2nd Chronicles 32 ON EVERY SIDE It is important that we remember as the children of God, the fact that we are "strangers and pilgrims" who are passing through this world on our way to our home where our Father waits for us. There will be pressures, temptations and testing times from every side. Some will be the testing of opposition and how our courage and confidence in God will take us through without getting discouraged. There will be the tests of success in which our pride will want to take the supremacy. There will be the tests of flattery and deceit that will make us feel good about ourselves and our skillful "Christianity." Those who returned from exile were reminded by this account of the times of Hezekiah, that testing will come "on every side."
Assyrian might had spread all over the Middle East in the times of Hezekiah. Their purpose was to tax all the tribes from Assyria to Egypt and to prosper because of the tribute money and/or goods that came from those who were afraid of them or who they had conquered. They didn't want captives except for those who remained rebellious, because captives cost more money than what they would make. If a city had been destroyed and needed to be repopulated, the Assyrians would move captives into that place. When Hezekiah was confronted by the Assyrians, he did what he could to prepare a defense and the situation a siege would bring. The tunnel he had made to bring water into the city was quite a masterpiece of engineering. Two groups started at opposite ends of the tunnel and remarkably met without missing the opposite group of workers. When that was done Hezekiah could stop the water so that the Assyrians would be greatly disadvantaged, because water was scare around Jerusalem. He raised the walls in height and built a second wall for double protection. However, he knew what he really needed was God and in his prayers it was plain that he trusted God to bring the right solution to the situation in which they were found.
There is a principle which we need to continually practice in our labors for the Lord. We must do what we can with vigor and enthusiasm seeking to make sure we have left nothing undone that is in our power to do. Then we can turn the whole matter to the Lord knowing that He alone can bring true victory. We fulfill our responsibility, take the whole matter to the Lord in prayer and in faith trust Him for the best possible result. Faith and courage, go well together. Doubt defeats. Testing times reveal what we really are in character and faith. The testing times are refining times that bring out the best in God's people. It is in those times our character is brought out into the open to be seen by all.
Tests are not to trick us or makes us sin, but to show us who we really are and what our true attitude toward God and others is. It is not too difficult to live righteous lives when we are in easy times and success is being enjoyed. It is when we are under pressure, pain and trouble that what we really are is revealed. It is then our faith in God is demonstrated or our pride is exposed. Crisis times are to be expected by believers who live godly lives in an ungodly world and a sinful society. Adversity is normal in life because it in the tensions of life we become strong in Christ. Faithfulness, trust and truth go together. God allows testing times to make these real to us lest we become careless in living, indifferent to the evil around us and lifted up with pride. The eyes of faith look beyond opposition to the One who says, "Be strong and of good courage."
Threats and threatening speeches on the part of unbelievers are simply attempts to intimidate us, bring fear and embarrassment to us. People hope that we will not be so bold in our faith to make it attractive to those who are seeking for peace and meaning in life. Insults and defiance against God do not turn aside believers from trusting our Lord and our faith in Him. Foresight on the part of a child of God is not because of a lack of faith, but an evidence of the reality of who we are and why we have been called by God. The water system Hezekiah built was a necessity for survival and he could do that. The double wall was for security and he could do that. The tested workers provided leadership for safety. The words of the king to the people was for the quietness of spirit they needed in that testing time. The words, "Be strong and courageous" are words that came from God to Joshua many generations before Hezekiah, and they resonate down through the centuries to people of faith from then until now.
The contrast of the arm of the flesh to faith in God is stark and unmistakable. "With us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battle," are words of faith on the part of the speaker and encouragement to those who hear them. The words of Isaiah became real and personal to Hezekiah. Nations rise and fall all down through history. Some rise quickly like Assyria. Others rise slowly like Babylon. The same is true when nations fall. Some are gone almost overnight. Others disintegrate from within like the Roman Empire, and we fear like our own country. But when we hear the voice of God speaking to us through His word and His servants, we find strength for our day - not from ourselves, but from our God. When that is real to us, we can encourage others.
Verbal attacks often intimidate Christians, so they keep quiet rather than respond. Actually, that is usually the best way to deal with verbal abuse from those who want to argue with the Bible and who resent the truth of God exposing their sin. The writer of the Chronicles for the returned exiles tells what is right. He did not write about Hezekiah's fears and lack of faith at the first of this crisis time. We need to be reminded from time to time that fear and failure does not always mean that we have gone beyond "redemption point." "God is still on His throne, and He will remember His own." Prayer and supplication to God are always a consolation to a person of faith, and answers to our prayers are a blessed resource for God's people who are in trouble.
When accusations and challenges are made against God and His people, silence in the face of rudeness has a way of putting things into proper perspective. Some think it is rude to not answer unfounded accusations, but to avoid the "he said, she said" kind of situation that is an argument looking for a place to happen, that is the best way to answer a baseless, foolish opinion. Insolence and ignorance often go together in an effort to intimidate other people and make their faith appear unfounded. A challenge to God's power and authority by puny, mortal men can be best dealt with by God Himself. Our responsibility is to be able to demonstrate our faith in Him, and not fail nor faint in our trust in our Lord.
God is able to defend His own honor when challenged and do it in His own way. In one night, He defeated the military might of the Assyrian empire and reduced the fame of Sennacherib to shame. We are able to rest in the sovereignty of God when we find ourselves in the straits of temptation, discouragement, despair and opposition. Personal testing times come when we alone are affected by situations in which God deals with us. Sickness, as in the case of Hezekiah, can be a severe testing time if we look only to "physicians and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." An earnest prayer for healing is in order. The answer may be healing, or a word like, "My grace is sufficient for thee, and My strength is made perfect in weakness." This is a test of faith in God's sovereignty.
A more serious test may come when pride raises its ugly head and we do not give God ALL the glory for His mercy and deliverance. Even the best of men, fail at times in this regard as we claim credit for victories that have been given by divine grace. There is a principle we need to remember. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." We should be thankful when a "word in season" is ministered to us and we realize that was for us personally.
Perhaps the most difficult test of all is the test of success and wealth. "Riches and honor," "substance very much" and prosperity are good when they are spiritual, and are used for the reasons for which God has entrusted them to us. Hezekiah was noted for his "goodness." Kindness is never out of style and is a demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit. Flattery and the courting of favor by others, is a potential stumbling stone that is just ahead of every successful servant of God. We know our enemies when there is opposition. We don't know them when there is the subtle attraction of flattery.
Hezekiah was a man of honor in life, and was honored both in his life and death. Even though he failed in some ways and the Lord had to test him so that he could know his own weakness and frailty, those of his kingdom buried him in the "chiefest" tomb and "honored" him when they remembered him. He did deserve the honor given to him by the Lord's people. Failure does happen to the best of God's people. But it is important to give credit where credit is due, and honor where honor is due.