Read 2
Kings 15-17 & John
6:1-21
To discover:
As you read consider Hezekiah’s
qualities.
To ponder:
A wicked father doesn’t necessarily
mean a wicked son. So Ahaz, Judah’s
worst king is followed by Hezekiah, Judah’s
best. He went beyond others, doing as David did and finally removing all objects
of false worship. Indeed, he “trusted” and so obeyed God like no other king.
The LORD was therefore with him so he succeeded in everything.
Nevertheless,
when Assyria captured all Judah’s
fortified cities because Hezekiah rebelled against them, Hezekiah said he’d
done wrong and paid the Assyrian king to withdraw with riches from the temple. In
the light of what follows, we are probably to understand this as a surprising
lapse of faith.
Sennacherib,
the Assyrian king sent a large army to Jerusalem.
His top men addressed Hezekiah, his administrator, and his recorder, who presumably
recorded the speech. Its dominant theme is to question Hezekiah’s “dependence”
on the LORD, potentially sowing doubt. The commander assumes Hezekiah is relying
on Egypt, who,
he says, will only bring him harm. He also assumes Hezekiah has offended God by
removing “his” high places and requiring everyone to worship in Jerusalem.
He then declares God had sent him against Judah
(and the LORD had used Assyria against Israel).
Hezekiah’s men ask the commander to speak in Aramaic so those on Jerusalem’s
wall don’t understand. This prompts him to continue in Hebrew and address the
people directly, telling them Hezekiah can’t deliver them and that they
shouldn’t be persuaded to trust the LORD. In the Assyrian king’s name he then
offers the people a clear alternative to God’s covenant: a prosperous land if
they make peace and “choose life” (see Deut 30v9-20). He repeats that none of
the gods of other countries had been able to save their peoples. Throughout,
the Assyrian king is like Satan who breeds doubt and falsely promises all sorts
of goods that only God can ensure. The speech raises the question as to who is
truly able to save.
Rather
than seek an alliance or try to pay more, Hezekiah responds as every previous
king should have done. He mourns and turns to God by going to the temple and
God’s prophet. He isn’t certain God will act, perhaps because of Judah’s
history. But his concern is that God is being ridiculed, and he asks Isaiah to
pray for the “remnant” – a key term, describing the small group of God’s people
still surviving. God’s response is immediate. He tells Hezekiah not to fear,
acknowledges that he has heard what the Assyrians said, and promises he will
ensure the commander returns to his country where he will be cut down for his
blasphemy. The record of this happening is almost complacent (19v8), stressing how
easy it is for the LORD to deliver his people.
It
seems that the Assyrian army remains. Hearing that Egypt are advancing against
him, Sennacherib, possibly worried about an alliance, sends messengers with a
letter urging Hezekiah not to depend on the LORD, and again pointing to the
defeat of the gods of other nations. Once more Hezekiah goes to the temple,
spreading the letter out before God. And this time he prays, rightly acknowledging
God is “over” all kingdoms and that the gods of other nations are mere idols.
Provoked that God is being insulted, he prays for deliverance, but not
primarily for Judah’s
sake, but so “all the kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are
God.” Likewise, our prayers are to reflect the greatest prayer: “Hallowed be
your name.”
Isaiah brings
word God has heard Hezekiah. The people of Jerusalem
are a “Virgin daughter” mocking the Assyrian king because he has so proudly
raised his voice against her, holy, and so supremely majestic, God. Indeed, God
declares the king has only achieved what he has because God “ordained” it. The
“hook” and “bit” refer to how Assyria would lead
captives away like animals. So God promises that “for the sake of David” he will
drag Assyria back, ensuring they will not besiege Jerusalem.
And although food will initially be scarce, God’s provision from the land in
the next two years will be a sign that a surviving “remnant” will then enjoy
the fruit of the land again. Immediately, “that night,” this happens. God’s
angel miraculously kills 185,000 of the Assyrian army, so Sennacherib withdraws
and is later assassinated. God is well able to deliver those who turn to him.
Praying it home:
Praise God for that he is fully
able to save and that no power can stand against him. Pray that you and others
you know would not be tempted to doubt, looking anywhere but to him for
salvation.
Thinking further:
None today.
If you receive this post by
email, visit bible2014.blogspot.co.uk
and make a comment.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment