Thurs., 12/27/12 Devotion (2 Chron. 32:1)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 32:1, which says this (concerning Hezekiah and the people of Judah):

"After these deeds of [Hezekiah's] faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself."

How odd. Hezekiah had just effected some of the most thoroughgoing God-honoring reforms of all time, and "after these deeds of faithful-ness," a foreign invader is on his doorstep. Let us beware of anyone who tells us that if we do certain religious things, or follow certain patterns, definite (positive) results will inevitably follow. (They are usually trying to sell us something.)

The truth is that God's providences are mysterious, and hard to under-stand. We may truly honor God; and He may see it best to immediate-ly send us some fresh trouble. But on this we can stand: The Lord knows what is best for His children.

[Puritan quote of the day: "They have armies on their side, and strength and powers of the world on their side; but we have truth and God on our side!" --Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]