Song of Redemption (Chronicles of the Kings #2)

by Lynn Austin

"It's too easy to believe in our own importance when we're surrounded by our own creations all day."

morning when I saw how foggy it was. The mountains were nowhere in sight." "Yet you know they're still there, just as Yahweh is still faithfully surrounding our nation, even though our sin and idolatry have hidden Him from sight."

"You pray. And you allow the Lord to be your strength. Remember-the Lord doesn't give you strength, Hezekiah. He is your strength."

"'Deliver me from my enemies, 0 God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men.... But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."'

"If you renew Judah's covenant with God," Zechariah said, "then God's part of that covenant requires Him to deliver us from all our enemies"

Love for God is never instant. It has to grow and mature just like any other kind of love. The struggle is always with our will."

When we feel unworthy in His presence it's because we glimpse His holiness. You obeyed the Law, and He revealed His holiness to you"

As long as you continue to seek Him, son, your love will continue to grow. And as you express your love for Him through obedience, He'll reveal more of himself to you."

The only way to grow in faith is to put your faith to the test. You must place yourself in His hands and let Him prove himself faithful. Unless you make up your mind to trust Him, you'll never know that Yahweh is faithful."

`When you go through deep water, Yahweh will go with you. And when you ford mighty rivers, they won't overwhelm you. When you pass through the fire, you won't be burned. The flames will not hurt you. For Yahweh is your God. The Holy One of Israel is your Savior. Hezekiah stared at his grandfather as the truth struck him. "That prophecy wasn't just for me, ...

Yahweh never promised that your life would be without problems. But meditate on what He has promised. Let it be your strength. God will never leave you or forsake you. He commands you not to be afraid, so to be fearful is to doubt God. And that is a sin."

Let him question his faith. Let him voice his doubts. You've taught him well, both with your words and by your example. His questions will make his faith stronger in the end. I know that his love for you is very, very deep.

God's Law often disagreed with human reasoning.

"'Find rest, 0 my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken"'

Worship of Yahweh without heartfelt commitment only leads to empty ritual. The Lord says, `These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."'

But when we only believe in things we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands, it is idolatry. Faith in God meant believing the unseen.

"We have heard with our ears, 0 God-our fathers have told us what you did in their days, long ago. You drove out the nations with your hand and planted our fathers here. You crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. "You are my King and my God, who decrees all our victories. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I don't trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, You put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. "Hear 0 Israel, Yahweh is our God. Yahweh alone."