There is so much I would like to say.
Hezekiah, a godly king of Judah, knew when to keep silent. And he knew to whom it was important to speak.
You see, the great superpower of his day was at his gates. Sennacherib the king of Assyria was spewing threats. You can read the story in Isaiah 36 and 37.
The Northern Kingdom had already been taken away captive, and many of the walled towns of Judah were overrun. There really was no defense against the might of the Assyrians.
When Sennacherib's captain came within earshot of the walls of Jerusalem, Hezekiah wasn't even there. He instructed his men not to say anything to the enemy. They merely listened as the confident Assyrian mocked the frailty of the Jews. They listened as He mocked their God. They didn't respond.
Then, when Hezekiah received a threatening letter from his nemesis, he didn't whip out writing materials for a quick response. Instead, he took the letter to the house of the Lord. He opened it up before his God and poured out his heart.
Now, Hezekiah had done right in the sight of the Lord. He had led the people in doing right, and in worshiping the Lord according to the Law of Moses. Under his rule the people tore down idols and brought in the tithes. A true revival had broken out in the land. (See II Chronicles 29 for the details of his reign.) I wonder what Hezekiah was thinking at this point. If he doubted or questioned God it couldn't have lasted long, for next we see him in the temple with that letter.
Today I saw something just as alarming to me as that army at the gates of Jerusalem. I saw a picture of the White House all lit up in rainbow colors. The Supreme Court discovery of same-sex "marriage" in the Constitution spelled party time for many, including the president. For the inhabitants of Zion it was like the glint of spears in the distance. We've already seen various legal skirmishes in our country. Anyone who refuses service of any kind to a gay couple wanting to wed can be prosecuted. Even if it's against his conscience or religion. From now on it can only get worse.
It's also been a huge discouragement. For American Christians who love their country, it is grievous to see. The Constitution is godly in the sense that it recognizes that you can't trust people. Human nature is not inherently good. We must be governed by laws, not men. That's what the Founders thought. But John Adams predicted that even this worthy document would not be enough to restrain a people not governed by morality or religion. And so we see his words come to pass. According to our Court, words no longer mean what they say.
What to do? What to say? Hezekiah's example returns to my mind. Clothes torn in grief, he kneeled before the Lord, the letter spread out. And God answered. (Read the story!)
At the same time, the example of his entire life comes to mind: making sure that his own heart--and the choices he made in ruling the people--were right. In the end, my main concern must be how I treat my neighbor, how I love my husband, how I teach my children. Are there idols I allow in my heart and life? There are constant temptations to sin on every hand, and many of these only God can see. All this comes first.
If my own heart is right, then I can say with Esther, "If I perish, I perish." But I'm also going to spread out my "letter." Who knows what God may do?
