WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART?

However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

II Chronicles 32:31 NKJV

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The story of Hezekiah is a bitter-sweet one. He had come to power very young (age 25) and had made quite an extensive reform and restoration. Read chapters 29 to 32.

After Yahweh warned him to set his affairs right because he was going die, he cried out to the Almighty, Who gave him 15 more years. Then enemies from Babylon came to him and the king showed them everything that was in his house and in his dominion.

Read II Kings 20:12-19

It was here that Isaiah confronted him and told him what would happen as a result of his actions. The prophet revealed that Elohim had removed Himself during that visit to "know" what was in his heart.

Doesn't Yah know all things? Isn't He omniscient? If so, why would He need to "know" what was in the King's heart?

The truth is, Yahweh allowed the enemies to test Hezekiah to reveal what was in his heart. The Hebrew word translated "know", has many other translations including "bring forth, make known, show, teach, tell and indicate." The knowing was for Hezekiah, not the Omniscient One.

Sometimes Yah withdraws Himself from us and allows the enemy of our souls to test us that He might reveal to us our hearts. Sometimes we think we have overcome a weakness, gotten past an issue, or reached a particular spiritual attainment but the All-knowing One knows better. He steps back (proverbially) to unveil to us that there are flaws in our character that need to be addressed. Sometimes it is to humble us too, for we might boast of our achievements and He knows that pride leads to a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Hear Yahweh to Israel:

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’

Deuteronomy 8:2, 16‭-‬17 NKJV

Two things this test revealed about Hezekiah was a self-centred attitude and a lack of shepherd's care for his people. When the prophet told him of what would become of Jerusalem as a result of what he did, this was his response: “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”

II Kings 20:19 NKJV

Sad ee?

Let's daily ask the Holy Spirit to check our hearts and when He reveals the truth about us let's not rebel but submit, so that He can do the work of grace and transformation.

Yah bless!

D. L. N.

August 20, 2020.