Set in a time when Assyria was marching through Judah, and then besieged Jerusalem, we see in these chapters a lot of narrative interrelated with the prophetic words of Isaiah. The coming siege was first prophesied by Isaiah, and was carried out first by Assyria - where the enemy was destroyed by God and turned back - and later by Babylon, where they were eventually taken to captivity (not related in this section, but the prophecy of Babylon taking Jerusalem captive is related after the Assyrian siege).
In these sections we see a lot about the people as a whole and individuals listening to God.
Warning is given of judgement and exhortation to turn back, but little response is made. We see a strong warning not to go down into Egypt, but we learn in the end of II Kings that the people do go down to Egypt, rejecting God's message of hope for rebuilding those that stay. How often do we go against God's direction, choosing an easy out rather than persevering in a harsh environment and seeking His blessing rather than the world's wealth/ease?
We see Rabshakeh claiming to listen to God - possibly partly true, as Assyria is used as a tool of God's punishment, and he may have heard the prophecies regarding Assyria punishing Israel - but any 'message from God' if it wasn't just a lie is incidental to him/his nation enacting their own selfish ambitions and going their own way. God may use (indeed is using) him for His purposes, but that does not give Assyria any credit. We/I need to be careful in our/my own life to not just use the Word of God as window dressing on our own desires, but actively seek His will above our own, and listen to Him through His Word.
God listened to Rabshakeh's mocking and destroyed 185,000 in the army - He listened to Hezekiah's intercession and responded to save the city.
We see Hezekiah listening to God's plans for his death - and instead of embracing it and trusting in God's plans, he begs for 'a little bit longer'. The only other incident we have recorded in his life is his showing the Babylonians his storehouses of wealth indiscreetly and pridefully. The punishment assigned for this is as much a prediction/consequence of Judah's current and later turning from God as directly related to Hezekiah showing off his wealth, but God saw fit to record the punishment as linked with this event, and teaches us a valuable lesson both about pride and about seeking our own way rather than trusting in God's plans whether our life is short or long.
Concluding with a touching verse:
Isaiah 33:2 "O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble."
No comments:
Post a Comment