Isaiah 39: Peace and Truth
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
We have taken a look at Hezekiah, son of idolatrous Ahaz, a half-dozen times since we began our Noontime reflections; and each time we pause with him, I am always impressed by his fidelity and perseverance. Having Ahaz as a father, Isaiah as a prophet, and Sennacherib as an adversary . . . Hezekiah seems doomed to a story of failure. Yet he is not. To read more about him, turn to Chronicles or go to these sites http://www.varchive.org/tac/hezekiah.htm http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/p82.htm and http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_hezekiah.html. Discover how the people build an amazing tunnel under his guidance to bring water to the besieged city. Read about how he consults with the prophet Isaiah who speaks plainly about their dire straits. Read about the odds that confront this man and this nation . . . and be amazed. Through many trials Hezekiah is accompanied by the God who accompanies us.
We may want to review Chapter 18 of 2 Kings to understand where we are in the story.
- Verse 3: Thus says Hezekiah: “This is a day of distress, of rebuke and of disgrace”.
- Verse 4: So send up a prayer for the remnant that is here.
- Verse 5: Thus says the Lord: “Do not be frightened by the words you have heard”.
- Verses 15 – 19: Hezekiah prays in the Lord’s presence: “O Lord . . . incline your ear . . . and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord and see! . . . Save us . . . that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God”.
Pool of Siloam and the end of Hezekiah’s Tunnel
God hears the prayer and answers Hezekiah. In Chapter 20, Hezekiah falls ill and God rescues him. This ruler is destined to serve God and through perseverance he does so . . . and he does so quite well. We can reflect on the life of this servant to compare it to our own. When the Assyrians in our lives are at the gates, will we go immediately to the Lord God to ask him for help or will we rely on our own resources? And when the Lord God has answered our prayers – no matter the response – do we give thanks and continue to trust in God?
We find ourselves in distress and disgrace . . . God hears our prayer and answers us. Do not be frightened by the words you have heard.
We send up our prayer to God who accompanies Hezekiah and all the faithful . . . God hears our prayer and answers us. Do not be frightened by the words you have heard.
We are desperate and tempted to turn to our own resources . . . but let us instead go up to the Temple of the Lord and enter the Holy of Holies . . . to lay our petition on the altar of the Lord our God . . . and let us say. . .
Save us . . . that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God. Amen.
A re-post from January 16, 2012.
Images from: http://www.hellotravel.com/israel/walking-through-hezekiahs-tunnel and http://www.wildolive.co.uk/baptism.htm
For more information on the excavation of Hezekiah’s tunnel, see: http://www.bibleplaces.com/heztunnel.htm and http://www.hellotravel.com/israel/walking-through-hezekiahs-tunnel
For other Noontime reflections on Hezekiah, see The Book of Micah: https://thenoontimes.com/the-book-of-our-life/micah-doom-and-hope-constancy/ and False Idols: https://thenoontimes.com/2011/10/29/false-idols/
The Noontimes 