We might ask why it is when King Hezekiah has been doing what was good, right and true before the Lord his God - why every work he did in the service of the house of God in law and commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered - why then in light of such devotion and faithfulness do we read in the very next sentence that the king of Assyria came and invaded Judah? Hadn't Hezekiah done enough to ensure that God protected them from invasion? Didn't he have a right to expect some sort of special protection? Why would God allow this to happen to someone who was faithfully and quite obviously seeking after God's glory and wanting to lead and encourage others to do the same thing?
This is surely the conundrum - why do bad things happen to good people?
And God doesn't really answer this question - He doesn't give an answer to Job and He doesn't give us an answer here. What we do see is that Hezekiah so trusted his God, so knew Him to be the great and awesome, Sovereign God that he took courage and spoke encouragingly to the people: 'Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed ....for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.
It is only those people who have known God - who have experienced a life spent serving Him, loving Him, obeying Him - only those who have walked with Him and understood who He is, that are able encourage others with the Truth, that can be a light shining in a dark place, can be the seeing eye to the blind. Because of Hezekiah's prior relationship he was able to encourage the people - because he knew God and trusted Him the people relied on the words of Hezekiah, stood firm and were victorious.
Do you know God? Have you walked with Him? Have you consecrated yourself to Him, to His service, for His glorious kingdom? Then know this - God will use you to encourage others - He will put you in situations and circumstances that will enable you to shine like a star in the dark sky. You will be enabled to stand firm and to lead many to righteousness - enabled to snatch others from the fire and to bring peace and joy into the most terrifying situations. Your witness, your testimony will be the manifestation of His wisdom in the spiritual realms and you will hear with the ears of faith the Lord rejoicing over you with shouts of joy.
When your circumstances look bleak, when there is no reason why - trust God, trust His plan and purpose for your life and stand steadfast in His perfect peace.
This is surely the conundrum - why do bad things happen to good people?
And God doesn't really answer this question - He doesn't give an answer to Job and He doesn't give us an answer here. What we do see is that Hezekiah so trusted his God, so knew Him to be the great and awesome, Sovereign God that he took courage and spoke encouragingly to the people: 'Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed ....for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.
It is only those people who have known God - who have experienced a life spent serving Him, loving Him, obeying Him - only those who have walked with Him and understood who He is, that are able encourage others with the Truth, that can be a light shining in a dark place, can be the seeing eye to the blind. Because of Hezekiah's prior relationship he was able to encourage the people - because he knew God and trusted Him the people relied on the words of Hezekiah, stood firm and were victorious.
Do you know God? Have you walked with Him? Have you consecrated yourself to Him, to His service, for His glorious kingdom? Then know this - God will use you to encourage others - He will put you in situations and circumstances that will enable you to shine like a star in the dark sky. You will be enabled to stand firm and to lead many to righteousness - enabled to snatch others from the fire and to bring peace and joy into the most terrifying situations. Your witness, your testimony will be the manifestation of His wisdom in the spiritual realms and you will hear with the ears of faith the Lord rejoicing over you with shouts of joy.
When your circumstances look bleak, when there is no reason why - trust God, trust His plan and purpose for your life and stand steadfast in His perfect peace.
