Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: II Chronicles 32-34
II Chronicles 32:8
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
…the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah. From this phrase the awful situation in Jerusalem could be told, for they were targeted by a great world power for destruction. Or the story of Assyria’s conquering rampage under the leadership of the great Sennacherib could be told. He absolutely dominated all his enemies; he was undefeated in battle. The greatness of the Assyrian empire could be extolled, they built the great city of Ninevah, the amazing palace of Konyungik, and the unbelievably impenetrable wall around Ninevah. A great dissertation of Isaiah’s ministry to the king and the entire nation of Judah could be rehearsed. for Isaiah had influence over Hezekiah. Many threads could be pulled from this one chapter of the Bible that would be enlightening, educational, and encouraging.
But let us deal with one simple phrase …the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah. The words he spoke, with no uncertainty about them assured Judah that Sennacherib and the Assyrians would not defeat them in battle. He said to them: Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. (verses 7 and 8)
How did Hezekiah know this? Isaiah told him. In Isaiah 37 these words that Isaiah gave to Hezekiah are recorded. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, no come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. (Isaiah 37:33-35)
The people in Hezekiah’s day could rest in the words of their king because they came to him from the great prophet Isaiah, who received those words from God. They rested in Hezekiah’s words yes, but in actuality they were resting in the words of God. No greater comfort can be learned from this story than this. The people of God can rest in the words of their pastors, teachers, parents, any of their leaders if, and only if, those words are taken from God’s Word.
For example, consider John 14:1-3. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
There it is, Words from God, to the preacher, given to you. These are words in which you can rest. In a world of turmoil, you can rest for you have Words that can bring you rest; all that is needed is to believe them. In Judah they saw the result; one angel slew 185,000 Assyrians. God kept his Word to Judah, and He will keep His Word to you. In that you can rest.
Dr. William T. Howe
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