Pride Leads to a Fall
The king of Assyria was a very powerful personality during this time in the Old testament. The other kings from different nations feared him because he had won several wars, his armies had defeated armies of great nations. Because of this great achievements, the kings of other nations worshiped him. He decides who becomes his slave and not even kings were spared if he chooses to make them slaves.
Its like comparing America to many nations of the world today. Most nations of the world fear and respect America because of the several wars they have won in the past because of the great material and intellectual resources that the country has. The president of America is usually referred to as the number one citizen of the world.
That was the same way that the king of Assyria was respected those days and so he became very proud and full of himself.
And one day he woke up and decided to mock Israel and insult the Almighty God. He sent this message through his chief of staff, "Do you think mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me? on Egypt?" Isaiah 36:5 (pride)
The king displayed such arrogance because he believed there was no one like him on the entire earth, he forgot that there is a God. He was not only proud, he in fact insulted the Almighty God, in verse 7 of Isaiah 36, he said, "But perhaps you will say to me, 'we are trusting in the Lord our God!' But isn't he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn't Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?" Imagine, he was comparing God with idols!
Even when some Israelite were trying to calm the chief of staff not to speak to the hearing of other Israelite. They asked him to speak in Aramaic his own language so that others will not hear him. He insulted back by shouting in Hebrew, insulting the whole Israel, their king and the Almighty God. He wrote a letter to the king of Israel containing all his insults to the people.
When King Hezekiah got the letter, he tore his clothes and cried to God (Please read Isaiah 37: 1-3) And God answered Hezekiah's prayers. God sent a revelation through Isaiah the prophet of Israel at this time. (Read Isaiah 37: 21-30; 33-35)
And after this, the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. The king was killed by his own sons. Proverbs 11: 2, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom" Read Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 16: 18
Prayer: Psalm 10:2 "The wicked in his pride persecute the poor: let them be caught in the evil they plan for others"
Posted in Daily Inspirational
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