Monday, October 22: Isaiah 36- When trials come your way.

Hezekiah was one of the premier and faithful kings in Judah in the Old Testament. He loved the Lord and led well. Then in the 14^th year of his reign, the entire region was attacked by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. And during that time the Assyrian army laid siege to Jerusalem. Hezekiah had some advanced warning during which time he fortified the walls and dug an amazing channel to bring fresh water from a spring outside the city wall into the city. At the same time he covered and hid the spring.

Hezekiah was no fool, he did everything he could to prepare for invasion. In time the mighty Assyrian army came and besieged the city. Even with the strengthened city, Judah was no match for Assyria, the dominant world power of the region.

Stuff happens I thought. Hezekiah prepared as best he could, still prospects looked grim.

With the siege came the taunting... Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, 'The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.' "Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. "Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, 'The LORD will deliver us.' Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? (13-18).

Hezekiah kept his focus on the Lord and he kept the people looking to the Lord as well.

I thought, Lord, there is my devotional nugget for today. Keep my focus on the Lord.

·         When the skies are dark and cloudy... keep my focus on the Lord.

·         When life is sunny and good... keep my focus on the Lord.

·         When people are down and distraught around me... keep my focus on the Lord.

·         When I am tired and exhausted with too much to do or the strain and stress of life... keep my focus on the Lord. 

·         When I feel like giving up... keep my focus on the Lord.

Be a Hezekiah, a man of faith, a man of follow-though.

Oh, Lord, give me the strength to keep my focus on You, Lord, at all times, in all seasons until I close my eyes in death. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.