He Held Fast To The Lord

He Held Fast To The Lord 

II Kings 18:5-8 NKJV

[5] He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. [6] For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. [7] The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. [8] He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

To hold fast is described as a metaphor to  “be diligent,” “cling to,” or “take a firm grasp of.” It is based on the idea of gripping tightly to an object". It is reported that "hold fast" appears first in Deuteronomy 10:20: “Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.”  The phrase is also found in Deut. 11:22, as part of the condtional blessings of the Lord. The prase means , ".. to firmly cling to God's teachings and remain steadfast in.. faith, refusing to let go even during difficult times; it signifies a strong, unwavering commitment to God and his word, staying focused on him despite challenges or temptations that may arise". Think of this phrase as it relates to Hezekiah.

    Holding fast invovles:

 1.Active commitment:

It's not just a passive belief, but a conscious choice to actively follow God's guidance and live according to his principles. 

2. Resilience in trials:

Holding fast implies enduring through hardships and not abandoning your faith when faced with adversity. 

3. Focus on scripture:

Studying and applying the Bible is a key way to "hold fast" to the Lord, as it provides the foundation for ones faith. 

    Phil.2:16 is one of the New testament admonitions to hold fast the word of truth as a guiding light in life.Thats what Hezekiah did in his days. What are you holding unto in this age where people are craving for what is reigning and happening? One day in our city, a young man arrived with a bunch of young men and women for a  supposed crusade and teachings in the city. It was after he left, that the orgy of his visitation was opened. Hezekiah refused to be that kind. He held fast when several had to let go. No wonder God prospered him.

  In Joshua 22:5, God restates His interest in the phrase, "...walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul”. Hezekiah got it right, so will you today, in Jesus Name. Amen. Good morning.