After These Faithful Deeds

​Meditation
2 Chronicles 32:1—After these faithful deeds, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah.  He laid siege to the fortified cities and intended to break into them.
 

King Hezekiah was one of Judah’s most spiritually obedient and faithful kings.  “He did what was right in the LORD’s sight just as his ancestor David had done” (2 Ch. 29:2).  Yet, despite his great work as mentioned above, his nation and throne were seriously threatened by Assyria, a powerful nation that without mercy pulverized surrounding nations.  It must have seemed so unfair to Hezekiah.  Despite his faithfulness to God and superb leadership, his life and the lives of his countrymen were at great risk.   

It is often when we are at our strongest spiritually that we are most at risk for losing perspective.  We believe our service to God warrants blessing and protection. Therefore, “when all hell breaks loose” we are caught off-guard.  But, God never promised us that faithfulness would guarantee us peace, security and the absence of earthly battles.  Scripture teaches us, “Dear Friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.  Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory” (1 Peter 4:12,13).

Our guarantee of untested peace comes with the return of Jesus. Heaven will usher in everlasting prosperity.  If we think we somehow deserve better on earth now, we are set up for considerable disappointment.  Watch out for those who preach health, success, and security as guaranteed for righteous living.  Such promises are misguided and seriously distort Scripture.  Disease, disaster and directed attacks from wicked enemies befall followers of Christ.  We are not immune from this planet’s deadly fruits! 

The Almighty heals and protects His servants.  The Almighty also allows us to suffer and to die.  Our responsibility is to be faithful.  What we face each day falls under God’s sovereign hand. Give Him the glory whatever the script. Fortunately, instead of wilting in discouragement against overwhelming odds, Hezekiah rallied his people with these words:  
Be strong and courageous!  Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.  He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Ch. 32:7,8a).

Hezekiah trusted God and won.  When adversity comes don’t be surprised and remember who fights your battle!
         
Inspiration
Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.—Mathew Henry
 
©2015 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)