I gotta be honest. When God first lead me to these passages, I was not too excited about it. I wanted a festive passage, talking about feasts and rejoicing in light of our anniversary. But as He began speaking, I got more excited about this passage-I hope it blesses you!
Isaiah 37: 6-7
‘This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’”
Somebody is talking mess about you and perhaps issuing threats about what they are going to do to you or what will happen to you. It could even be the enemy putting thoughts in your head. In this passage a powerful king has issued a threat to King Hezekiah and Jerusalem; in fact this king has already destroyed other nations and when Jerusalem learns that they are next on his hit list, they are filled with dread. In fact the king tells King Hezekiah, “don’t let your God fool you-the other nations weren’t saved by their gods and neither will Jerusalem.”
Isn’t this just like the enemy? When God sends you an encouraging word that everything will go okay, the enemy wants to make you feel that you are foolish to believe that you will be spared, that you will be saved. But God is saying that He will return that threat back to its origin; not only that, but that your enemy will be cut down on his own home turf. In front of all the people she/he was bragging to about how you would be defeated-THOSE will be the people who will see their demise.
And this best part? God will do it Himself! :notworthy
King Hezekiah prays:
Isaiah 37:20
20 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are the only God.”
The Lord answers:
Isaiah 37: 33-35
“He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it.
34 By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city,” declares the LORD.
35 “I will defend this city and save it…”
God not only promises that Jerusalem will not be destroyed, but that the threat won’t even be allowed to come into their city! God will defend us and save us and render the threats made against us null and void.
So how does the story end? God killed 185,000 of the enemy’s soldiers
OVERNIGHT. When they awoke the next day planning to attack Jerusalem, they were surrounded by dead bodies. The king
ran off to Ninevah and days later while he was worshipping one of his idols, his sons found him and killed him. Killed by his own children who used to look up to him and fight along side of him.
Your enemy can try to retreat and run off to avoid the punishment, but they aren’t getting away with anything. God’s word NEVER returns to Him void. The trap the enemy tried to set for you will be the very trap that they stumble into.
You heard what you think you heard and God said exactly what you thought He said. Don’t let the enemy deceive you (“well look at what is happening around you….their god didn’t save them, why would your God save you?”). God has not aged. He is not old, feeble, or senile. He is a mighty God; mighty and terrible in battle. Who is like our God?! Further, don't let the lapse of time make you lose focus. How quickly did God turn the situation around?
OVERNIGHT! While your enemy is sleeping, God's plan is already being excuted to perfection. Better yet....while YOU are
, beloved, God is handling business on your behalf!
Look forward to praying together tonight!