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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
2 Chron. 32
The very first statement in this story got my attention. “After Hezekiah’s faithful deeds….” (2 Chron. 32:1a). The previous two chapters talked about how diligently and faithfully Hezekiah sought and served the LORD. While he prospered in his efforts, what came after? Disaster! The King of Assyria conquered Israel, took all the fortified cities of Judah, and had Jerusalem in his sights. This kind of thing actually happens a lot. Faithful obedience is so often followed, not with reward, but with trial. That’s because faith isn’t truly faith until it stands the test of fire.
It seems that Hezekiah rightly did not expect a reward for his faithful deeds because he did not respond to the pending disaster with indignation. Instead, he continued in his faithfulness to God. Rather than fearing the king of Assyria, Hezekiah boldly declared, “He has only human strength, but we have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” (2 Chron. 32:8a). His faith proved pure in that fire. And because Hezekiah’s faith stood firm against Assyria, God brought a mighty deliverance for Jerusalem.
Just as trial often follows obedience, so our greatest victories often lead to our greatest defeats. As a result of Hezekiah’s steadfast faith, “he was exalted in the eyes of all the nations.” (2 Chron. 32:23b). And that’s where things went wrong. Hezekiah’s victory of faith led him to a proud heart. As it turns out, obvious trials are often easier to withstand than more subtle ones. Sometimes we don’t even notice the threat in those subtle trials until after they have done their damage. Such, it seems, was the case for Hezekiah. As important as it is to seek God when fear is knocking at our door, it is equally important to do so when pride comes knocking. That’s why Paul tells us, “as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:31).
2 Kings 18:9-37, Is. 36
I couldn’t help but notice how much Sennacherib’s words through his Rabshakeh sound like the words of God. He said, “Who are you now relying on that you have rebelled against me?” (Is. 36:5b). He went on to warn them against trusting in Egypt and to promise them peace and prosperity in the land he would take them to if they would surrender to him. I have two thoughts about this. The first is how much like the taunts and temptations of Satan this is. Satan loves to promise us things that only God can give, and often already has given.
The other thought is how, also like Satan, Sennacherib was putting himself in the place of God. Sennacherib made every effort to turn the people’s fear, and thus their trust, away from God and toward him. In doing so he not only elevated himself above God, but he also lowered God to the level of all the other no-gods. He declared sovereignty that wasn’t his.
The thing I see in all of this is how much the lie looks like truth. That’s why one of Satan’s names is the Great Deceiver. So if lies and truth look so much alike, how do we tell them apart? That’s why God gave us His Word. He gave us His Word in the form of the Bible, which is the story and proof of His promise. Then He gave us Jesus, the living Word of God, who is the embodiment of God’s promise. Finally, He gave us His Spirit, the presence of His promise. It is through all of these things that we know God’s Word is truth. And when we know the truth and believe it with all our hearts, the lie will not deceive us.
Ps. 80
Three times in this Psalm the writer prays, “make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.” This statement comes from the priestly blessing God ordained in Numbers 6:24-26. “May the LORD bless you and protect you; may the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.” The answer to every one of those requests is Jesus. It is through Jesus that God protects us, shines His face on us, and looks on us with favor.
This isn’t the only language in this Psalm that speaks of Jesus. It also mentions the root of the vine God transplanted from Egypt, calling this root, “the son you have raised up for yourself.” (Ps. 80:15b). And it says that this vine was cut down and burned with fire. One of Jesus’ great “I AM” statements is, “I am the true vine” (Jn. 15:1a). That places Him squarely at the center of this prophetic Psalm. It is no mistake that Jesus’ history follows that of the nation of Israel. He was both brought home from Egypt and cut down, just at it says in this Psalm. Jesus is the son of man that God raised up to make His face shine on us that we may be saved.