiah had been a righteous king who kept the covenant, the faithful God kept his part of the covenant. He had promised "the sword will not pass through your land". (Leviticus 26:6) This is a stark contrast to the Norther kingdom, which violated the covenant and fell to Assyria. 2Kings 17:7-18 took great pains to make that point. God is faithful. He kept the covenant in both cases, the blessing and the curse. He is still faithful, as he does not change. (Malachi 3:6) He will give eternal life to all who receive his Son as savior and lord. (John 3:16) he will deliver to hell all who do not receive his sin. (John 3:18)
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