2 Kings 19:25a - God is Omniscient and Immutable.

2 Kings 19:25a; God is Omniscient and Immutable.

2 Ki 19:25a (NRSV)  Have you not heard that I determined it long 
ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass,  

2 Ki 19:25a (TEV)  Have you never heard that I planned all this 
long ago?  And now I have carried it out.   

CONTEXT

Hezekiah's Prayer
God Answers Hezekiah
God's Answer through Isaiah
Isaiah Predicts Judah's Deliverance
Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib's Fall  (19:20-37)
Isaiah's Prophecy Against King Sennacherib of Assyria--Isaiah 
37:21-38 

CROSS REFERENCES

Isaiah 37:26 (KJV)  Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have 
done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I 
brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities 
into ruinous heaps.  

Isa 46:9, 10 (NIV)  Remember the former things, those of long 
ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none 
like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, 
what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do 
all that I please.  

Psalm 33:11 (KJV)  The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, 
the thoughts of his heart to all generations.  

COMMENTARY / APPLICATION

Overview: Hezekiah's godly character is praised (18:1-8). He 
rebelled against Assyria, leading to an invasion by Shalmaneser and 
destruction of many fortified cities (vv. 9-16). But when Hezekiah appealed 
to the LORD, Assyria was turned away from Jerusalem (v. 17-19:37), 
and the Southern Kingdom was preserved. The account of Hezekiah 
concludes with the story of an earlier healing and an unwise welcome of 
envoys from Babylon (20:1-21). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

Background: The material on Hezekiah is organized by theme 
rather than chronology. His healing (2 Kings 20) took place before the 
Assyrian invasion (2 Kings 18-19). 
Hezekiah's first years of independent rule, from about 715 to 
705 B.C, were spent in religious reforms. He then boldly rebelled 
against Assyria, which was weakened by internal strife. He attacked and 
defeated Assyria's vassal, Philistia, and set about strengthening Judah's 
defenses. In 701 B.C. a new ruler, Sennacherib, turned to the west to deal 
with the rebel coalition headed by Judah and supported by Egypt. The 
Assyrians swept along the seacoast and attacked Judah from the west, 
destroying the key fortified city of Lachish. Sennacherib then prepared to 
attack Jerusalem. The dramatic story of how he was turned back is told 
in 2 Kings 19-20, and again in 2 Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 36-39. 
Sennacherib never returned to Judah. Twenty years later he was assassinated 
by two of his sons. 
Pictorial reliefs of the siege of Lachish decorate Sennacherib's 
palace in Assyria. Assyrian records detail the spoil taken from Judah 
(cf. 2 Kings 18:14) and claim to have "shut Hezekiah up like a caged 
bird in Jerusalem." But the great king failed to take Judah's capital 
before rushing home. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

The Lord is now giving His answer to the Assyrian king. After 
all Sennacherib's boasting as to what he would do, the Lord asks him 
if he has not heard that Jehovah has the destiny of nations under 
His control, and that every nation occupies its place only as 
permitted to do so by Him. At that time the Assyrians were His tool for 
the carrying out of His purposes. [SDA Commentary] 

God replied to Sennacherib's taunting words (18:19-25), 
indicting him for arrogance. Sennacherib believed his kingdom had grown 
because of his own efforts and strength. In reality, said God, he 
succeeded only because of what God had allowed and caused. It is arrogance 
to think we are solely responsible for our achievements. God, as 
Creator, rules over nations and people. [Life Application SB] 

"Why?" we wonder as we struggle to put the pieces back in a 
broken relationship. 
"Why?" we think as we read of a devastating earthquake halfway 
around the world. 
"Why?" we cry as we stand at the grave of a loved one.
Life is short and sometimes tragic, and each day we are reminded 
of our finiteness. We don't know the future, we don't know the 
relationship between events, and we certainly don't know why. 
But we do know that God is good and all-knowing - nothing 
catches him by surprise, not the car out of control, the malignant 
tumor, the hurricane, or the disease. So even as we wonder and question 
the reason and cause for each event, we can be confident that God 
knows and that in everything, even the senseless tragedy, he is 
working. (From On Eagle's Wings by Dave Veerman) [Inspirational SB] 

One of the items in Ripley's Believe It or Not is a picture of a 
plain bar of iron. It is valued at $5. The same bar of iron has a far 
different value, however, if it is fashioned into different items. 
As a pair of horse shoes, it would be worth $50.
Made into sewing needles, it would be worth $5,000.
Formed into balance springs for fine Swiss watches, it would be 
worth $500,000. 
The raw material is not what is important. What's important is 
how the raw material is developed! 
To each of us has been given talents and abilities--some have 
received more, others less, but all have received some unique gift from 
God. As Christians, we also enjoy spiritual gifts which flow from the 
Holy Spirit of God. 
The value of these raw materials, however, is moot unless we 
develop and use our talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts as a force 
for divine good in this world. 
If you don't know what your abilities and gifts are, ask God to 
reveal them to you. Then ask Him to show you what He wants you to do 
with them and begin doing it. Your happiness and success in life will 
be found in fulfilling His plan for your life. [God's Little 
Devotional Bible] 

If this verse is true, and it most certainly is, why do we so 
often disregard God?  Do we treat Him with a token quiet time some 
days?  Do we run to Him in a crisis and ignore Him when things are 
running smoothly?  What we need to understand is that God created the 
earth with His Word; He determines the times and places of each 
person's life;  He knows the number of hairs on our head;  He ordained 
the number of days of each life and wrote them in His book.  What 
would/could the Christian life be like if we were able to live in a 
continuous attitude of prayer with God; if we continuously acknowledged His 
presence; if we remained in an on-going posture of listening for His 
voice.  Be thankful that each day brings new beginning.  Today we have 
the opportunity to start over and make Jesus top priority!  Let's do 
it! [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]