Do Not Be Afraid or Discouraged

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so, he prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “Doing what was good and right and faithful.” ‘In everything that he undertook…he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly.” But in the midst of his prospering, and “after all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.” (2 Chronicles 32:1, NIV 1984).

So, how did Hezekiah, respond? “After all that [he] had so faithfully done,” did he get discouraged and pout about how unfair it was? Hardly. He “encouraged [the people] with these words: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.'” (2 Chronicles 32:6-8, NIV 1984).

It would have been easy for him to fall into despair and self-pity. But instead, “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. So, the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side.” (2 Chronicles 32:20, 22, NIV 1984).

My Advice – Hezekiah’s perseverance is an example to all of us who might otherwise feel that “doing what [is] good and right and faithful before the Lord” is done in vain. Don’t give in to it, “my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:59, NIV 1984).

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing