Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion, like yesterday’s devotion, comes from 2 Kings 19:8-19.  This devotion contains edits to yesterday’s devotion and hopefully better summarizes and presents the primary points.  There are also other additions, subtractions, and changes.  

“Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.  When he heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah saying, “Thus you shall say to Hezekiah king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you saying, “Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”  Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, destroying them completely.  So will you be spared?  Did the gods of those nations which my fathers destroyed deliver them, even Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?  Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”

Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.  Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.  You have made heaven and earth.  Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear;  open Your eyes, O LORD, and see;  and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.  Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone.  So they have destroyed them.  Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”  2 Kings 19:8-19.

————   

Hezekiah king of Judah prays for three things in what is shown in bold italic font above.  First, there is the prayer that the LORD will deliver “us” (Jerusalem) from the hand of the king of Assyria.  Second, there is the prayer for all, even the Gentiles:  “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”  Third, there is the prayer that the LORD may be known.                                                  

The hope is that the LORD would act on the basis of His perfection for His own sake and for His own glory.  If the LORD acted on the basis of Judah’s own sake or the Gentiles’ own sake, all would be lost.  

Consider what was written about Judah two chapters earlier.  “Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced.  The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight.”  2 Kings 17:19-20.  

Also, consider more generally what Scripture states about all, Jews and Gentiles.

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:10-12.

We were “dead” in sin. Ephesians 2:1-5. We were hostile to God. Romans 8:7 and Colossians 1:21. We were in bondage to sin. Romans 7:14-15.

And, the LORD would act on the basis of His perfection for His own sake and for His own glory!

We remember the shocking Ezekiel chapter 36 Scripture about the LORD’S action, most likely addressed to saving the remnant, that the LORD’S saving actions (described in Ezekiel 36:24-30) were not done for Israel’s sake, but for the sake of the LORD so that “Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.”

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst.  Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.   …  Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.  I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you.  Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”  Ezekiel 36:22-23 and 31-32.

The hope that we may know the LORD is not based on our desires of what we want the LORD to be. The hope is not based on our speculations. The hope is based on God’s word and that God will reveal Himself to His elect and cause them to understand.

What does the Scripture tell us about the LORD and His will to reveal Himself?

All of Scripture is profitable to tell us about the LORD and His will to reveal Himself. But, I will only quote two Scriptures about that topic in this section.

“At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Matthew 11:25-27.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Thus, the LORD delights in and exercises not only lovingkindness, but the LORD also delights in and exercises justice and righteousness, on the earth, for His sake.  

Is that our understanding of the LORD?  That “the LORD … exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”?

Is that our prayer?  That although we will pray for deliverance for ourselves, our family, and our nation, above all, do we pray that “the LORD … exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”?  

Other doctrine believes that the LORD loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and the LORD wants to save everyone.  

But, Reformed Doctrine understands from Scripture that the LORD does not love everyone, Christ did not die for everyone, and the LORD does not want to save everyone.  The LORD only loves His elect. Christ only died for the LORD’S elect. The LORD saved all of His elect and only His elect.

Consider the following from the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Article 8. For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.

In addition to demonstrating His lovingkindness by saving all and only His elect, the LORD also demonstrates His justice and righteousness both by punishing the non-elect on earth and by sending the non-elect to hell.

“2 … Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.” Psalm 97:2-3.

“But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:5. 

Regarding the lovingkindness of the LORD, the LORD saves all and only His elect on the basis of His choice and His mercy, not on the basis of anything that man contributed whether it be man’s works or as little as man’s will to be saved.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:15-18.

“And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.” Romans 9:10-12.

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24.

The demonstration of the LORD’S justice and righteousness also serves His lovingkindness to His elect.  The elect sees the sharp contrast between how the LORD deals with the non-elect (“vessels of wrath prepared for destruction”) and how the LORD deals with the elect (“vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory”). Through knowing such a contrast, the elect appreciate all the more that “Amazing Grace” they received!

