Isaiah V: A Word of Wonder
Sermon Review
2 December 2001
Isaiah 37:14 to 20 & 33 to 38

In the time of Isaiah, Assyria was the super power. Like we accept the superpower status of America today, King Hezekiah would no doubt have accepted the supremacy of ancient Assyria, but he did not like it. He had seen his father Ahaz pay out massive tribute to Assyria, only to have that nation turn on theirs and bring it low. He had also seen his own father turn Judah away from God through widespread religious and idolatrous actions. So when Hezekiah came to power he not only rejected Assyrian rule, but he set in motion arguably one of the most successful and extensive religious reformations in Judah in Biblical History. He reopened the Temple under Levitical control; destroyed the idols and entrapments that were used by people within it, including the bronze serpent used by Moses for healing during an outbreak of rebellion in the wilderness wanderings. He reintroduced the tithe, sacrificial system, and the celebration of the major religious feasts, as well as removing all the shrines and altars and worship centres established throughout the countryside outside of Jerusalem. Hezekiah also reinforced the walls and towers of Jerusalem, extending them to enclose the Pool of Siloam for a constant city water supply after connecting it to a natural spring through approximately 600 metres of rock. He then blocked all the springs and wells surrounding Jerusalem so they would be unavailable for use by an enemy. He also divided his military forces into smaller units under trusted commanders, and had craftsman manufacture countless shields and weapons. It would also appear that he made some type of political or military alliance with Egypt as well. In all of this he encouraged his people by saying things like,'be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the King of Assyria and the entire horde that is with him; for there is one greater with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.' 2Chron.32:7,8.

You see Hezekiah was a man deeply devoted to God and concerned about His interests. I have no reason to doubt that each of these precautionary steps he took to secure Judah and Jerusalem against Assyria was bathed in prayer and supported by faith. However, when the ancient super power moved against him he recognised the futility of fighting militarily against it. Firstly he tried buying off the Assyrian King, Sennacherib, with Jerusalem's wealth (2Kings.18:13-16). This failed as Sennacherib took the payment and then proceeded to have his Field Commander conquer all of Judah and surround Jerusalem. With his practical manoeuvres exhausted, Hezekiah turned to God with all his might. He prayed himself and sought Isaiah to pray as well, that God would intervene and save them from the might of Assyria. Isaiah reported to him that God would look after Sennacherib, recalling him to Assyria where he would ultimately be killed by the sword. Following this a brief respite was given when the field commander had to take his troops to help Sennacherib quell a rebellion in Babylon. However, a little later a different rebellion in Ethiopia begun, and enroute to squash it, Sennacherib sent more threats and intimidations to Hezekiah, promising to destroy Jerusalem. Hezekiah, too wise to either dismiss these threats, or to succumb them, takes the letter to God and prays over its contents. This time he is answered in no uncertain terms. The Assyrian army, ready to besiege Jerusalem, was soundly routed when a death angel slew 185,000 of them - they bled and fled, while Jerusalem prayed and stayed. What a lesson! As a result of this prayer we see the wonder of God's astounding intervention. Puny Judah prevailed over the super power Assyria. Something as astounding as a sudden and complete reversal between the Taliban and the coalition, including America, in present day Afghanistan. Assyrian arrogance and might was brought to nothing by the power of God through strongly motivated prayer.

For Consideration:
Despite all of Hezekiah's concern for God and the security of his people, his thoughtful precautionary steps taken to honour God and protect his people were inadequate. Trying to buy this protection failed. Alliance with Egypt had not helped. His city's reinforcements and military preparations were not sufficient in light of the might of Assyria. And even the massive religious reformation he had orchestrated did not appear to have secured protection from Assyria either. These combined failures did not stop him, he simply continued to do what everyone in a similar position should do - he looked to God to do what his all his well-intentioned, wise, and most probably faith-filled efforts, could not do. And God did far beyond his wildest dreams. Tiny Judah prevailed over mighty Assyria.

Through Hezekiah we are confronted with the beauty, the wonder of weakness, inadequacy, and human limitation. Rightly responded to, it pushes one closer and closer to God, allowing Him to do what we cannot in His own way. The right response to weakness is of course to look to God and seek His power and strength. Such a response will always open before us the opportunity to experience the wonder of God at work. If we either never come face to face with our own limits, or simply deny their existence, we slam shut a door through which the power of God can work. There is power in impotency! Paul tells us that 'in our weakness God's strength is made perfect' (2Cor.12:9). Amongst Hezekiah's army there must have been many brave and proud warriors who believed in their prowess and martial competence. Yet when they saw the might of Assyria, many of these same warriors would have trembled. But imagine their rejoicing when the power of God smashed their 'Goliath' to the ground. Their limitations prepared the way for celebration and awe at the wonder of God at work. Like them, if we acknowledge our own 'Assyrians', or 'Goliaths', and seek God earnestly, we give God a chance to work creatively and resolutely in our lives and circumstances. Limitations are blessings for they teach us how much we need God. They train us to rely on God. They can cause us to hunger for God and to see his power in and through our lives and circumstances.

I believe that we need to face facts - to look at our own 'Assyrian' problem. As a church we do not seem to be cutting the ice here in Armidale. How many conversions have we had this year? Has God moved powerfully in your life during a service this year? In what ways has your worship deepened over this year? Or your love for God and each other broadened and enriched? Have you found yourself responding to Him in repentance, or have you experienced a passionate hunger for God to move in your life because He made his presence felt through some aspect of ministry of this church? I can't answer all of these questions, but it seems to me that despite our best intentions and faith-filled efforts, we are not seeing God powerfully at work amongst us nor through us. This church has been battling for years and it is still small and struggling. I fear that it will continue to do so until we confront the possibility, perhaps the reality, that we are basically complacent and fearful of letting God get a hold of our lives so he can use us as He sees fit. Complacency is not a state of affairs that God likes, for behind complacency is often not just laziness, but primarily fear and self-will. Each of us must ask ourselves, where is my passion for God? Where is my hunger for God? We need to take stock and remember Laodicea (Rev.3:14-22).

Being servants with master's hearts is not what being a Christian is all about. Jesus said that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone John.12:24. He said that those who follow him must deny themselves and take up their cross, for he who keeps his life for himself will lose it, but he who loses his life for his sake will find it Matt.16:24. Giving the appearance of God being our Lord on the outside, but on the inside being filled with fear and self-will is not right. The Spirit of God desires to write on tablets of human hearts because they are flesh - soft and impressionable to the dictates of God's will and way. Hearts of stone are not his preferred manuscript to work on.

I do think that it is time to take a leaf out of Hezekiah's book and acknowledge our own impotence. Where we are afflicted with the curse of complacency, fearfulness, or stubbornness, and anything else that is stopping God from working, we need to have God reveal it so we can repent of it. Clarence Clark has written, 'you can buy a person's time; you can buy his physical presence in a given place; you can even buy a measured number of his skilled muscular motions per hour. But you cannot buy enthusiasm. You cannot buy initiative. You cannot buy the devotion of hearts, minds and souls. You have to earn those things.' Christ earned those 'things' on the cross. I believe that each of us should consider the need to come before God for reviving and renewing in love and commitment to Him and His concerns. If we will acknowledge our own need for him to work deeply amongst us; if we will but 'stay and pray' about our own Assyrians, they will be reduced to bleeding and fleeing. Acknowledged weakness and impotence is a highway to the wonder of God at work amongst us and through us. Lets get serious and risk inviting God to make 'Transformations' a reality amongst us, rather than just continue to be onlookers. Take time to meditate on 2Chron.7:14 and lets seek His face while we can!

Blessings

 

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