Wednesday, April 16
Scripture: 2 Kings 18-19, Psalm 106
Hezekiah reigned as king of Judah in a place and time where world leaders disagreed, there were wars and rumors of war, entire countries of people were displaced, deported and resettled. The temple of the Lord was desecrated, and reverence for the Lord was a distant memory. Sound familiar? And yet, even there (here?) where it was unpopular, foolish, antiquated, “He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel…He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him”
(2 Kings 18:6-7).The Assyrian king tried intimidation and fear tactics to mislead Hezekiah and his followers-he tried to fracture trust by raising doubts (insert sneering, patronizing, accusing voice here), “On what are you basing this confidence of yours? On whom are you depending?”
In the face of threats, on this “day of distress and rebuke and disgrace where there was no strength left,” Hezekiah did not complain, he did not defend himself, he did not defend God, instead he prayed for deliverance, advocated for his people who remained.
I have to admit I am humbled by Hezekiah’s motivation. Notice with me, he did not pray for deliverance from suffering for himself or his people for their own sake or because they followed him, worked hard or were entitled to deliverance. He prayed for God’s sake and for the good of the world, “so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God” (2 Kings 19:19). In the face of conflict and opposition, when the odds are against us-in the health of our own bodies and minds, in our relationships, in our community, in our country and world…
For your glory alone, God, may we trust you, hold fast to you, not stop following you, repent and pray for deliverance so that all the kingdoms of the earth (including us in York) may know that you alone, Lord, are God.
~Aubrey Kleinfeld
Daily Prayer Focus:
Those who perpetuate racism and racial prejudice.