The LORD will accomplish all of His good pleasure in saving all of His elect and only His elect through His sovereign power, His Spirit, His authority, and His work in His church in making disciples of all nations as is in the Great Commission and in the concluding Scriptures of this devotion.    

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Article 5.  Moreover, the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel.

Consider also the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

Article 11. But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God; but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens; from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable; actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

Before we conclude, we circle back to quote two of those omitted verses in Ezekiel chapter 36 to which reference was made earlier of the LORD’S saving actions (described in Ezekiel 36:24-30).

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:26-27.

In conclusion, all authority was given to Jesus. “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20.

“And He (Christ) gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13.     

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 19:8-19.  Normally, I try to divide Scripture for each devotion to cover one primary point and about 750 words, more or less.  But, there is more than one primary point for this Scripture which I want to include in one devotion which is much longer than normal (about 1631 words, not including last minute edits).  So, God willing, I will not post a new devotion until next Sunday, February 9, 2025, to allow for possible edits that I may make and to also allow for more time for all of us to meditate upon this complex but most important subject.  

“Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.  When he heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah saying, “Thus you shall say to Hezekiah king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you saying, “Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”  Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, destroying them completely.  So will you be spared?  Did the gods of those nations which my fathers destroyed deliver them, even Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?  Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”

Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.  Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.  You have made heaven and earth.  Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear;  open Your eyes, O LORD, and see;  and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.  Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone.  So they have destroyed them.  Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”  2 Kings 19:8-19.

————   

Notice that Hezekiah king of Judah did not request deliverance of “us” (himself and the rest of at least Jerusalem and hopefully all of Judah) for their own sake, but rather, “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.” 

Superficially that sounds good, but consider that his prayer did carry some risk.  Hezekiah minimized the risk by preceding his risk with his statement that the other nations were worshipping idols and inferring that the LORD’S action of delivering Judah would prove His righteousness by punishing the wicked and delivering the righteous (Judah who was at least not as guilty of worshipping idols).

But, by not focusing more in his prayer about delivering Judah for their own sake, namely by not saying more or emphasizing more that they were the chosen or otherwise worthy of special treatment, there was a risk that the LORD would treat Judah along with all the other kingdoms as worthy of punishment, including Israel who had already been carried to exile.

Hezekiah did not over think it.  His prayer did include a request for deliverance for Judah,  But, what was most important was not that Judah would be saved.   What was most important is that the LORD would be properly exalted over all, “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”  

We remember the shocking Ezekiel chapter 36 Scripture about the LORD’S action, most likely addressed to saving the remnant, that the LORD’S saving actions (described in Ezekiel 36:24-30) were not done for Israel’s sake, but for the sake of the LORD so that “Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.”

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst.  Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.   …  Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.  I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you.  Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”  Ezekiel 36:22-23 and 31-32.

The LORD delights in and exercises not only lovingkindness, but the LORD also delights in and exercises justice and righteousness, on the earth, for His sake.  

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Is that our understanding of the LORD?  That “the LORD … exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”?

Is that our prayer?  That although we will pray for deliverance for ourselves, our family, and our nation, above all, do we pray that “the LORD … exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”?  

Other doctrine believes that the LORD loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and the LORD wants to save everyone.  

But, Reformed Doctrine understands from Scripture that God does not love everyone, Christ did not die for every one, and the LORD does not want to save everyone.  In addition to demonstrating His lovingkindness by saving all and only His elect, the LORD also demonstrates His justice and righteousness both by punishing the non-elect on earth and by sending the non-elect to hell.

“2 … Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.” Psalm 97:2-3.

“But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:5. 

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:15-18.

And, such demonstration of the LORD’S justice and righteousness also serves His lovingkindness to His elect.  The elect sees the sharp contrast between how the LORD deals with the non-elect (“vessels of wrath prepared for destruction”) and the elect (“vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory”). Through knowing such a contrast, the elect appreciate all the more that “Amazing Grace” about which we sing!

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24.

