I bet you have a favorite movie. One you can quote while it's on. Maybe it drives someone crazy as you watch it together. But you can probably also conjure it up in your mind... like it's being acted out on a tiny screen in your brain when anyone even mentions it. And you can hear the dialogue spoken back and forth between the characters. Maybe you even have a friend or family member that you know... that you've spent so much time around that you can almost do the same of them. You know, like they are a character in a movie you've seen a bunch. And you can just conjure up on a little screen in your brain exactly what they look like and every word they might say in a specific circumstance. You can probably almost predict a certain phrase they will use, or how they will react in any given moment, in most any circumstance. Simply because you know them and you've spent a lot of time listening to them. That's honestly what came to mind as I read about how well King Hezekiah predicted what would happen when the king of Assyria sent his messengers to wage war on the people of his country, Judah. Like he'd been witness to, and seen the behavior of, the king of Assyria long enough that he could do that same thing. Did you get that sense today... when reading about the threat from 2 Kings 18, or Isaiah 36? Because actually, I thought it was pretty amazing. This awful king of Assyria... he's basically the bully of the story, had been going around taking over all the territories surrounding Judah. And it would seem that no one could withstand him, or his army. So as he approaches Judah, King Hezekiah begins the preparations. First he has the water cut off outside the city so the Assyrian troops have no access to the springs. Next... And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the (landfill)... and made weapons and shields in abundance. Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:5-8 NKJV Now, I thought that was a pretty incredible list of things that the king set about doing to prepare his people for this threat of war from Assyria. But as it turns out... this encouragement obviously must have included something more; some specific instruction to the people that was not detailed in this text. Because the Assyrian king sent his messengers to basically bully the people... Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! Thus says the king: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand; nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”’ 2 Kings 18:28-30 Did you get that? The message from King Sennacherib, sent through his military officers... was shouted from the walls of Judah to all it's people, telling them not to let their very own king deceive them. Good old fashioned mud slinging at it's best, way back in the Bible. One king saying that the other king couldn't be trusted. That King Hezekiah wasn't shooting straight with his very own people. These messengers tried to present their GREAT Assyrian King, promising a better life, deliverance from fear, if only the people would come willingly. But they were certain also, to advise them NOT to listen to local authorities. And if any mention of God saving them had been given, they were not to trust it. For it all had been spoken to deceive them. "Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying... The Lord will rescue us!’ 2 Kings 18:32 And good old Hezekiah... I'm so glad he'd seen this movie before. While I'm pretty sure it wasn't one of his favorities, he sure had the dialogue memorized. Because he had played it for his people on the tiny screens in their brain before these messengers ever showed up. And when this propaganda of fear was winding up it's conclusion, comparing Judah to the fallen nations nearby... Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’” But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” 2 Kings 18:35-36 Good leaders know good dialogue. And King Hezekiah was certainly a good leader. For he had unified his people before the threat presented itself. Strengthen, built up and armed them, not only with weapons, but with a right mind and attitude. These people were prepared to hold their peace, to keep thier faith in God. I wonder how often we too face circumstances for which we could better prepare to hold our peace, to keep our faith in God? Determined to not be swayed by the loudest voice, the constant chatter, the comparison of others. So what if they had given in to the pressure of what the nations around them had done? Didn't the King of Assyria even know that they depended on lesser gods? Wouldn't that BE the best time to prove our God is the one and only... the Way, the Truth, the Life? I mean.... my God simply cannot be compared to any other. Nor can yours! He is the Creator of all. The Hope of the world. Our Savior. Our Shepherd. Our Comforter. Our King. And I actually want to trust in Him. That is my daily struggle. What better way to grow my faith and others! Someone challenging my God to the comparison of worldly ways... dependence on self, money, people, fame, possessions, reputation, position, whatever... is actually a good thing, IF I'm prepared. If I follow the example of King Hezekiah... and strengthen myself, unifiy my people before the threat presents itself. Strengthen, built up and armed, not only with weapons, but with a right mind and attitude. To hold my peace, to keep my faith in God. So so how exactly do I do that? What if I spent more time with Him so that each day is like a prayer... You know, like He is a character in a movie I've seen a bunch. And I can just conjure up on a little screen in my brain exactly what He looks or sounds like and every word He might say in a specific circumstance. So I can almost predict a certain phrase He will use, or how He will react in any given moment, in most any circumstance. Simply because I know Him and I've spent a lot of time listening to Him. Then I too can hold my peace and keep my faith in Him alone. Word of God train me, today To live a life prayerfully considering You. To hold my peace in preparedness, not giving in to the pressure of people standing, shouting from the walls of this world.
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January 2019
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