II Kings 19:4 “It may be that the Lord your God heard all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left”.
Hezekiah has gone up to the temple alone, dressed in sackcloth as a visible sign of his utter need for God. The same group of trusted advisors that he sent to meet the enemy spokesman, he now sends to Isaiah the prophet, with the message above from himself.
Hezekiah’s accusation against Assyria is not to do with their threats against himself, his people, or his city. Rather he singles out one aspect, that the King of Assyria has chosen to “mock” God. The word for “mock” in Hebrew is pronounced “harap” and is translated in other passages as taunted, defied, contempt, reproach, shame, scoff, insulted, and of course, mock.
Hezekiah’s overriding concern as he enters the temple to meet with God and as he sends his trusted advisors to seek the living word of God from Isaiah, is for God’s name, God’s fame, and God’s acclaim.
What a beautiful picture of leadership is painted with these words in II Kings 19. Hezekiah is humble, focused on the important (not the urgent) and is intentionally seeking God’s word, God’s wisdom, and God’s ways.
As God’s children, when accusations or threats come against us, they come against God. How good is it to remind ourselves of this today? God is for us, he is well able to defend his name, to bring good out of every situation, and to see the glory go to himself.
Hezekiah, like us, had not always made the best decisions and was facing the consequences of some of those decisions. But at this moment he abandons any pretence that he has the answer and throws himself fully upon the mercy of his God. That’s the turnaround point for you and me when we too throw ourselves, nothing held back, at the feet of Jesus and trust him to lead us out of the mess.
Let’s do that right now in a prayer – “Father, I recognise my utter need of you today, and commit all my ways, everything I have and do, to you and your kingdom, nothing held back. Please help me today”.
Principle of Change 43 – it is always good timing to throw ourselves upon God.
Strength – Input – You have a desperate desire to know more of God, and you recognise that you will never know enough.