Nisroch – The Noontimes

2 Kings 19: Fidelity is its Own Reward

Friday, January 18, 2019

We spent time reflecting on Hezekiah on Monday, today we look at another part of his story with a Noontime from November 24, 2008 posted today as a Favorite.

300px-Peter_Paul_Rubens_082[1] — *Rubens: The Downfall of Sennacherib*

As we read today’s Noontime, where have the opportunity to think about where we stand in human history. The Assyrians with their leader Sennacherib have conquered the northern tribes that had broken away after Solomon’s death and now they stand ready to take Jerusalem. Hezekiah, working closely with the prophet Isaiah, listens to Yahweh’s advice . . . and Jerusalem is spared the impending invasion. In addition, we know from contemporary documents that two factors cause Sennacherib to turn away from Jerusalem: a plague came upon his troop encampment killing 185,000 soldiers, and word reached the Assyrians that Tirhakah of Egypt was marching out against them. Sennacherib was later killed by his two sons (Adrammalech and Sharezer) while worshiping in the temple of Nisroch. (ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDY BIBLE 562.)

The themes we have seen in this portion of 2 Kings are the healing of Hezekiah, Yahweh’s intervention in human events, the importance of spiritual reform and preparation, and the high value placed on fidelity by Yahweh.

Several verses call us to deeper reflection.

Verse 4: So send up a prayer for the remnant that is here. Hezekiah and Isaiah know that the north has been lost . . . but they do not give up hope or faith. They petition on behalf of the faithful who remain.

Verse 6: Do not be frightened by the words you have heard, with which the servants of the King of Assyria have blasphemed me. The Lord replies with words of comfort for these faithful servants. The Lord reminds them that he will not only take care of his faithful remnant, but he will also address the wrongs done to them by their enemies.

Verses 15 to 19: You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth. Incline your ear, O Lord and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Hezekiah prays to Yahweh in the temple.

Verse 34: I will shield and save this city for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David. The Lord replies.

Verse 35: That night the angel of the Lord went forth . . .

What do we know about ourselves? We live in a tumultuous world which is ever ready to dismiss or overrun the faithful servants of Yahweh. We will be challenged as New Testament apostles of this one true God. Our ideas, our families will be invaded by forces which seek to diminish the voice we carry in solidarity.

What must we do when we are under attack? We have need of only one place of supplication . . . the temple of our inner heart where the Holy Spirit dwells. We have need of only one name . . . Jesus Christ. We have need of only one God . . . the one who is supreme above all others . . . and this God alone is enough. Remaining faithful to God brings salvation. Fidelity brings lasting justice. Fidelity beings eventual peace. Fidelity to God is always accompanied by its own reward.

A re-post from January 18, 2012.

Image from: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Sennacherib

ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY BIBLE (NIV). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005. 562. Print.

The Noontimes

Tag: Nisroch

2 Kings 19: Fidelity is its Own Reward

Tag: Nisroch

2 Kings 19: Fidelity is its Own Reward

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