Tuesday 09 October 2007

Background

These verses continue the story begun in yesterday's readingfrom chapter 18 of 2 Kings.

The Assyrian empire continues to advance, conquering and destroyingnation after nation in its wake. Only Judah remains free, andHezekiah prays to God out of desperation for deliverance. Hesuggests to God that this is an opportunity to demonstrate that theLord is the one, true God.

Later, we read that the Assyrian forces are wiped out by "the angelof the Lord".

It is fruitless to speculate on what really happened, not leastbecause other contemporary records are inconclusive orcontradictory. We have to read this story through the eyes of awriter who wished to make a point about the saving power of faith.Whatever the cause, Judah is spared, at least this time.

The story is not an easy one to read (even if we can cope with allthe unfamiliar names!), because it reflects a world-view that manyof us do not share. We are not comfortable with the idea that Godonly really cares about one nation (our own) or that God willintervene to save us if we pray hard enough and flatter God'sego.

Nor does this story of warring nations seem to have much connectionwith the situation of many people in Britain today although ofcourse there are parts of the world that do not enjoy such a stateof peace.

To Ponder

What are you trying to do when you pray? If youcan think of a situation when a prayer has been answered, do youthink of that as the result of God's miraculous intervention orsome other cause?

Thinking of a situation of conflict today, howcan you pray for a just outcome for all those involved?