Daily EncouragementSample

This was a wise way in which to treat correspondence of this kind - to receive it, read it and refer it to the Lord. It was a threatening letter from Sennacherib king of Assyria: “Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria’” (2 Kings 19:10). The letters which disturb us may be of little significance compared with this one, which affected the destiny of the city of God. Nevertheless, we would do well to follow Hezekiah’s example.

He spread out the letter before the Lord with prayer. He hid nothing and recognized the truth of the situation: “It is true O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands” (2 Kings 19:17). He presented his request for deliverance, but his supreme motive was for the glory of God: “So that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God” (2 Kings 19:19).

God’s answer came in the form of a word of assurance: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer . . . ” (2 Kings 19:20). It also came in the shape of action which changed the whole situation swiftly and drastically: “So Sennacherib king of Assyria . . . withdrew" (2 Kings 19:36). God does not fail to answer the letters spread out before him!