2 Kings 20:5Easy To Read Version“Go back and speak to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestor [244] David says: I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears. So I will heal you. On the third day, you will go up to the temple of the Lord. See the chapter |
When Josiah was in his eighth year as king, he began to follow the God that David his ancestor followed. Josiah was still young when he began to obey God. When Josiah was in his twelfth year as king he began to destroy the high places {\cf2\super [421]} , the Asherah Poles, {\cf2\super [422]} and idols that were carved and idols that were made from molds from Judah and Jerusalem.
The Lord said, “You must obey the Lord, your God. You must do the things he says are right. If you obey all the Lord’s commands and laws, then you will not be sick like the Egyptians. I, the Lord, will not give you any of the sicknesses I gave the Egyptians. I am the Lord. I am the one who makes you well.”
Listen closely to the things I say.\par Listen to me so your souls will live.\par Come to me and I will make an agreement\par with you that will continue forever.\par It will be like the agreement\par that I made with David.\par I promised David that I would love him\par and be loyal to him forever.\par And you can trust that agreement.\par
God is the One who made all things. And all things are for his glory. God wanted to have many people to be his children and share his glory. So God did what he needed to do. He made perfect the One (Jesus) who leads those people to salvation. God made Jesus \{a\} perfect \{Savior\} through Jesus’ suffering.
Samuel took a jar of the special oil. Samuel poured the oil on Saul’s head. Samuel kissed Saul and said, “The Lord has anointed (chosen) you to be the leader over the people who belong to him. You will control the Lord’s people. You will save them from the enemies that are all around them. The Lord has anointed you to be ruler over his people. Here is a sign that will prove this is true: [105]
“At this time tomorrow I will send a man to you. He will be from the family group of Benjamin. You must anoint [98] him and make him the new leader over my people Israel. This man will save my people from the Philistines. I have seen my people suffering. I have listened to the cries from my people.”