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 18:25,
"Have I [the commander of Assyria's army] come to attack and destroy this place [Jerusalem] without word from the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it."
This statement was made by the commander of Assyria's military to the representatives of King Hezekiah of Judah. The Assyrian army had come to do just what the commander had said: to attack and destroy Jerusalem - that the Lord told him to do it. However, we read of the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah in the next chapter, "This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me." 2 Kings 19:6. We then read that the Assyrian army withdrew according to the word of the Lord through Isaiah.
Clearly, though the commander of Assyria's army claimed the Lord told him to attack and destroy Jerusalem, the Lord had not and saved Jerusalem from him.
Unfortunately, it is not unheard of that someone claims to speak for the Lord when it is not the case. The many religions we see today. The many "expressions" of Christianity we see today, the many conflicting theologians, preachers and pastors, the many conflicting "Christian" and other "religious" books all testify to the reality that not all who claim to speak for God actually do. I suspect very, very few do. The reason I believe that is the Lord has already said what he has to say through his chosen apostles and prophets in the pages of Scripture. I'm not suggesting the Lord is done speaking to mankind... far from it. However, what it is he has to say to us has been said and sadly, is ignored by most "believers" who seem preoccupied with other "sources".
It seems to be rare to find those who are well trained in the Scriptures. It seems rare to find those who are informed of the things of the Lord, what he has done, what he is doing today and what is coming our way from him in the future. It seems rare to find those who really know the Lord, his character and nature, what he is like, what his agenda is, what he is doing. It isn't that folks don't have opinions, it is that those opinions that often get expressed are those derived from listening to others, who, like Assyria's commander, really don't speak from the Lord.
We need to be of those who are well informed. We need to know the Scriptures, we need to know what they have to say. When we do, we will know the Lord, we will know what he is like, we will know what he has done, what he is doing today and what he has coming our way in the future. Paul's admonition here is very fitting, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. Paul here is talking about the Scriptures. In the following chapter he reminds us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
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.
"Have I [the commander of Assyria's army] come to attack and destroy this place [Jerusalem] without word from the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it."
This statement was made by the commander of Assyria's military to the representatives of King Hezekiah of Judah. The Assyrian army had come to do just what the commander had said: to attack and destroy Jerusalem - that the Lord told him to do it. However, we read of the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah in the next chapter, "This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me." 2 Kings 19:6. We then read that the Assyrian army withdrew according to the word of the Lord through Isaiah.
Clearly, though the commander of Assyria's army claimed the Lord told him to attack and destroy Jerusalem, the Lord had not and saved Jerusalem from him.
Unfortunately, it is not unheard of that someone claims to speak for the Lord when it is not the case. The many religions we see today. The many "expressions" of Christianity we see today, the many conflicting theologians, preachers and pastors, the many conflicting "Christian" and other "religious" books all testify to the reality that not all who claim to speak for God actually do. I suspect very, very few do. The reason I believe that is the Lord has already said what he has to say through his chosen apostles and prophets in the pages of Scripture. I'm not suggesting the Lord is done speaking to mankind... far from it. However, what it is he has to say to us has been said and sadly, is ignored by most "believers" who seem preoccupied with other "sources".
It seems to be rare to find those who are well trained in the Scriptures. It seems rare to find those who are informed of the things of the Lord, what he has done, what he is doing today and what is coming our way from him in the future. It seems rare to find those who really know the Lord, his character and nature, what he is like, what his agenda is, what he is doing. It isn't that folks don't have opinions, it is that those opinions that often get expressed are those derived from listening to others, who, like Assyria's commander, really don't speak from the Lord.
We need to be of those who are well informed. We need to know the Scriptures, we need to know what they have to say. When we do, we will know the Lord, we will know what he is like, we will know what he has done, what he is doing today and what he has coming our way in the future. Paul's admonition here is very fitting, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. Paul here is talking about the Scriptures. In the following chapter he reminds us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
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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