November 5, 2010

2 Kings 18

Of all the OT Prophets, Isaiah is probably the best know largely because of his many Messianic prophecies. But what most people do not associate with him is that many of his prophecies are spoken directly to his contemporaries. Many of his prophecies were encouragements or warnings to be faithful to the Lord and to not depend upon Egypt or any surrounding nations for their national security. Isaiah began his ministry in the year that Uzziah died. He endured the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz. Do you suppose that Hezekiah grew up under the teaching of Isaiah? He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. His father Ahaz did not. Hezekiah “trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.” Why was Hezekiah different? It was Isaiah who had seen the glory of the Lord that is recorded in Isaiah 6:1ff. I think Isaiah spoke it to Hezekiah. Hezekiah wanted it more than anything. Because of that, he cut off anything that detracted from the glory of the Lord. He destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made. He stopped the idolatrous worship of the people of Israel!

Alas, he also learned from his father Ahaz. Ahaz had taken gold from the temple in order to hire the King of Assyria to attack Syria and Israel, so that he would get relief from them. When Sennacherib invaded, out of fear Hezekiah took the gold from the temple in order to pay Sennacherib’s demands. Did he really need to do that? The enemy smells fear from afar. The gift of gold only served as the scent of fear to incite Sennacherib to greater demands. The enemy used Hezekiah’s good acts as leverage against him as the demands were laid out upon the wall in Hebrew in the hearing of all the people. The glory of the Lord was maligned by Sennacherib’s officers. What would Hezekiah do? Would he depend upon the Lord? Would he succumb to the threats of fear? When the enemy uses your good acts against you to create more fear in your life, do you depend upon the Lord? Or do you succumb to the threats of fear. Maybe at those times you need someone to speak the glory of the Lord into your life. Maybe someone today needs you to speak the glory of the Lord into their life. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Hebrews 2

The glory of the Lord has been attested to by signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit. And yes, they still happen today. They do not happen every day or we wouldn't view them as miracles. We would view them as every day events. I have met and know people who have attested to having personally received miraculous healings apart from medical science. I can personally attest to numerous occasions where the Lord has miraculously provided finances for me, especially in my seminary days. For example, one morning in seminary I had zero money in the bank, zero money in my pocket, no food in the refrigerator or cupboard and no prospect of receiving money in the near future. I got up and walked to the seminary library and sat down at a study table to have my quiet time. As I was reading God's word, another student, whom I had only met the week before and barely knew his name, got up from his study table, walked over to me and handed me a $20 bill. In 1980 dollars that was a lot of money. He said, "I don't know why but the Lord told me to give this to you." We ate that day because of a miracle of God. That student did not know my need. He had little money himself. It was a sacrifice for him to give. Yet God spoke to him. He listened and obeyed. And I am sure God made up the difference for him. There were several miracles that occurred in that provision: the student heard, the student obeyed, my need was met without me telling a soul and my faith was strengthened. My seminary days had many similar events.

What is man that God is mindful of him? Yet it is the glory of God that He became a man that He could meet our needs. By the grace of God He endured the suffering of death on the cross for us. Now that is glory! He destroyed the one who had the power of death! Yes, death and sickness reign for a little while, but they flee when Jesus comes and He is coming to ultimately defeat sickness and death. But before He returns He gives us aid. He is able to give us aid because in all things He was made like us. He knows our temptations. He is an ever merciful and faithful High Priest for us. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John