SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 32
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. [2 Chronicles 32:7-8]
Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you! Don’t let him fool you like this! [2 Chronicles 32:15]
Hezekiah proclaims a message of hope in the midst of overwhelming hardship, while Sennacherib proclaims a message of fear and defeat; both of them claim that the other is a deceiver.
At times like these, it is hard to hang on to hope.
At times like these the deceiving whisper of fear and defeat seems so convincing, its hard to deny it.
I have felt many times like Hezekiah, speaking of hope or truth in a context where it sounds hollow, when other voices are so much more convincing.
Try speaking of hope or goodness when someone is facing sickness, death, failure, injustice… at times like these it is very hard to get people to focus on the Lord, and to trust in Him for help!
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. [Matthew 24:4-6]
And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. [Matthew 24:11-14]
There are many deceiving voices, not only the ones of real people in our lives but also voices within our own minds, voices of gloom, defeat, despair.
These voices deceive many, leading them to give up on God; they hear of wars and threats of wars, and they panic.
Sin is rampant, and false prophets deceive people into thinking its OK, that we can get away with it.
In times like these, even I wonder whether what I am believing is real or true.
Yes, the deceiver is working full time in me too; I hear his whispers of fear, of defeat, of discouragement… prompting me to quit, to want to run away, to doubt that God is at work, to indulge in self-pity or self-pleasure.
At times like these I need to repeat the words of Hezekiah: Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of (whatever is accusing or attacking us), for there is a power far greater on our side! We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!Be strong and courageous, do not give up, hang on!!!
Yes, these battles must take place… but don’t panic!
The one who endures to the end will be saved!
Not only do I need to remind myself of this, I am called to announce this good news to everyone, to all nations.
Like Sennacherib’s messengers, I am called to tell people the good news about God, Jesus and the kingdom of God!
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to be strong and courageous. Help me to endure to the end. And help me to be a messenger of hope and victory, not of fear and defeat!