Tuesday Reflection February 01, 2022

Firmly Rooted, Bearing Upwards.

In today’s watchword, Judah is given a promise by God through the prophet Isaiah. It is a promise of a brighter future in the face of destruction and doom. A promise of better days when they seem to be facing the end of their days. It was a prophecy of new life and new growth in the face of death. Indeed, God spoke hope and restoration where everyone else was seeing only impending destruction and no hope for God’s people. Hear the watchword for today from 2 Kings 19: 30: The surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downwards, and bear fruit upwards.

In the preceding events leading up to this prophecy, we learn of the Assyrian siege of Samaria, the capital of Israel. After three years of war, the Israelite Kingdom was captured, and the people deported to Assyria and resettled in what we know today as Iran. They were part of a larger group from many other conquered regions that were resettled there. The Israelites, representing ten of the twelve tribes, soon intermarried and became part of this new community, losing their Hebrew identity. The Bible makes it clear that Israel suffered this displacement because they did not follow anything that the Lord commanded them to. Prophecy, however, has declared that these tribes, known today as the lost tribes of Israel, will one day return. Eight years later, the Assyrian army besieged and captured Judah. Hezekiah surrendered and met the demands of the Assyrians, stripping the gold from the temple doors to do so. That however was not enough. The Assyrian army marched into Jerusalem and sent insulting and threatening messages to King Hezekiah while insulting God Almighty. The King and the religious leaders in their alarm at this threat and insult to God, sought God through prayer, and through the prophet Isaiah. The Watchword is part of Isaiah’s response from the Lord to his people.

There are several valuable lessons we can learn from this text and its background. Firstly, when we refuse to follow God’s command, we set ourselves up for a downfall. This was what happened to Israel. Secondly, never make light of the plight of others for we never know when it will be our time. Not that Judah did this. I imagine however, that Judah may have been feeling secure, feeling that they were too small and insignificant for the mighty Assyrian army to even bother with, when suddenly they were under attack. Thirdly, never believe that we can satisfy the enemy to leave us alone by agreeing to his demands. The Bible teaches us that the enemy, the devil is like a roaring lion seeking to destroy its prey (1 Peter 5: 8). He is cunning as a fox and can never be trusted. That’s why we should always trust God and no other. Fourthly, prayer is the only response that God’s people have against the assailing storms of life, whether they be spiritual, physical, emotional, or medical. No matter what we face, our God is able to bring us through. Phil 4: 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Fifthly, when God’s people are firmly rooted, our fruits will bear upwards. People may not be able to see our roots, our hope our faith our trust, but by our actions and words, that is, by our fruit, they shall know that we are God’s children. When God’s children stand up for what we believe regardless of what is happening around us, the enemy has no footing and will have to flee. In 1 Cor 15: 58, Paul encourages us who look forward to Christ’s return or being called home to Him: Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. This steadiness and uprightness in our faith journey will keep us firmly rooted and bearing upwards. Finally, friends, always remember this, it is never about the situation you face, the happenings around you or the threats against you. Rather, it is always about the God who is for you. May God open our eyes so we can see that those with us are far greater than those against us. Amen.