WHAT DO YOU DO?

2 Kings 18:19-20,22,30,36

Then the Assyrian king’s chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah:“This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?

Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?

“But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God!’ But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?

Don’t let him fool you into trusting in the lord by saying, ‘The Lord will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king!’

But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”

What do you do when trouble arises, when you are challenged, when an opposition arises?

Hezekiah was one of those good kings of Israel, as we saw yesterday:

2 Kings 18:1,3

Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel.

He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done.

Remember what we studied, walking with the Lord is a choice, you decide, that is why there is judgment. Selah

So Hezekiah chose to walk in the ways of the Lord, now the enemy has arisen, just as they did against other kings. He went ahead to try to appease him, he even went as far as stripping the temple to pay the tribute money Sennacherib the king of Assyria requested:

2 Kings 18:15-16

To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the Temple of the Lord and in the palace treasury.

Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the Lord’s Temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the Assyrian king.

Yet the king of Assyria came to attack him and the city.

What do you do?

One thing a believer understands is that trouble may arise, yes even  tribulation and trials. Don't let any minister tell you what is not true. However, the joy is that we have the victory already. Glory to God!

John 16:33

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

The consolation is that we are not fighting to get the victory. No, the victory has already been won for us by Christ Jesus!

So what do you do?

Bring it to the Lord.

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Christ is saying that He will carry the burden, in fact He has already carried it. Glory

1 Peter 5:7

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

So what do you do? Bring it to the Lord. He has won the battle already.

Remember,  king Sennacherib was actually right when he mocked Israel for going to Egypt to seek help. However, he missed it when He dared mock God, for he erreneously thought that the Almighty God was like the idols of other nations. 

Really he wasn't totally wrong, for the children of Israel foolishly worshipped other gods:

2 Kings 18:21-22

On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!

“But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God!’ But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?

He erreneously thought that the idols that the children of Israel worshipped was the true God, he missed it. Hezekiah was different, he brought the people of Judah back to God. The idols he destroyed were the false gods:

2 Kings 18:3-5

He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done.

He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.

Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time.

See people may laugh at you when you are faithful to God. (Listen, I am not saying when you are faithful to a religion, denomination or any human authority, no). For when you are faithful to God He backs you up when people rise up against you.

When you call on Him, it is a surety He will answer, for you are His own.

Jeremiah 33:3

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

So child of God don't stay there rejected, afraid, worried or uncertain, call on Your Heavenly Father make a demand on your Father, know that as a citizen He has you covered.

Listen, it is a full package:

Psalms 91:1-3,14-16

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the Lord: 

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. 

I will protect those who trust in my name.

When they call on me, I will answer; 

I will be with them in trouble. 

I will rescue and honor them.

I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

Glory to God!

PRAYER

Loving Father thank You for making me family, thus, I enjoy all the benefits of being Your child, yes and as a citizen of Your kingdom I have Heavenly right. I take advantage of them today. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.