“Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. | 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
Second Chronicles 32 talks about God’s deliverance to the people of Judah through King Hezekiah from King Sennacherib of Assyria.
The king of Assyria invaded and besieged Judah. Hezekiah was quick to think of ways to protect Judah and prepare for battle. While Sennacherib was arrogant and trusting greatly only on his own strength and power, Hezekiah’s confidence was not in the army of men but in the presence of God. All the threat and questioning of Sennacherib in God’s ability to deliver His people was put to an end when the Lord sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria making him return in shame to his own land. 2 Chronicles 32:21
Even as Hezekiah was faithful to the Lord, he was not spared from a terrifying enemy.
Our acts of faithfulness don’t insulate us from hard times. Our faithfulness doesn’t keep enemies away, but God’s faithfulness ensures every enemy’s defeat. For those who belong to Christ, every battle ends with God’s victory. In every trial, we can place our confidence in these words of Jesus: ‘Take heart; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33
Marissa Henley, Confidence in the Deliverer
REFLECTION: In which area of your life do you need God to grow your confidence in Him? How does His past deliverance of His people strengthen your faith in His power at work in your life?
I related with how Hezekiah lived his life. There was a time that his heart turned proud that the wrath of God came upon Judah and Jerusalem. However, he decided to be humble before the Lord again and God forgave him and made him prosper.
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah. | 2 Chronicles 32:24-26
As I said in my prayer journal earlier today, I always run away from God when I feel guilty or shameful about something that I did. I feel like, most of those times, I am not worthy. That I need to pick myself up first before I can come to God. That, at least, I had already fixed myself before I go back. But then, time and time again I forget that: I cannot fix myself. That my being broken, desperate, and full of guilt and shame — it is only Christ who can take me in and embrace me with His grace and mercy. He died on the cross two thousand years ago for the sins of men because we cannot save ourselves from who we are. We are in need of a Savior. No matter what we do, it will not suffice. God is the only One who can make things right in our lives because He is our Father, our Creator, our Sovereign, and Loving God. I need to grow my confidence in my dependence on Christ. I need to learn to truly depend on Him, to embrace my faith in full. When we come in humility, the Lord will always direct our steps. He did it with Hezekiah and Jerusalem. He won’t be stopping today or tomorrow.
Devo Background via First5: Confidence in the Deliverer
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