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Chronicles 32 reminds me that we can never allow ourselves to believe
we are immune to Satan’s temptations. Although this is a
historical account, it is filled with symbolism. King Hezekiah was a
faithful king that honored God. In my mind, I see him as the average
believer that is blessed with success. This is the point when most
people become distracted by activity. We see that the Assyrian king
is much like Satan. The chapter begins, “After
all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria
came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities,
thinking to conquer them for himself“.
Here is what made Hezekiah unique. We read that he saw the danger
approaching, he consulted with others, and he acted to make changes.
We
read, “They
blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land“.
The king asked, “Why
should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?”
Is there an area of your life that ripe for attack?
Notice what the king did, “repairing
all the broken sections of the wall and building towers…built
another wall outside that one…He also made large numbers of weapons
and shields“.
The greatest advice I ever heard was “if you avoid the appearance
of impropriety, you will avoid the impropriety”. We must create
accountability in our relationships, finances and home. That might
be as simple as inviting a third person, insisting on an audit or
establishing a curfew.
Hezekiah
encouraged those around him because he knew God was in control. “Do
not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the
vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with
him“.
The Assyrian king hurled taunts and accusations to plant seeds of
doubt. Satan always tries to get us to doubt God’s Word, doubt our
worthiness and doubt God’s authority. The Assyrian king shouted,
“On
what are you basing your confidence?”
These are the times when we must have someone to stand with us
spiritually. We are never called to try to stand against the Enemy
alone. “King
Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah… cried out in prayer to heaven…
And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men…
in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in
disgrace“.
Never forget that our victory was won on the cross of Christ. “Who
is
he who condemns? It
is
Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans
8:34).
I
believe the two times
we
are most vulnerable are when we are wounded, and when we experience
success. “So
the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem… He took care
of them on every side… But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did
not respond to the kindness shown him“.
Like all of us, Hezekiah did lots of dumb stuff. But in the end,
“Hezekiah
repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem“.
I love how the chapter ends. God left a Babylonian envoy to “test
him and to know everything that was in his heart“.
This irritating guy was actually a blessing, a reminder of God’s
faithfulness. Perhaps that irritant in your life has the same
purpose?