Hezekiah overlapped with Isaiah. (I don't totally get how the Old Testament fits together, but I am learning and taking you with me!) So, after all the taunting from that jerk, Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, Hezekiah, King of Judah, turns to God - in sackcloth, of course - and sends some men to inquire of Isaiah.
Isaiah's got good news for King Hezekiah and bad for King Sennacherib.
But Sennacherib doesn't know that yet and sends messengers again with an intimidating letter for King Hezekiah. Here's what the Scriptures say that Hezekiah did:
Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. II Kings 19:14-15a
What jumped out at me, is Hezekiah's physical act of taking the blasphemous, boastful letter and spreading it out before the Lord. Like he was saying, "Okay, Lord, here's our problem. What are you going to do about it?" (In a trusting, not confrontational, way.)
What do you do when you receive bad news or feel convicted, insecure, scared, intimidated? Do you spread said concern before the Lord?
I often don't.
I worry.
I wring my hands.
I fear.
I get angry
I try to figure out how to fix it.
I feel guilty.
THEN, I might finally get around to meeting with God about it.
What a waste of time mucking around in disobedience and faithlessness (which, incidentally, are the same thing.)
Perhaps you do not have this problem, of leaning on yourself rather than on God the Father, Son, and Spirit. But if you are like me, would you join me today in spreading your "letters" out before the Lord?
Let's see how God meets us in our distress and delivers us from the evil one!
Oh HEather, how I need to hear this AND to do it. I have many letters, I suppose, but one thing in particular that I *must* learn to take to God and trust..... but what do I do? I worry, I half-pray, I worry more... So much to learn - thankfully our Heave=nly Father is so patient, but why am I such a slow learner? :(
ReplyDeleteThankyou for your post today, it was a real encouragement. I'm quite good at unburdening my letters to others, but only half-praying about them. Thankyou again.
ReplyDeleteAnne and Naomi, thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteNaomi, have we met? I'm pretty embarrassed if we have, because I didn't recognize your name on fb. I'm glad to "meet" new friends. :)