But, there is another primary point. When we pray like Hezekiah “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God”, there is the hope that the LORD will use us, His true church, to accomplish it. We are given the duty and the privilege and honor of preaching the gospel to the whole world.  We trust that the LORD will accomplish all of His good pleasure, including but not limited to:  through our making disciples of all nations as is in the Great Commission and in the concluding Scripture of this devotion.    

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

Consider also the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Article 5.  Moreover, the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel.

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 18:26-37.

“Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, “Speak now to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it;  and do not speak with us in Judean in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”  But Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”

Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in Judean, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.  Thus says the king, ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you from my hand;  nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, “The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”  Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, “Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat each of his vine and each of his fig tree and drink each of the waters of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live and not die.”  But do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying, “The LORD will deliver us.”  Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?  Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad?  Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?  Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?  Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their land from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’”

But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”  Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of Rabshakeh.”  2 Kings 18:26-37.

————-

The people’s silence at the king’s command reminds us to be still at our King’s command.

“Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us;  the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah.”  Psalm 46:10-11.  King James Version.

So to speak in two ways, the LORD is “still” sovereign.  That is, the LORD’S sovereignty continues even over difficult matters, and the LORD’s sovereignty causes things to be still.

The LORD has the power to still the raging sea. “And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.”  And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.”  Mark 4:39.

And, the LORD also has the power to still the heathens who may rage and wage war. 

“The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:  he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

…

“He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;  he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;  he burneth the chariot in the fire.”  Psalm 46:6 and 9.  King James Version.

And, the LORD also has the power to still our hearts.  “Peace I leave with you;  My peace I give to you;  not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  John 14:27.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, …”  Psalm 46:1-2.  King James Version.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 18:17-25.

“Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a large army to Jerusalem.  So they went up and came to Jerusalem.  And when they went up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway of the fuller’s field.  When they called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came out to them.

Then Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What is this confidence that you have?  You say (but they are only empty words), ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’  Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?  Now behold, you rely on the staff of this crushed reed, even on Egypt;  on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it.  So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.  But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?  Now therefore, come, make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.  How then can you repulse one official of the least of my master’s servants, and rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?  Have I now come up without the LORD’S approval against this place to destroy it?  The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”’”  2 Kings 18:17-25.

————

Today’s Scripture teaches us lessons on how to guard against the words of our enemies even though they may seem very persuasive.  Rather than trusting our enemies, we should seek the LORD and trust Him.

Most generally, the representatives of the king of Assyria whom Judah knew had besieged Israel and carried Israel into exile were now trying to convince Judah to peacefully surrender without a fight.  That fact alone should be sufficient to not trust their words.

Likewise, most generally, we need to be very guarded against whatever our enemies tell us and not trust them just because they seem to make persuasive arguments.  

We will look at two of their specific persuasive arguments highlighted by bold italic font.  

Regarding verse 21, it is true that the LORD warned Judah about seeking help from Egypt in Isaiah 30:2-3 and 7.  But, that does not necessarily mean that Judah should now surrender to Assyria.  The devil quoted Scripture in trying to tempt Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11.  Likewise, we should not do what our enemies tell us to do only because they quote Scripture.

Regarding verse 25, the LORD may have told or led Assyria to attack Israel in order to punish Israel, but that does not necessarily mean that the LORD told or led Assyria now to attack Judah in order to punish Judah. 

We will read in later Scripture that Hezekiah king of Judah wisely sent his servants to Isaiah.

“Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.  Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land.  And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”’”  2 Kings 19:6-7.

In summary, rather than listening to our enemies and trusting them, we should seek and listen to the LORD, and trust Him.

“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8.

“4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.”
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.” Psalm 34:4-7.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 18:1-7.

“Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.  He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.  He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.  He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah.  He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.  He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel;  so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.  For he clung to the LORD;  he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.

And the LORD was with him;  wherever he went he prospered.  And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.  He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.”  2 Kings 18:1-7. 

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“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3.

“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12.

“I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalm 57:2.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32. 

“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7.

“So then let no one boast in men.  For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come;  all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ;  and Christ belongs to God.”  1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

“but just as it is written,

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.

…

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,”  1 Corinthians 2:9 and 12.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 17:24-41.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2017&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.  

