Pastor Brian’s Devotional
Monday, November 9, 2009

(Isaiah 37:14-15)  And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. ¹⁵ Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD… 

During the reign of Hezekiah, the nation of Israel had all sorts of problems with the Assyrians.  On one such occasion, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, sent the Rabshakeh, the king’s chief of staff, with a message for Hezekiah.  (I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Assyrians challenged the Israelites to a spelling bee!!) 

The message not only challenged the children of Israel, but it was a direct affront to God.  In fact, Hezekiah specifically mentions in his prayer that the king of Assyria has sent words to reproach the living God. 

What interests me most about the account (you can read the outcome in the remainder of Isaiah 37) is how Hezekiah responds to Sennacherib’s threats.  He takes the letter directly to the Lord, spreads it out in His presence, and cries out to God to show the power of His name. 

One of the most difficult things to do in life is to take the harsh words and arrogant threats that are directed our way, and simply lay them before the Lord for Him to handle.  Our general tendency is to want to take matters into our own hands – to plot and plan, cajole and connive – until we figure or fight our way out of the situation.  May the Lord give us strength to trust in Him, and wait on Him, to prove His mighty power in His perfect time. 

This devotional is a ministry of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, in Las Vegas, Nevada and Pastor Brian Michaels.  For more information on this ministry, you can find us at www.lcflasvegas.org.

Past Devotionals:

Isaiah 5:21
Monday, October 26, 2009
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1 Samuel 25:33
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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1 Samuel 16:1-2a
Monday, August 3, 2009
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Joshua 1:7a
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Read more...