2 Chronicles 32:1-20
We now read an account of the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. 2 Kings 18:13 tells us that this was in Hezekiah's fourteenth year of reign. The Assyrians initially encamped around Judah's fortified cities.
King Hezekiah and his advisers took several courses of action:
1. They decided to block up all the springs and water sources outside of Jerusalem. This would prevent a water source running through Judah and supplying water to the Assyrian army.
2. They built up the city defences and weapons and set army captains over the people.
3. Hezekiah called the people together in the city and encouraged them to trust in God to help them.
4. In response to messengers from King Sennacherib, taunting them that God would not be able to save them, we read that Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah 'prayed and cried to heaven'.
I particularly noticed in verse 8 that the people 'rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah'. (My study Bible suggests this also means 'strengthened'). This led my thoughts to consider, what it was that Hezekiah said, and then how we too can encourage each other.
Hezekiah comforted the fears of his people in Jerusalem by reminding them not only that the Lord their God was with them, but also of his greatness and power, 'there be more with us than with him (the enemy):with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles' (verses 7 & 8).
How could Hezekiah know this? He had believed and experienced it. His trust was in God. We see this in King David's life too. In one of his Psalms he writes, 'What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee' (Psalm 56:3). In a practical way he shows us this when enemies came to Ziklag, burned his and his men's homes and took their families captives. Although David's men in their great distress were threatening to stone David, we read, 'but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God' (1 Samuel 30:6).
How can we believe more strongly that God is our God and that he will help us?
Believing - or faith - is a gift from God. If we feel we have no faith, we can ask him. Do you feel like you believe but you are still so filled with doubt? Do you remember the man that fell at Jesus' feet and said, 'Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief'? (Mark 9: 24) .
Today, we don't see Jesus literally, but we have the Bible. I recently heard a minister* speak of the Bereans, in Acts 17: 11,12. He said to us that we may be very familiar with verse 11:
'These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so'....
... but, he asked, do you know what is in the verse following? 'Therefore many of them believed...' It was because of their searching the scripture - which is the living word of God - that they believed. This is encouragement to us to read and study our Bibles to have our faith strengthened.
This leads us onto my second thought, of then being able to speak of what we have been shown to others to comfort and encourage them. Paul writes,
'Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God' (2 Corinthians 1:3,4).
Maybe you feel that you don't know much, but if you have experienced anything of the Lord's love you have something you can share with others. I remember a time not long after I had been converted when I heard of a young man of godly parents who had died very suddenly. As my heart immediately went up to the Lord in complete bewilderment and feeling grief for this family, it was as if I felt his presence standing nearby, with comfort flowing from him, as if he was saying "Trust me...I know...it is well".
Are you too feeling bewilderment in this pandemic situation we find ourselves in today? Do you have troubles and difficulties for which you can see no help - or which seem greater than your abilities to cope? Tell Jesus....tell him all about it....ask him to help you...and although you may feel your prayers are unseen and unheard... look for the answers and praise and thank him when you see them. Strengthen and comfort yourself in reading his living words to you...and ask him to reveal himself to you through them.
*C. Warbuoys on 25/10/2020
Comments
Post a Comment