Dear Lord. You have seen everything that has happened to us, and You are gracious to us still. Receive our confession of wrongdoing, and convince us about how we should change our behaviour for the better. Keep us in Your will, we pray; AMEN
Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- Discuss in your group whether you believe that the Commander of the Assyrian army was indeed doing God’s will, and if so, why?
- Why was Jerusalem invaded by Assyria, even though worship had been reformed and people kept God’s laws (see 2 Chronicles 29-32)? Should we not escape punishment if we do what is right?
- Does God work in the midst of every situation we face? Discuss those instances where this seems difficult to believe.
Topis covered by this text
- The threat of violence against God’s people, persecution
- Standing firm in the midst of peril
- The judgements of God
Personal comments by author:
I have had to be careful with myself as I have studied for this work today; the background material is not all that it seems, and one is pulled to and fro in sympathy for the people of Jerusalem. I have learned that only by keeping the whole prophecy of Isaiah in mind can I get the context of each part of the book right. I hope you have followed this! Isaiah is one of the most complex books of the Bible.
Ideas for exploring discipleship
- Read through 2 Kings 18,19 and 2 Chronicles 29-33 in order to gain a fuller picture of the life and times of Hezekiah and Isaiah.
- Go for a long walk and ask yourself this question; ‘what is the hope in which I have placed my trust’? Am I someone who is able to stand firm in the midst of turmoil?
Please refer to the general advice on the page ‘discipleship challenges’
The notes below are offered to help you think about the challenges of God’s Word. Read the notes and suggestions below, but don’t try to follow through any more than one thing at any one time!