Even the best of us struggle with pride. This was no different for Hezekiah. Described as a righteous king, nonetheless he brought judgment on Judah for his pride. God's mercy is great to delay this judgment for a time, even a century, but judgment still came.

In this introduction to the book of Haggai we discover how divine oversight of God's people is crucial for His work to be done. With the LORD's eye on His elders, a church can thwart attempts to stop the work of the church and encourage one another to serve Him even through great obstacles.

In the midst of Assyria's aggression against Judah, King Hezekiah became mortally ill. What did he do? He took it to the LORD in prayer. Consider this amazing story of miracles showing the kindness of the LORD and the surety of His Word.

In this "longer ending" of the Gospel of Mark, the necessity of a divine encounter (for the disciples - Jesus; for us - the Holy Spirit) in order to come to faith is obvious. So, too, is the commission given to the church to "Preach the Gospel." When that Gospel is preached, God's work through the church is confirmed with the Presence of the Spirit of Jesus as He works through us in His people.

Whether it was the "secret" disciples Joseph and Nicodemus, the fearful women at the tomb, or the absent disciples, mankind certainly could not grasp or contribute to salvation or even evangelism without divine intervention and the Spirit of boldness that would be received at Pentecost. Divine intervention is absolutely necessary for our salvation and for the church's mission of making disciples!

Not only did God answer Hezekiah's prayer but He divinely intervened to rid Jerusalem of the Assyrian problem. The second greatest deliverance in Old Testament history is right here in this text. God sure loves His people to intervene so powerfully!

Jesus is amazing! Facing the envy of religious leaders, the control-hungry Pilate, a bloodthirsty crowd and savage soldiers, He submitted to the Father's plan of salvation. If we think we are any better than these sinners opposed to Jesus then we don't understand why Jesus did what He did. Boy did He love us!