Daily Affirmations - Day 2 - What Basis? - The Power and the Promise of God
- Alisa B.
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Day 2: The power and the promise of God
The field commander said to [the king’s officials], “Tell Hezekiah: “‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?... (2 Kings 18:19).
Jerusalem [is] besieged by Sennacherib's army. He sent three of his great generals with a great host against Jerusalem. Is this the great king, the king of Assyria?
No, never call him so; he is a base, false, perfidious man, and worthy to be made infamous to all ages; let him never be named with honour that could do such a dishonourable thing as this, to take Hezekiah's money, which he gave him upon condition he should withdraw his army, and then, instead of quitting his country according to the agreement, to advance against his capital city, and not send him his money again either.
Those are wicked men indeed, and, let them be ever so great, we will call them so, whose principle it is not to make their promises binding any further than is for their interest.
Against all the rules of decency and honour, instead of treating with the commissioners, he menaces the soldiery, persuades them to desert or mutiny, threatens if they hold out to reduce them to the last extremities of famine, and then goes on with his discourse, the scope of which is to persuade Hezekiah, and his princes and people, to surrender the city...
He magnifies his master the king of Assyria. Once and again he calls him That great king, the king of Assyria. What an idol did he make of that prince whose creature he was!
God is the great King, but Sennacherib was in his eye a little god, and he would possess them with the same veneration for him that he had, and thereby frighten them into a submission to him.
But to those who by faith see the King of kings in His power and glory even the king of Assyria looks mean and little. What are the greatest of men when... they come to compare with God...? Those that trust to any arm of flesh will find it no better than a broken reed; but God is the Rock of Ages...
Interest in God and relation to Him...was indeed the confidence in which Hezekiah trusts. He supported himself by depending on the power and promise of God; with this he encouraged himself and his people: The Lord will surely deliver us, and again...
~ Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible ~ 2 Kings 18
This is my Father’s world:
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.
~ Maltbie D. Babcock ~ 1901
