This morning, many things could garner our attention to discourage us and frighten us for our very own lives and the lives of our loved ones. However, Christ promised us that He had overcome the world, and therefore we should not fear what man can do to us. Man can but only destroy this flesh. The devil can only touch our flesh. When it comes to the life and soul of a man, God alone has the gavel in that court. However, our Lord does not leave us alone here on earth either. He is far more merciful to us in eternity AND in time than we even remotely deserve.

 In this account, the Assyrian army besieged Hezekiah and the people of Judah. Sennacherib has invaded the land with a host that has far more people than the lands of Judah. Naturally speaking, they were in an impossible spot to free themselves from. However, the Lord blesses Hezekiah to comfort the people that the army on their side was greater in number, strength, power, and authority than with Assyria. It is still the same with us today. There are far more with us than with them. Our God has all power, authority, and might. Consider Noah and his family. Naturally speaking, they were very outnumbered. However, God was on their side, and they had the overwhelming majority, which God manifested after the deluge.   

While He will not destroy the earth again in that way, there will come a time that He will manifest again that His people are in the majority. Hezekiah comforts the people in the fact that their strength is not in the king, but THE KING! This King's arm does not rely on flesh, but the very Arm of the Lord brings salvation. This Arm delivers from the wrath to come, and He delivers here in this life. All deliverance is by Him, and through Him. The gospel minister who tells people to trust in himself would be as foolish if Hezekiah told the people that he would deliver them from Assyria.

Hezekiah (as righteous a king as he was) had not the power in himself to do this task. The gospel minister (no matter how sincere) has not the ability in himself to deliver people. However, in both cases, the king and minister have the ability to comfort the congregation in the fact that our God has, does, and will deliver. Is there anything too hard for God (I speak this foolishly)? Comfort first begins in pointing to the finished work of Jesus Christ and eternal redemption through His blood.   

After that, comfort again comes from knowing that whatever may come our way or lot in life may be everything good and blissful is going to be real in the eyes of EVERY child of grace some sweet day. So, whether the Lord takes away the mountain in front of us or not, the mountain (whatever it may be) cannot keep us from the love of God. And, when we leave our troubles with the Lord (by taking comfort in His grace), many, many times the mountain is removed from us. The army on this occasion is destroyed by the Lord's angel. There have been many obstacles in my life that looking back I have to say, "The Lord removed that army from besieging me."

In Hope,

Bro Philip