“The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel.  So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.  At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD;  therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.  So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land;  so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land.”

Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile and let him go and live there;  and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land.”  So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

…

But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the houses of the high places which the people of Samaria had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived.  …

To this day they do according to the earlier customs:  they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances or the law, or the commandments which the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom He named Israel;  with whom the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them.  …  So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols;  their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.”  2 Kings 17:24-29 and 34-35 and 41. 

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Today’s Scripture teaches us that a general fear (respect) for the LORD is not enough.  We need to fear, serve, and obey only the LORD.

We may be quick to dismiss today’s Scripture smugly thinking that we do not make idols.  But, consider the following article.  

Augustus Toplady (1740-1778) was chiefly known as a writer of hymns including “Rock of Ages”. He ministered in London, England.  Although he was originally a follower of John Wesley, in 1758 he adopted strong Calvinist convictions.  Some comments by Wesley upon Toplady’s presentation of Calvinism led to a bitter controversy between them.  The following are some quote from  an article by Augustus Toplady titled “The ‘god’ of Arminianism”.

“Nevertheless, let me tell you, that trust, confidence, reliance, and dependence, for salvation, are all acts and very solemn ones too, of divine worship:  and upon whatsoever you depend, whether in whole or in part, for your acceptance with God, and for your justification in his sight, whatsoever, you rely upon, and trust in, for the attainment of grace or glory;  if it be any thing short of God in Christ, you are an idolater for all intents and purposes.

Very different is the idea which Scripture gives us, of the ever-blessed God, from that of those false gods worshipped by the heathens;  and from that degrading representation of the true God, which Arminianism would palm upon mankind.  Our God (says this Psalm, verse the third) is in the heavens:  he hath done whatsoever he pleased.  This is not the Arminian idea of God:  for our free-willers and our chance- mongers tell us, that God does not do whatsoever he pleases;  that there are a great number of things, which God wishes to do, and rags and strives to do, and yet cannot bring to pass …  Is their god the Bible-God?  Certainly not.  Their god ‘submits’ to difficulties which he ‘cannot help’ himself out of, and endearours to make himself ‘easy’ under millions and millions of inextricable embarrassments, uncomfortable disappointments, and mortifying defeats. …  

… One great contest, between the religion of Arminianism, and the religion of Christ, is, who shall stand entitled to the praise and glory of a sinner’s salvation?  …   Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but to thy name, give the glory:  I am saved not for my righteousness, but for thy mercy and thy truth’s sake.”

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 17:7-23.

“Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced.  The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God.  Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.  They set for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the LORD had carried away to exile before them;  and they did evil things provoking the LORD.  They served idols, concerning which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”  Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.”  However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.  They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them.  And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them.  They forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.  Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him.  So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight;  none was left except the tribe of Judah.

Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced.  The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight.

When He had torn Israel from the house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king.  Then Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the LORD and made them commit a great sin.  The sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did;  they did not depart from them until the LORD removed Israel from His sight, as He spoke through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day.”  2 Kings 17:7-23.

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After all that Israel and Judah did, why did the LORD save any?!

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Article 1.  As all men have sinned in Adam, lie under the curse, and are deserving of eternal death, God would have done no injustice by leaving them all to perish, and delivering them over to condemnation on account of sin, according to the words of the apostle, Romans 3:19, “that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”  And verse 23:  “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  And Romans 6:23:  “for the wages of sin is death.”

But, there is hope!

The hope is not in anything that Israel or Judah did, as we can see from today’s Scripture.  

More generally, the hope is not in man’s works nor as little as man’s will.  The hope is not that man is somehow cute or loveable, for their sake, that the LORD saves some.  

The hope is that the LORD for His own sake will save some.    

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst.  Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;  I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.  You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers;  so you will be My people, and I will be your God.  Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness;  and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.  I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations.  Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.  I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you.  Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”  Ezekiel 36:22-31.

The LORD delights in and exercises not only lovingkindness, but the LORD also delights in and exercises justice and righteousness, on the earth, for His sake.  

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-29.