II Kings 19:21-22 This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: “She despises you, she scorns you – the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you – the daughter of Jerusalem.” “Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One of Israel!”
What a prophecy we are starting to look at now as God responds to Hezekiah’s inquiry through Isaiah. There are eight verses of prophecy and these are the first two. We will take our time over these over the next few sessions.
Sennacherib’s envoys have delivered their message, their threats, and their intentions, and we can imagine them now turning away from Jerusalem and walking back towards their master the king of Assyria, the most dominant empire of the time.
We have this picture now of Israel’s posture of response – in our language it may be said as “do I look bothered, do I, do you think I’m bothered, do you?” God is telling Israel that their enemy is contemptible, ridiculous, to be mocked, disregarded, held in contempt and disdain as meaningless and unworthy. There is a picture here almost of Israel so unfazed by Assyria that she is making faces behind their backs, laughing at their futile attempts to disarm God.
As a father would defend his virgin daughter’s honour, so God is about to defend Israel, they have never been captured before, they have removed all idolatry from their lives and have flung the temple gates open to re-engaging in worship, while their king, Hezekiah comes before God in sackcloth as a sign of his penitent and humble heart before the Lord our God.
What an example for us – let’s get rid of everything that is coming between God and us, let’s wholeheartedly throw ourselves into continual praise and worship, and let’s humble ourselves before God in prayer and waiting.
How good is it to make faces at our enemies – knowing that God is the one whose name is being attacked and that God is well able to defend his own name.
There is more in this yet to unpack, so we will look at this again next time, but for now, we have clear directions.
Principle of Change 62 – God is well able to defend his name.
Strength – Responsibility – once we commit to something we are all in.