Day 220: Isaiah 37, 38 and 39

Hezekiah received [the field commander’s] letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple . . . and spread it out before the Lord. (Isaiah 37:14)

Chapters 36-38 contain three communications from the Assyrian field commander meant to demoralize and destabilize the people of Jerusalem. The Assyrian military certainly has the track record to back up his taunts, but he has never before encountered Yahweh. We could say he doesn’t know who he’s up against.

On what are you basing this confidence of yours? (36:4) Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? (36:18) Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? (37:11)

And how did Hezekiah respond to these threats? He went up to the temple . . . and spread it out before the Lord.

We also have an enemy set on destroying us. He will use any means available to capsize our faith and replace it with fear. He wants to demoralize us and destabilize our defenses even though he’s still on the other side of the brick wall huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf.

Let’s take a lesson from Hezekiah. Now is not the time to panic. Now is the time to spread it out before the Lord.

Why raise a white flag when our God is coming to the rescue?