A Last Letter

O. T. #863  "A Last Letter"
Nov. 2, 2016
2 Kings 19-Part 2


LET IT GROW

Have you ever received an intimidating or threatening letter? My husband pastor did once. A certain family was trying to get rid of him as pastor. They even went to the extreme of contacting our denomination's state office, associational office, and our deacons. This happened before our new sanctuary was competed, so we knew the source and reason for it. Evil was trying to get us to leave so the sanctuary was not complete, but it did not happen. After much prayer, we confronted the family and they admitted what they had done was wrong. The Lord had a way of changing hearts through that difficult time.
Hezekiah received such a (last) letter from the ruling emperor, so he prayed to God for guidance and deliverance.

The king of Assyria (world power) had captured all the fortified cities of Judah and sent messengers to the godly King Hezekiah threatening him, to conquer Jerusalem, and blaspheming God. Hezekiah went to the Temple to pray while he sent a message to Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah relayed the Lord's message to the king-the Assyrian king would return to his land and be killed, which came to pass.

It  was rumored that the Pharaoh of Egypt (25 dynasty) was going to attack Assyria, so the king went home. Before leaving, he sent a last letter to Hezekiah: Let not your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to the countries: they completely destroyed
them. Will you be rescued? 


Challenging God was he? This pagan king trusted in his abilities and his army. God wins every time, though. All would soon see that. Obviously it terrified the king.

LET IT GROW


What did Hezekiah do when he received such a letter?
He took the letter from the hand of the messengers, read it, then went up to the Temple, and spread it out before the LORD. Then Hezekiah prayed.

Liberty Bible Commentary explains that Hezekiah's prayer included 4 points:

1. He recognized God's sovereignty, that He had complete authority over what He created;
2. the pagan Sennacherib had defied the living and sovereign God;
3. Sennacherib had indeed destroyed other nations and other gods, for they were no gods-Sennacherib's claims; only proved that pagan gods were not gods;
4. he requested that God save His people and show the world that Jehovah was the only God.

Do we acknowledge God as being in complete authority over all things? However, He allows us to make choices, not treating us as puppets.
Do we choose to lay our petitions before this Sovereign God?


LET IT GO

Pray about situations that come up.

Lay my petitions before God.

Trust the Sovereign God of the universe to do what is just and right.

Don't be afraid, for He is fighting my battles.

*I am visiting my grandchildren in the northeast this week, so I may not get to post Thursday. Check back Friday, my dear friends.