READ: Isaiah 36-37.
Verses chosen for meditation: Isa 37:17, 20.
17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your
eyes, O Lord,
and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock
the living God.
20 So now, O Lord our God, save us
from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are
the Lord.”
REFLECT
Isaiah 36-37 recorded that
the Assyrian armies had trapped the people of Jerusalem inside its walls, where
they faced the hopeless prospect of a starvation-inducing siege during Assyria’s
attack on Judah.
The Assyrian’s Commander
Rabshakeh had used fear as part of his psychological warfare’s strategy on his
enemy. He invoked all kinds of sarcastic insults at the people. He even falsely
claimed
that Yahweh Himself supported Assyrian’s attack on Judah (Isa 36:10 - partially true as a form of punishment, due to the Israelites' disobedience).
All insults, including the
mocking to the Holy One of Israel had
intended to cause fear, to doubt God’s character
and might to deliver the people from their enemy. Contrary, fear and
faith in Yahweh are the consistent theme and message preached by Isaiah. His
warning throughout was for Judah to trust in Yahweh alone, not Egypt, human
wisdom, or military strength.
Similarly, when confronted with attacks on our faith,
sometimes even threat to our lives from the evil one, can we still boast and declare
that God is our Deliverer and Defender?
RELATE
Confidence in God is often
shaken by fear because of Satan’s lies, abuses, and insults. For example, lie such as “Your God has forgotten you”,
gives rise to our fears. Worst of all, the evil one attacks us by magnifying
the sense of fear (as seen in Isa 36:11-12).
Yes, fear is indeed real, but God does not want us to live in fear; instead
to have complete dependence and faith in Him alone. Hezekiah’s
reaction recorded in Isa 37:1-5 was fitting. He did not allow Judah’s desperate
situation to grief him and spin him into a rejection of the Lord’s power and
help. He knew this was a more necessary time than ever to seek the Lord. The
leader king chose to shift his focus from fear to faith, turning and leading
the nation Godward to trust in the Almighty God. He “spread the threatening
letter before the Lord” (more threats in letter form) in prayer (Isa 37:14), saying:
“Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned
between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth” (Isa. 37:16,
20).
What a powerful declaration (just as Apostle Paul describes in 2 Cor 4:7-8) - “We
are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; .. . .
.”
Hezekiah’s prayer was not an appeal to rescue Judah for their own sake
but as a defence of God’s own honour. God will arise to defend His reputation
(see Isa 33:10). Now, God was taking the mocking personally because He is Holy
and not to be blasphemed! He does not favour those who are proud and Godless. See,
His strong words in response to the Assyrian king through Isaiah: “‘Whom have you mocked and reviled? …..
Against the Holy One of Israel! (Isa 37:23). Comfort and
assurance came, in v.35 - “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and
for the sake of David my servant!”
Hezekiah also had a stronger reason to trust Yahweh. While the gods
of the nations were unable to deliver them, his dependence and conviction was
that he served the true God of Israel (vv.19-20), not an idol made of
human hands (Isa 41:23, 29; 44:9-20). No threats can stand against the Sovereign
Lord of heaven and earth. The Lord then proved His Might and executed judgement
on Assyria by
destroying Sennacherib and his army (vv. 36-38).
Friends, no matter what dangers loom on your horizon today, the God
of Hezekiah and Isaiah still reigns. The Lord longs to hear from each of us and
show Himself powerful. When face with fear, let’s depend on our unchanging God
and turn to Him in prayers. This is the only proper response to a threat to our
person or faith.
REST
The LORD protects and defends me; I trust in him. He gives me help and makes me glad; I praise him with joyful songs (Psalm 28:7 GNT). Amen.
Vincent
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