Tues., 12/27/16 Devotion (2 Chron. 32:1a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 32:1a, where we read these words:

"After [King Hezekiah's] deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah . . . "

Notice here that it appears that Hezekiah's many faithful deeds were "reward-ed" with the world's strongest man (politically and militarily) coming to Jeru-salem, to destroy it. Sometimes it seems that the people made righteous in Jesus' blood, and who are walking by faith, are the very ones who get the worst trials in this life. And though this is true, it should be no cause for alarm for us; and neither should we be discouraged by it.

Later in this very chapter, at v. 20, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed together; and the Lord delivered Judah from all Sennacherib's threats, (as God annihilated his army). That is a splendid biblical example of how the state (Hezekiah) and the church (Isaiah) are to minister together, in this world.

[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"]