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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
2 Chronicles 32:16-33
In 2 Kings 18, 19 we have read in detail about the outrageous remarks of Rab-shakeh, followed by the letter from the king of Assyria. How does Hezekiah reply? By prayer! He and Isaiah, the two together, cry to God about this matter. This is the smallest possible prayer meeting. However, the Lord is prepared for this and it has irresistible power, in keeping with His promise: "If two of you shall agree . . . as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18:19). On the one side, we see two men in prayer; on the other, we see a formidable army. Victory goes to the former; the mass of attackers is crushed without even knowing how! Their leader returns "with shame of face" to die, in his turn, at the hands of his two sons.
After the king of Assyria comes the king of terrors: death (Job 18:14), an even more frightening enemy who arises to swallow up Hezekiah. However, prayer rules supreme over death as well and God delivers him again.
Sadly this joyous reign does not end without one dark spot: a serious moment of weakness brought about by pride, to be followed by humiliation and restoration.
