The Pilgrim Path---Second Chronicles 32: 9—19

After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?” Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem , “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices?” Do you not know what I am my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

And his servants said still more against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah. And he wrote letters to cats contempt on the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.” And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.

HEZEKIAH and the VOICES…

King Hezekiah has been positioned by Almighty God to lead His people. It will take superlative supplies of grace to turn back the “voices” that are turned loose about Jerusalem. The Field Commander (or Rabshakeh) was a high official from Sennacherib’s court. The Assyrian King was not right outside the walls of Jerusalem---But he had his mouthpiece there (the Rabshakeh) to deliver the ultimatums. He was no game player. You can look at the parallel account in Isaiah chapter 36. Alec Motyer sums up the Rabshakeh’s message in four points:

---Egypt will be of NO help to you Jews / vv. 4—7

---The LORD will not be any help either! His worship centers have been reduced in number (this is how pagans thought---Jehovah’s power has been reduced) v. 7

---If Hezekiah has armaments---He does not have the manpower to use them! vv. 8—9

---Assyria has the “go ahead” from the LORD--- to take you folks “out”---v. 10 (too bad)

WOW---some daunting voices. They shout this (in the Jews’ own language). They use the “postal service” some way---to get letters in (ISRAEL EXPRESS?). They let the people know they are “done for.” Verse 19---They talked of the God of Jerusalem---as IF “HE”--- were just some run of the mill god---like those manufactured by the rest of the nations! Uh Oh…bad choice---that decision…

It has been said that blasphemy is, “when a man talks like he is God.” Well---this is bad news for the Assyrians…

Hezekiah goes to prayer! We will pick up on that in Isaiah 37: starting at verse 16---

“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood, and stone. Therefore, they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD.”

Not enough time to develop all this now, but Jehovah-Jesus takes care of His Own. He never takes kindly to being mocked by godless, self-promoters (danger---danger—danger). We will get back to that…

Just remember the “voices” are coming. From your past---The worst thing you ever did (inescapable—right?). Your past does not define You---The LORD Jesus Christ does. You are a New Creature in Jesus Christ the LORD. The Blood of the God-Man ---makes the foulest clean---Thank God! In the present---some voices will say, “you will never make it,” Well---you can do all things worth doing---through Jesus Christ ---who strengthens us! The Future is simply too terrifying to handle. I cannot consider “how” I will make it---the money / my health / the children? / this project?

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6: 33, 34

Our own hearts might deceive us---but the WORD will bring us consolation and comfort!

LORD Willing---we will get back to Hezekiah and the Assyrians in a day or so!

HYMN

All the way my Savior leads me;

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

Fanny Jane Crosby, (1820—1913)

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason