«l will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant» (2 Kings 19:34, NIV).
THE PROMISE WE JUST READ was made when God’s people were going through one of the most challenging times in their history: the invasion by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. The Assyrians’ cunning behavior and dexterity in frightening the citizens of Jerusalem made the situation appear hopeless. According to the story recorded in 2 Kings 18 and 19, Isaiah 36 and 27, and 2 Chronicles 32, the Assyrian envoy reminded Judah that no nation on earth had been able to resist the Assyrian army’s attacks, that none of their gods had been able to prevent their destruction, and that the Lord Himself had commanded them to march against the nation of Judah.
But we are not merely limited to the biblical version of these events: Sennacherib himself tells us about his incursions against Jerusalem in the Taylor Prism, which is kept in the British Museum. This six-faced prism contains the Assyrian king’s annals, which affirm that Sennacherib trapped Hezekiah, King of Judah, «in Jerusalem like a bird in a cage.»* The fact that the Assyrians enjoyed writing diplomatic documents is proven by the letter that they gave to Hezekiah, in which they expressed each of their abusive requirements with arrogant clarity.
What can we do when we feel caged in by a big problem that seems to have no solution? Hezekiah’s example is an excellent answer to this question, which we all ask ourselves at some point of our lives. The biblical chronicler says «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» (2 Kings 19:14, 15, NIV). Here we are told about a Hezekiah who takes on a priestly role. The phrase «before the Lord» literally means «before the Lord’s face,» before His presence. Instead of offering a sacrifice, the king brought his problem before the only One who could solve it. The Bible says the Lord heard His servant and Judah was delivered.
Let’s remember that our worst times offer the best opportunity for us to go before the Lord and turn all our problems over to Him. The God who heard Hezekiah and defended Judah is willing to do the same for us.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate
