Isaiah 37:20 “Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God. “

Once again we have a record of Hezekiah’s focus and faith. He in no way disputed the historical facts of Sennacherib’s message, but he disagreed completely with the fundamental premise. As noted yesterday, Assyria had the mightiest military force in the known world of the day, and they did essentially whatever they liked. Hezekiah’s point was, now they had come up against the Creator of the universe, and no human force could conquer Him. That’s something we need to remember! We aren’t to confuse human structures and organizations with God, however. As Jesus said, the gates of hell cannot withstand His Church, but that doesn’t mean that individual churches can’t fail. It is when we are walking in step with Him, and only then, that His power operates through us. As a very pointed, present-day example, the devil realizes that he can’t destroy the US as long as it is adhering to the Biblical principles on which it was founded, so he has attacked its spiritual and moral foundation, and sadly, has made major headway at that. The biggest dangers aren’t China, Iran, and Russia, but politicians and judges who attack people’s right to live by Biblical principles. America may have the world’s best military technology, but that is meaningless if Biblical principles aren’t being adhered to. We need leadership that will pray as Hezekiah did, and we need churches that will stand up as the Church of Jesus Christ indeed, recognizing and standing against the lies of the devil that have flooded us in the past century or more.

Obviously, I have no trouble finding a soapbox to stand on when it comes to this topic, but I’ve got to apply it close to home as well. I am to speak the truth in love to all who will receive it, but I’ve also got to live it out in my own life. My priorities need to line up with God’s kingdom and His righteousness! I don’t have major human forces arrayed against me the way Hezekiah did, but I still have the same fundamental enemy, who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) I cannot let down my guard, but at the same time I’m not to be anxious, because the Lord I serve is totally trustworthy. Even if He leads me into martyrdom, I know that my reward on the far side of that will be indescribably glorious. In a way it would be easier if physical martyrdom were what I faced, because the subtle attacks on faith and obedience can actually be more dangerous. I am to be strong in my Lord, fully submitted and obedient to Him, so that those who are watching me – and there are quite a few – may know that He is real, and seek Him for themselves.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You for being God, in the world at large and specifically in my life. May I be fully submitted and obedient to You indeed, just as You have told me to rest, relax, and rejoice, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!