December 9: GOD’S REPUTATION IN OUR FALLEN WORLD

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of [Sennacherib’s] messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. Isaiah 37:14

Like a little boy running to his father after being threatened by a bully, Hezekiah hurries to the house of the LORD to show Him this frightening letter. Of course we know that God already knew the contents of the letter, but the childlike faith of Hezekiah in response to the threatening message is a precious example for each of us. Hezekiah’s prayer that follows (vv.15-20) is beautifully marked by his certain identification of his heavenly Father, the One whom he is addressing with the cry of his heart. Following several points of identification of his God, Hezekiah comes around to His identity as the One who made the heavens and the earth (v.16b). As His created ones, this is the first role of the Creator in all of our lives. As Judah’s king, Hezekiah is naturally concerned for the safety and well-being of his people, the Jews. But the close of his prayer reveals a depth of understanding of the most pressing thing that is at stake here: God’s reputation in the world for He is our Creator and the Designer of the Plan of Salvation!

“Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from [Assyria’s] hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.” Isaiah 37:20

God is at work to draw all people to Himself for their eternal well-being. Oh, beloved, if this desire of our great God is at the center of His work upon the earth, should not it be the factor that molds our every thought and action, our every prayer, and our every conversation with fellow travelers on this earth?

In response to Hezekiah’s prayer of total faith, the LORD sent him a message of total assurance for Judah. And what is more, that message glows with righteous fury toward the arrogant Assyrian king who had dared to defy the King of kings (37:23)! Behold the prompt fulfillment of the promise of God in this crisis: Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh. Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place. (vv.36-38)

If Sennacherib had conquered Jerusalem, he would have carried out his plan to deport the population, causing Judah to lose its identity, just as he did with the ten tribes of northern Israel. The hope of the coming Messiah would have ended then and there. But God’s great Plan carried forward, and hope was kept alive. The Lord had said:

“For I will defend this city, to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” Isaiah 37:35 (see also Matthew 12:23)