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In Christ, Mark
In Christ, Mark
** Writer’s Note: Today I am currently overseas
for a few weeks. I will try to post as well as I can but there may be a break
in The Christian Walk if I end up without Internet access. If that happens, I
will resume upon my return in early August.
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
After all
that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and
invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them
for himself. When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended
to wage war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military
staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they
helped him. They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs
and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria
come and find plenty of water?” they said. Then he worked hard repairing all
the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another
wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces of the City of David. He also
made large numbers of weapons and shields.
He
appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in
the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words:
“Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of
Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than
with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to
help us and to fight our battles.”
And the
people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
2
Chronicles 32:1-8
This ends this reading from God's holy word.
Thanks be to God.
Things
had been very good in Judah after Hezekiah assumed the throne of Judah. He had
worked hard to rid the kingdom of all the apostasy that had invaded the land as
a result of his father’s evil rule.
Hezekiah
had the Lord’s temple restored and purified before returning his people to a
spirit of repentance, praise, and reverence unto the one and only God Almighty.
The Passover was observed for the first time since Solomon was king. Tradition
was being renewed and a majority of the people responded positively, not only
worshiping with fervor but also freely and gladly bring offerings in such an
abundance that storehouses had to be built to hold them.
As a
result of Hezekiah’s efforts, spiritually leading his people back to the Lord,
Judah prospered and was at peace.
That
sense of peace became threatened as we see in the opening verses of Chapter 32
of 2 Chronicles. We read where Sennacherib, king of the mighty Assyrian empire,
came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities with the intent
of conquering them before setting his sights on Jerusalem.
Scripture
tells us that Hezekiah consulted with his officials and military staff and they
decided that a first step was to organize a large group of people to block off
all the springs and streams that flowed through the land. The idea was to not
provide water for the opposing forces of Assyria. After this, the Israelites in
Jerusalem fortified their defenses, working hard to repair all the broken
sections of the wall while building towers on it, constructing an additional
wall outside of the repaired one, reinforcing the terraces, and making a large
number of weapons and shields.
All this
was critical to ensuring Jerusalem could properly defend themselves against the
coming opposition but perhaps none of it was more important than what Hezekiah
did after it was done. For after he appointed military officers over the people,
he assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and offered
encouragement with the following words, words that we all need to take to heart
as we deal with the adversities of life:
“Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of
Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than
with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to
help us and to fight our battles.”
Note the
outcome of Hezekiah’s exhortation. The people gained confidence. They didn’t
gain confidence as a result of all the hard work that had been done to
strengthen and secure the city from attack. No, they gained confidence because
they were reminded that the Lord was with them and ready to help them win their
battles. This was more important than anything else. More important than walls
and towers. More important than a well trained and large fighting force. More
important than the best equipment to fight with.
As long
as the people had the Lord on their side, they would have a power advocating
for them that was greater than anything known to mankind.
And that
same power is available to us today, available to all those who place their
faith and trust in the Lord for protection and deliverance from hardship and
trouble.
This is
the good news that allows us, like the Judean Israelites, to live boldly with
strength, courage, and confidence, no matter how much the odds are be stacked
against us. Truly, if God is with us, who can stand against us (Romans 8:31)?
So if
you’re going through an issue in relationship, be strong and courageous for the
Lord is with you to help.
If you’re
going through financial strife, be strong and courageous for the Lord is with
you to help.
If you’re
out of work and trying to find a job, be strong and courageous for the Lord is
with you to help.
If you’re
persecuted in any way by anybody, be strong and courageous for the Lord is with
you to help.
And if
you’re in the midst of affliction and suffering, be strong and courageous for
the Lord is with you to help.
Friends,
there is nothing or no one who can give us the assurance that we have in God
for nothing or no one can do all things as He can. There is no problem that we
go through that He can’t help us with, there is no burden that he can’t bear,
there is no issue that He can’t bring a solution to, there is no tribulation
that He can’t rescue us from, there isn’t any sickness that He can’t heal, and
there isn’t any sinner that He isn’t willing to save through His Son Jesus
Christ who is the only way to get to the Father (John 14:6).
I don’t
know what you’re going through today. I just know that God is there to help you
no matter what it is.
Know and
trust in this and live with confidence.
Amen.
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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