Isaiah 37: 1-13

There is a right time to grieve, lament and repent (1-4). This is true even for ‘charismatic’ Christians. It can’t be all about ‘chandelier swinging’. There is a legitimate time to wear our equivalent of ‘’sackcloth’’ (1, 2). There is a time for serious, grown up praying that faces terrible realities with faith. Sometimes we are too trite and trivial; too silly and superficial, in our approach to Almighty God.

Notice that Hezekiah ‘’went into the temple of the LORD’’ (2), and ‘’…sent…to the prophet Isaiah…’’ (2). Let your troubles move you in the direction of God. Don’t be too proud to bend your knees in prayer, or to ask for the prayers of others (4b). When you recognise your ‘’no strength’’ (3), you are in a place to draw on the fullness of God’s strength. Always remember that the Lord knows about all the details of your difficulties (4). Nothing is hidden from Him.

‘’Ch.37…is a model of response to intimidation. Hezekiah’s steadfastness owed nothing to blind optimism; his sackcloth (1) was proof of that. His call for Isaiah’s prayer (4) showed where his confidence lay…’’ Derek Kidner: The ‘New Bible Commentary’, p.654.

The first thing God regularly says to His troubled people is ‘Don’t be afraid!’ It is so easy to operate out of fear instead of trust. Yes we need to be wise and careful, not silly and stupid. We ought to keep our discernment ‘radar’ always switched on. But let’s not allow fear to make us live closed in and folded up little lives. We can go out into each day holding the Hand of God and trusting in His power to keep us. In God and with God we can remain open and expansive in heart; generous in spirit.

You never know how God is going to turn around the difficult problems you pray about. But He has a plan even when you don’t. He often acts in the most surprising ways (5-7). What God said would happen, did happen. The enemy had lots of words of threat and bluster (10-13), but what God says stands above all the words of man. You don’t need many words from the Lord to drive the fear out of your heart, if you will just trust what He says. One Word from Him changes everything!

Prayer: Help me to hear and trust your voice above all the blaring voices of this world.