One became two and then two become one. God's people had created, under the leadership of King David, one nation; one nation capable of carrying God's promise for the world. Unfortunately as we discovered, that one nation lasted only a matter of two generations. David's son, Solomon and his grandson, Rehoboam, broke the nation in two through oppression, abusive taxation and a refusal to listen to the needs of the people.
The two nations (Israel in the north and Judah in the south) engaged in an elaborate dance for several hundred years. Sometimes they would wage war against one another. At other times they would work together for a common cause. Ultimately Israel chose to go down a road that not only led them away from God (worshipping the gods of their neighbors and engaging in economic oppression and child sacrifice) but led them to an arrogance that ignored geo-political reality. Their demise was a brutal demonstration of the power of the Assyrian Empire and the foolishness of Israel's leadership. They would no longer be a factor in bringing the promise of God to fruition.
In the face of this defeat and destruction Judah (the remaining bearer of the promise) was blessed to have a king who did all he could to be faithful to God. Hezekiah was one of the bright spots in the life of God's people. His reign began a few years after the fall of Israel. The scriptures say that "he did what was right in the sight of God." He pushed out the gods of neighboring peoples, destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had created in the wilderness (it had become an object of worship), defeated Israel's enemies, obeyed the Laws of God and then refused to pay tribute to Assyria (who by this time was elsewhere occupied). For a moment things were looking up.
Unfortunately for Hezekiah and Judah, the Assyrians returned. Hezekiah attempted to buy off the Assyrian King Sennacherib with silver and gold, but that would not suffice. The Assyrians were out to destroy Jerusalem. Hezekiah did not know what to do and so he sought the wisdom and advice of the great prophet Isaiah. Isaiah sought the wisdom and advice of God. The word that came to Isaiah was that Hezekiah should not fear. The Assyrians would never take Jerusalem.
It is at this point that the scriptures and history are in agreement with the outcome of the events, but not the cause behind the outcome. With the Assyrians encamped around Jerusalem, ready to destroy it, a miracle occured. Literally one morning the residents of Jerusalem awoke and the Assyrians had vanished, leaving behind much of their equipment and food. While the scriptures attribute this to God's hand (an angel who slew 143,000 of the Assyrians), there is speculation that either a plague broke out amongst the army, or the king of Assyria heard rumors of a rebellion at home and returned to protect what was his (he was assassinated by his sons shortly after arriving home). Regardless of the reason Jerusalem and the people of God were saved. The Promise would live for another day.
Where I believe this story helps us with our vision is to remind us that even in the most difficult of times, God is willing and able to assist us in fulfilling our vision. We can see this in the life of our church. Over the last twenty years, even with the rotating door of pastors and interim pastors and the economic meltdown in the area, First Presbyterian has made a difference in the world. By being faithful to the call of God to love neighbor and work for the reconciliation of the world you changed lives and communities. This story reminds us that even as Jerusalem could count on God so can we.
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