Teaching and Learning:
An Ordered Life
2 Chronicles 32:20-26
The Message
20-21 King Hezekiah, joined by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, responded by praying, calling up to heaven. God answered by sending an angel who wiped out everyone in the Assyrian camp, both warriors and officers. Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace, tail between his legs. When he went into the temple of his god, his own sons killed him.
22-23 God saved Hezekiah and the citizens of Jerusalem from Sennacherib king of Assyria and everyone else. And he continued to take good care of them. People streamed into Jerusalem bringing offerings for the worship of God and expensive presents to Hezekiah king of Judah. All the surrounding nations were impressed—Hezekiah's stock soared.
24 Some time later Hezekiah became deathly sick. He prayed to God and was given a reassuring sign.
25-26 But the sign, instead of making Hezekiah grateful, made him arrogant. This made God angry, and his anger spilled over on Judah and Jerusalem. But then Hezekiah, and Jerusalem with him, repented of his arrogance, and God withdrew his anger while Hezekiah lived.
22-23 God saved Hezekiah and the citizens of Jerusalem from Sennacherib king of Assyria and everyone else. And he continued to take good care of them. People streamed into Jerusalem bringing offerings for the worship of God and expensive presents to Hezekiah king of Judah. All the surrounding nations were impressed—Hezekiah's stock soared.
24 Some time later Hezekiah became deathly sick. He prayed to God and was given a reassuring sign.
25-26 But the sign, instead of making Hezekiah grateful, made him arrogant. This made God angry, and his anger spilled over on Judah and Jerusalem. But then Hezekiah, and Jerusalem with him, repented of his arrogance, and God withdrew his anger while Hezekiah lived.
For Reflection
Hezekiah, Hezekiah, Hezekiah, what were you thinking? We are all susceptible to righteousness run amok. Hezekiah, seeing the results of God's hand, defined the victory as his own rather than God's. It looks like religious leaders are not exempt from the seduction of success -- in this case righteousness turned to self-righteousness.
Maybe this is why we are skeptical when a politician claims that God is on his or her side. Yes, God does work in and through political action, but, I am not so sure that we mortals can say with certainty which action was God's and which action was just the natural flow of things or even the Devil's doin'. In the days of the old testament, assigning worldly events to God's hand (indeed any god's hand) was more common place.
Hezekiah's response to the people's adoration, however, is still a common modern response. I suppose one must remember to be humble and not to assume that one can read God's mind.
Pray
That you are not persuaded toward self-righteousness. Pray that you understand the wisdom in making your observations provisional. Pray that you are quick to thank God and slow to assume his authority.
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