The Lord my Master, the Holy One of Israel, says, “If you come back to me you will be saved. The only strength you have will come if you trust me. But you must be calm.”
Those men from the family groups of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad prayed to God in the war. They asked God to help them because they trusted him. So God helped them. God allowed them to defeat the Hagrite people. And they also defeated those other people who were with the Hagrite people.
The Ethiopians and the Libyans had a very large and powerful army. They had many chariots {\cf2\super [199]} and chariot drivers. But Asa, you depended on the Lord to help you defeat that large powerful army, and the Lord let you defeat them.
The king of Assyria only has men. But we have the Lord our God with us! Our God will help us. He will fight our battles!” So Hezekiah king of Judah encouraged the people and made them feel stronger.
In the past God spoke to those people, and he said, “Here is a resting place. This is the peaceful place. Let the tired people come and rest. This is the place of peace.”
But people that trust the Lord\par become strong again\par like eagles that grow new feathers.\par These people run without becoming weak.\par These people walk without becoming tired.\par
Who let people take the wealth from Jacob and Israel? The Lord allowed them to do this! We sinned against the Lord. So the Lord allowed people to take away our wealth. The people of Israel did not want to live the way the Lord wanted. The people of Israel did not listen to his teaching.
All you people in faraway places should \{stop following those false gods\}. You should follow me and be saved. I am God. There is no other God. I am the only God.
“Tell Ahaz, ‘Be careful, but be calm. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let those two men, Rezin and Remaliah’s son, {\cf2\super [78]} scare you! Those men are like two burnt sticks. In the past they were burning hot. But now they are only smoke. Rezin, Aram, and Remaliah’s son are angry.
But you will never again use the expression, ‘The announcement (heavy load) of the Lord.’ This is because the Lord’s message should not be a heavy load for anyone. But you changed the words of our God. He is the living God, the Lord All-Powerful!
The king invited some people to the feast. When the feast was ready, the king sent his servants to tell those people to come. But the people refused to come to the king’s feast.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. {\cf2\super [361]} You kill with rocks those men that God sent to you. Many, many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather your people together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. {\cf2\super [250]} You kill with rocks those men that God has sent you. Many, many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather your people together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me.
Be careful and don’t refuse to listen when God speaks. Those people (Israelites) refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth. And those people did not escape. Now God is speaking from heaven. So now it will be worse for those people who refuse to listen to him.