September 17, 2010
Hezekiah.
Where do I start? Hezekiah trusted the LORD. He was loyal. He obeyed the commands given to Moses. Of all the kings of Judah, no one was like him. The LORD was with him so he had success in everything he did. That is an interesting statement since he definitely had troubles. We (people) tend to view success as meaning the absence of problems. It doesn't mean that at all. Success is perseverance, overcoming, happiness, etc. in spite of our problems. Success is God's will being done. I have the following written at the top of my journal page: "Success is not the absence of problems. Success is God's will being done in spite of problems."
The king of Assyria captured the Israelites and took them captive and away to Assyria. "This happened because they did not obey the LORD their God." Years later a new king of Assyria attacks Judah. Hezekiah saw what the king of Assyria did to Israel, and now this king was coming after them. Hezekiah tries to ward off the attack by giving him silver from the temple and gold from the doors, a gift he had given to the temple. Hezekiah gave from himself to try and avoid the attack; but it didn't work.
Assyria sent men to confront Hezekiah. They stood and shouted their words at a place where all could hear. They threatened, they made fun of, they belittled, they humiliated, they tried to scare the people. They were hoping the fear and public humiliation would cause the people to crumble from the inside out. Then they would enjoy the spoils of the havoc they created. The men shouted, "Who can you trust? You say you have plans... but your words mean nothing. Who do you think you can go to for help against us? You go to someone else for help and it's only going to hurt you! You think you can depend on God? Why, Hezekiah destroyed the places of worship and has said you can only worship in Jerusalem." (The interesting thing here is that the king of Assyria didn't get it. Those places of "worship" that Hezekiah destroyed were place for idol worship. Hezekiah was following God's instructions. Jerusalem is where they were supposed to worship. Assyria had no idea what or who the LORD was.)
The men ranted on. "Don't listen to Hezekiah. He can't help you. Don't listen to him saying the LORD will help you. Don't let him fool you. Don't listen to Hezekiah. Listen to the king of Assyria! He is offering you peace. Come to him and he will make you free. He'll give you food to eat, water to drink. Stay with Hezekiah and you will have to eat your own dung and drink your own urine. Choose to live and not die." (A lie from the pit of hell. It sounds good but it was meant for their destruction. Sounds like TRUTH that comes from God but it was a counterfeit lie.) "Make an agreement with us. We will give you two thousand horses... if you can find enough men to ride them." (Gotta love the sarcasm and the way they were putting them down even as they were offering this "gift" to them.)
And then the men throw in what they think will really crush any last piece of resistance. "I have not come to attack this place without an order from the LORD. The LORD himself told me to come to this country and destroy it." (Notice they don't say god, they say "the LORD" which is Judah's God. They've just said the "the LORD" said to destroy Judah. If that was true, then why are they offering peace?)
They continue on. "Don't listen to Hezekiah. He is fooling you when he says 'the LORD will save us.' Has any other god been successful against me? (No!) Did God save Israel from me? (No!) Not one of all the gods of these countries has saved his people from me. (That was true—not a single one!) Neither can the LORD save Jerusalem from my power."
Pretty strong argument. They were right. No one had been successful in defending their attacks in the past. Why would it be any different this time? The men from Assyria held nothing back. They could have spoken to Hezekiah privately. They didn't. They could have spoken in their own language. They didn't. They instead did everything they could in their attempt to control Judah. They used fear, public humiliation, lies, intimidation, promises of peace, and even used the name of the LORD to further their agenda. They tried to undermine Hezekiah's leadership and abilities. They poked fun at them with a long list of insults.
The intent of man—verses—the will of God. Put your faith and trust in the LORD. HE will be your strength, your shield, and your protector.
Next Entry: II Kings 19:1 – 21:26
Hezekiah.
Where do I start? Hezekiah trusted the LORD. He was loyal. He obeyed the commands given to Moses. Of all the kings of Judah, no one was like him. The LORD was with him so he had success in everything he did. That is an interesting statement since he definitely had troubles. We (people) tend to view success as meaning the absence of problems. It doesn't mean that at all. Success is perseverance, overcoming, happiness, etc. in spite of our problems. Success is God's will being done. I have the following written at the top of my journal page: "Success is not the absence of problems. Success is God's will being done in spite of problems."
The king of Assyria captured the Israelites and took them captive and away to Assyria. "This happened because they did not obey the LORD their God." Years later a new king of Assyria attacks Judah. Hezekiah saw what the king of Assyria did to Israel, and now this king was coming after them. Hezekiah tries to ward off the attack by giving him silver from the temple and gold from the doors, a gift he had given to the temple. Hezekiah gave from himself to try and avoid the attack; but it didn't work.
Assyria sent men to confront Hezekiah. They stood and shouted their words at a place where all could hear. They threatened, they made fun of, they belittled, they humiliated, they tried to scare the people. They were hoping the fear and public humiliation would cause the people to crumble from the inside out. Then they would enjoy the spoils of the havoc they created. The men shouted, "Who can you trust? You say you have plans... but your words mean nothing. Who do you think you can go to for help against us? You go to someone else for help and it's only going to hurt you! You think you can depend on God? Why, Hezekiah destroyed the places of worship and has said you can only worship in Jerusalem." (The interesting thing here is that the king of Assyria didn't get it. Those places of "worship" that Hezekiah destroyed were place for idol worship. Hezekiah was following God's instructions. Jerusalem is where they were supposed to worship. Assyria had no idea what or who the LORD was.)
The men ranted on. "Don't listen to Hezekiah. He can't help you. Don't listen to him saying the LORD will help you. Don't let him fool you. Don't listen to Hezekiah. Listen to the king of Assyria! He is offering you peace. Come to him and he will make you free. He'll give you food to eat, water to drink. Stay with Hezekiah and you will have to eat your own dung and drink your own urine. Choose to live and not die." (A lie from the pit of hell. It sounds good but it was meant for their destruction. Sounds like TRUTH that comes from God but it was a counterfeit lie.) "Make an agreement with us. We will give you two thousand horses... if you can find enough men to ride them." (Gotta love the sarcasm and the way they were putting them down even as they were offering this "gift" to them.)
And then the men throw in what they think will really crush any last piece of resistance. "I have not come to attack this place without an order from the LORD. The LORD himself told me to come to this country and destroy it." (Notice they don't say god, they say "the LORD" which is Judah's God. They've just said the "the LORD" said to destroy Judah. If that was true, then why are they offering peace?)
They continue on. "Don't listen to Hezekiah. He is fooling you when he says 'the LORD will save us.' Has any other god been successful against me? (No!) Did God save Israel from me? (No!) Not one of all the gods of these countries has saved his people from me. (That was true—not a single one!) Neither can the LORD save Jerusalem from my power."
Pretty strong argument. They were right. No one had been successful in defending their attacks in the past. Why would it be any different this time? The men from Assyria held nothing back. They could have spoken to Hezekiah privately. They didn't. They could have spoken in their own language. They didn't. They instead did everything they could in their attempt to control Judah. They used fear, public humiliation, lies, intimidation, promises of peace, and even used the name of the LORD to further their agenda. They tried to undermine Hezekiah's leadership and abilities. They poked fun at them with a long list of insults.
The intent of man—verses—the will of God. Put your faith and trust in the LORD. HE will be your strength, your shield, and your protector.
Next Entry: II Kings 19:1 – 21:26
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