After These Things...

If you were to read 2 Chronicles 29 through 31 you would read of the great revival in the southern kingdom of Israel that King Hezekiah brought about.  He cleaned out and reinstated worship in the temple, he reinstated the offerings and worship in the temple, and he held a Passover feast that hadn't been held in a long time.  The Bible commends him in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 where it says, "Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered."  Notice that Hezekiah obeyed God's word, he did what was right and faithful before God, and he sought God with all his heart.

The very next verse is what I want us to focus on.  The next verse is 2 Chronicles 32:1 and it says, "After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself."  Did you notice that?  AFTER all the good things Hezekiah did outlined in chapters 29-31, AFTER he sought God and obeyed Him with all his heart, he comes under attack.

Has that ever happened to you?  You are serving the Lord with all your heart and He is blessing you and your work for Him.  Or maybe you're spending time with Him in Bible reading and prayer.  Things are going great and then WHAM - you wake up under attack!  You find yourself reeling and fighting and wondering how things could have gotten so bad so fast.  You wonder if God has taken His hand of blessing off you, you wonder if you should go on or raise the white flag of surrender?

How did Hezekiah respond?  He responded spiritually.  2 Chronicles 32:2-8 shows that Hezekiah shored up his defenses and encourage his soldiers with confidence in God (vv 7-8).  In verse 20 he and the prophet Isaiah pray to God for His divine intervention.  Verses 21 and 22 show us God answered their prayers and saved the people from attack.  Beyond doubt Hezekiah's faith was strengthened through this attack as he saw God act on his behalf in a mighty way.

Are you under attack?  Take courage and put your confidence in the Lord, enlist the counsel and prayers of others, and let the Lord fight the battle for you!  I hope this is a blessing and encouragement to you this week!