"Turning to the Lord"

 "It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has  sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard"'

(ISAIAH 37 : 4a)

Psalm 123:2 says, "Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us." This was how Hezekiah responded to Assyria's shameless boast that nothing could stand in the way of its conquest of Jerusalem, not even God Himself. Hezekiah did not run scared, but he turned to the only one who could truly help his people. He turned to the Lord God: "And so it was, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord."

   Hezekiah did not go complaining and grumbling that he didn't desrve to be treated so unjustly at the hands of the Assyria, but he weep humbly into the presence of the Lord, dresses in the robes of repentance. In this way. He acknowledge that anything that happened to him and his people was well-deserve. He also understood that nothing happens by chance, and that he had something to learn from the trials he was facing, that he wasn't guiltless. And so, he tore his clothes and openly confessed to God that he deserve whatever the Lord brough upon him. But notice that this a knowledgement of guilt did not keep him from the Lord's presence. He went, knowing that this was the only hope he had, and he went not demanding justice for his cause but mercy and honor for the Lord's name.

    He also sent messengers to Isaiah, for he recognized the calling of the prophet and sought his consolation in this matter. He used the language of "your God," which seem to imply that he was afraid that God no longer thought of him as his own. But this was not what Hezekiah meant. He was recognizing the calling of Isaiah as  special servant of the Lord, and he gave him the respect due him.

    Isaiah responded with these words, "do not be afraid of the words which you heard, with which the servant of the king of assyria have blasphemed Me." Hezekiah was most concerned that God's name had been dishonored, and it is as if the Lord responded by saying. "Don't worry, I will vindicate my name and my people by driving away the Assyrian king by My Spirit and killing him in his own land."

Hezekiah received the consolation he wanted and the assurance that God' name would be glorified by the downfall of his enemies.

          

   What do you do when times are tough? Is your first response to humble yourself, acknowledge any guilt that you might have, and going to the Lord for help? Or do you complain and seek worldly methods of assistance, no matter how impotent they have proven in the past? Turn to the Lord today. Trust in him alone.