TO PANIC OR NOT TO PANIC - MORE WISDOM FROM ISAIAH

Isaiah, chpt. 36 - Isaiah returns to a historical narrative.  I LOVE these, SOOO practical!  In this case, Isaiah recounts events in the life of the relatively good king Hezekiah of Judah.  Two things that I love from these accounts: 

First, Judah has been attacked by Assyria and now their field commander has been sent to taunt the citizens of Jerusalem, mocking them for trusting in God.  After all, he says, all those other countries they'd conquered trusted in their gods too, to no avail.  He continues to try and undermine King Hezekiah's leadership by telling the people not to listen to him when he says the Lord will deliver them, and reminding them of the havoc the Assyrians have wrought on all the other surrounding nations.

So what do you and I do when the enemy speaks to our minds that we are fools to believe that the Lord knows we're overwhelmed and will come to our aid?   Panic?  Run to friends for help the way Judah had turned to Egypt?  Worry ourselves into ulcers, sleepless nights?  Doubt the faithfulness of the Lord because of the fierceness of the enemy?  I would have to say D - all of the above!

Not Hezekiah.  37:1, "He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord."   He saw the words of the field commander, not as a personal attack against him, but as "ridicule (of) the living God", and he sought out Isaiah to ask for prayer.  When was the last time I clearly recognized that someone's words were "ridicule (of) the living God" and that I HAD to say or do something?

Hezekiah received God's assurance through Isaiah that he did not need to be afraid because God Himself would take care of the King of Assyria.  He would cause the king of Assyria to return to his own country and there be killed.  God doesn't always give us this kind of assurance in answer to prayer - but then we wouldn't be encouraged to walk by FAITH, would we?

Great assurance for Hezekiah, but that didn't end Assyria's efforts to stir up fear among the people of Jerusalem and doubt about Hezekiah's leadership and God's intervention.  They sent a letter with additional ridicule.

Would you and I be spiritually aware and discerning enough to recognize the difference between an attack against us personally and an attack that is really directed at our God - the way Hezekiah is here, and David was when he heard Goliath's taunts?  Am I as quick to defend God's honor as I am to defend my own?  Recently I did work myself into a frenzy when someone criticized ME unjustly - but I truthfully cannot remember the last time I jumped to God's defense.

I LOVE what Hezekiah did in 37:14, "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." 

After worshiping God, and drawing God's attention to what the letter said and what the Assyrians had done to other nations, Hezekiah prayed:  "Now, O Lord, our God, deliver us from his hand, SO THAT all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God."!  There was only ONE thing Hezekiah cared about here - he wanted God's deliverance for Judah but he wanted it SO THAT God might be glorified and known by all as the Only True God.  

And God answered Hezekiah's prayers.  He promised the destruction of Assyria and the restoration of Judah - v. 32 "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. . . . v. 35 "I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!"   And God did by sending an angel against the Assyrian army. 

God keeps His promises and honors His covenant.  He promised David that a descendant of his would rule on his throne FOREVER - so He spared Judah and Jerusalem - despite her own lack of faithfulness to follow Him.  God's promise to David didn't rely on David's faithfulness nor the faithfulness of His people - it relied on God's faithfulness.

When God looks at my life I KNOW He sees lots of reasons why I don't deserve the faithful keeping of His promises to me - I'm VERY thankful that His promises depend on His faithfulness and NOT mine, or He would be perfectly justified in writing me off.

God gave me an unusual verse for this year.   It's Isaiah 52:12, "You shall not go out in haste. . . for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."   My MO is often, panic first, but I'd like to be more like Hezekiah - not going out in haste - but laying my circumstances before Him and waiting for Him to show me the next move.