II Kings 19:26 “while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded, and have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.”
The Prophet Isaiah is continuing his message from God to Hezekiah about Sennacherib. It was God who gave Sennacherib his victories, who allowed him to trample over the city after city. But now Sennacherib has drawn the glory around himself as if he alone was the source of the success given and the damages inflicted.
Now Sennacherib has badly misread his situation and spoken out against God, distaining His name, and mocking his power. God’s name is on the line now.
What is in Sennacherib’s heart has made itself known on his lips.
I find myself asking a few questions to myself here, “how do I value God’s name, how do I feel when God’s name is dishonored or abused?” “How do I feel when my name is brought into question or disrepute?” “Where do my core values lay?”
I’m challenged by these questions, is my concern for my own name too great, and is my concern for God’s name under-considered?
This is a moment for me to recognize the majesty, authority, and value of God’s name, and to realign my core values with His name, and not with my name.
It’s a good moment to take stock, consider, reflect, and if necessary change, it’s a moment of gentle repentance if you like.
Principle of Change 67 – make time to reflect on the true worth of God’s name in my life.
Strength – Input – gather the right information at the right time and allow it to influence your core values.