The Gospel According to Hezekiah

Friday’s Reading: Isaiah 38 & Revelation 8

• Isaiah 38:17, Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

God brought physical pain came into Hezekiah’s life so that he could learn about spiritual deliverance. Hezekiah’s problems brought him great bitterness but they also brought him to God.  He tasted the love of God according to which Hezekiah’s life was delivered. What is amazing is the statement concerning how this deliverance happened.  Hezekiah’s life was delivered from death because God cast all his sins behind His back.  Life is a product of the forgiveness of sins.  Death is a product of the presence of sins.

• Romans 3:21-26, But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God passed over the sins of Hezekiah because God knew about the sacrifice and atoning righteous of Jesus for all who believe.  Jesus would take Hezekiah’s place and Hezekiah would receive Jesus’ rightousness. As I type I am aware of the glorious fact that Jesus took my place and I have received Jesus’ righteousness. Jesus took all of God’s wrath that I deserved; he is my propitiation.  Jesus gives me his perfect obedience; he gives me the righteousness of God. I am justified by His grace as a gift.  What a marvelous gift it is!

Father, I thank You for the free grace that is given me in Jesus Christ. That a sinner condemned unclean could be made into the righteousness of God is an unfathomable thought.  I am justified. I am right with You. And all of this because of Jesus Christ.  My Savior is perfect and amazing. My Savior is strong and faithful.  No man or group of men could have thought up a Savior half as glorious and faithful as Jesus Christ. God, Your holiness and love are so great.  Thank You for saving me through Jesus Christ. Thank You for casting all my sins behind Your back.  Thank You for the life changing completely atoning work of Jesus Christ.

Thank You for Jesus

Amen