The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Kings 20:6c,
"I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David."
Jerusalem has been, and still is, called the city of David. It is where David built his palace and established his throne. It is also the city where his son, Solomon, when he became king, built the temple of the Lord. As such, it is not difficult to see why the Lord said he would defend Jerusalem against Assyrian aggression "for the sake of my servant David."
However, why did the Lord say he would spare the city for his own sake? What did he mean by that? How could sparing the city of Jerusalem redound to the sake of the Lord?
I suspect we all often think of those things that concern us, our cares, our goals, our aspirations. I also suspect we all spend time on our knees in prayer about those things before the Lord, e.g. the health and welfare of our children and our spouses; our jobs, our own health and safety, and so on.
Something that may get overlooked from time to time, however, is that which concerns the Lord, those things that he feels are important and need to be addressed. We may be on our knees addressing the Lord with our cares and concerns, but he may be afoot addressing directly those things he wants accomplished. The Lord has his priorities, his goals, his accomplishments that he pursues. We see this in passages like Isaiah 55:10-11,
"I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David."
Jerusalem has been, and still is, called the city of David. It is where David built his palace and established his throne. It is also the city where his son, Solomon, when he became king, built the temple of the Lord. As such, it is not difficult to see why the Lord said he would defend Jerusalem against Assyrian aggression "for the sake of my servant David."
However, why did the Lord say he would spare the city for his own sake? What did he mean by that? How could sparing the city of Jerusalem redound to the sake of the Lord?
I suspect we all often think of those things that concern us, our cares, our goals, our aspirations. I also suspect we all spend time on our knees in prayer about those things before the Lord, e.g. the health and welfare of our children and our spouses; our jobs, our own health and safety, and so on.
Something that may get overlooked from time to time, however, is that which concerns the Lord, those things that he feels are important and need to be addressed. We may be on our knees addressing the Lord with our cares and concerns, but he may be afoot addressing directly those things he wants accomplished. The Lord has his priorities, his goals, his accomplishments that he pursues. We see this in passages like Isaiah 55:10-11,
"As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Clearly the Lord has his purposes and his desires. These he accomplishes well. When we read the Lord has decided to defend Jerusalem for his sake, he is referring to just these priorities of his.
The Lord's goals and priorities for planet earth are not a mystery. He has revealed to us in the pages of Scripture his agenda of building a family for himself, the ultimate goal of all creation. His agenda, very clearly and very simply is the redemption of mankind for himself. He has provided for this redemption through the sacrificial death of his Son on that miserable cross. And, now, he seeks all who will embrace him in faith.
In all of history, all the great acts of the Lord find their appointed fulfillment in the redemption of mankind. It is when we understand this that we understand both what the Lord has done in history and what he is busy doing today.
It is my understanding that this is how sparing Jerusalem was for his own sake, as well as David's. Sparing Jerusalem until later, when the Babylonians took the remnant of Jews captive, did the Lord prepare his people for the eventual advent of his Son when he came to earth two millenia ago. Following the return of the Jews to the land, having their hearts impacted by their captivity helped set the stage for the Lord's coming when he arrived.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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