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Daily Devotion: Isaiah 37:14-16

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Isaiah 37:14-16     "And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.  (15)  And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,  (16)  O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth."

There is a principle that is taught in these verses that apply to us today. We saw yesterday that Hezekiah took his burden to the Lord and spread it out before God. He began to pray with a fervency. Aren't you thankful that we have an open access to the very throne of grace? Isn't it wonderful that the Lord has told us that He cares for us and we are to humble ourselves before Him, casting all our cares upon Him? (1 Peter 5:6-7) Aren't you thankful that we can go boldly in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to that throne and there find mercy and grace to help in time of need? (Hebrews 4:16) Hezekiah understood this and did not hesitate to take all of this struggle to the Lord. He also understood another principle in part. He addressed the Lord as the "LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims." Why would he use this terminology? Hezekiah understood that it was between the cherubims that the high priest would enter each year to sprinkle the blood of atonement. He was pleading the blood of the slain lamb as he approached the Lord.

As you read the remaining portion of the chapter, you see Hezekiah acknowledging that Rabshakeh had spoken the truth in that the gods of the other lands could not deliver those people. But those gods ",,, were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them." Hezekiah was not approaching the Lord because of his goodness, even though he had restored true worship in the land. He was not approaching the Lord based on anything about the nation of Israel or Judah. He was not approaching the Lord based on anything that had happened in the past. No, he approached the Lord because of the shed blood and in need of God's mercy and grace. His purpose for this prayer is found in verse 20:  " Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only."   His only desire for deliverance was that others would know the God, he served, is the true and living God. We have open access unto the throne of grace, not because of our own goodness; rather, through the shed blood of THE Lamb of God, Jesus Christ the Lord. He is the door that is opened in heaven for us, by faith, to enter the presence of God.

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