II Kings 19:2 “And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz.”
Hezekiah has gone by himself to the temple, to present himself before God and look for His support. Meanwhile, he sends his most trusted people to Isaiah the prophet.
They all wore sackcloth.
Sackcloth was a physical token of an internal condition – of humbling ourselves, and perhaps of grief over impending difficulties. This was a human attempt to show God that we are aware of our condition and our utter dependence on Him.
What is my internal condition today and how do I work out that condition with God in our so different culture?
What outward signs do I present to God and my friends of the inward workings of the Holy Spirit? Surely there will be some visible evidence of the inward contrition and humility, even if it is not sackcloth.
Perhaps an increase in love and joy would be an indication, as would a sense of ongoing peace and patience? What about if I was just kinder, gentler, or even more self-controlled? Or if my goodness and faithfulness were growing daily, would that be an indication of inward submission to God’s ways that had an outward working in influencing the world’s ways?
I think of Hezekiah, a young king, walking alone, quietly, slowly, up to the temple, to the altar of God, his fine clothes torn and abandoned, now dressed in sackcloth for all to see, humbling himself before God – unconcerned about what anyone else may say or think. I see something on the inside that is reflected on the outside.
Principle of Change 41 – do not let fear of what others may think, stop you from doing what you know is right.
Strength – Restorative – You have a unique ability to look past surface-level symptoms to find the root causes of problems — your solutions are not stopgap, but rather are intended to last.