Our example matters

We live in a dark world Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Hide it under a bushel? NO!!!

What does our bushel look like?

A tale of one city Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Matthew 23:37

We Begin with Hezekiah... Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. II Kings 18:1

Hezekiah was a notable king Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah prayed before the Lord… II Kings 19:14-15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it. II Kings 19:32 Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when [r]men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead. II Kings 19:35

Archeology backs up this story.

Hezekiah was a good king Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet II Chronicles 32:32

His son became a bad King So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son became king in his place. II King 20:21

Next came Amon and Josiah. Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel. II Chronicles 33:1-2 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son became king in his place. II Chronicles 33:20 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. II Chronicles 34:1-2

25 Years old 12 Years old 22 Years old 8 Years old

Hidden within that story is another one He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. II Chronicles 34:1-2

The same David? The David that lusted? The David that lied? The David that Committed adultery? The David that murdered?

The same David who said he was sorry. Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.” So Nathan went to his house. II Samuel 12:13-15

God’s words through Nathan the prophet However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme

Because YOUR example matters David! You are forgiven but there are consequences that forgiveness cannot erase.

25 Years old 12 Years old 22 Years old 8 Years old

Prayer of Manasseh When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. II Chronicles 33:13 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh even his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are among the records of the kings of Israel. II Chronicles 33:18

The Prayer of Manasseh You offer me, the sinner, the chance to change my heart and life, because my sins outnumbered the grains of sand by the sea. My sins are many, Lord; they are many. I am not worthy to look up, to gaze into heaven because of my many sins. Now, Lord, I suffer justly. I deserve the troubles I encounter.

To the best of our knowledge Manasseh was forgiven. Did Josiah see his Grandfather's repentance?

Our example matters Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

We are the light of the world. Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. II Kings 22:8