ESOCS Devotional 25 January 2021
TEXT: ISAIAH 36:1–22
MEMORY VERSE: “But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” Isaiah 36:21 NKJV
There are two issues here: obedience to the king’s commandment and remaining calm in the face of challenges. Rabshakeh taunted the men that were on the wall of Jerusalem, and at the same time he belittled King Hezekiah with much insolence and disdain to their hearing. He boasted of the mighty army of Assyria and the power of the King of Assyria. But the men “held their peace and answered him not a word.” Many a time, people find out that silence is actually golden, as they say. It helps us to organise our minds and be able to articulate our line of action.
Silence in the face of provocation dignifies. It brings respect and honour. It shows self-discipline and the ability for self-control. It portrays maturity in handling disrespectful situations, and helps a person to handle issues appropriately. It is an important Christian virtue that we should develop in us. It would enable us not to be rash with the mouth or speak dishonourably. We would be decent in our utterances, as we control our temperament. We would become grand in the eyes of onlookers; and in the process, we earn deep reverence in their hearts for ourselves. People would have respect and admiration for us because of our conduct and general dispositions.
The men obeyed their king; and they did it willingly. They were readily submissive to constituted authority, and with humility too. The men on the wall would have had problem with King Hezekiah if they had disobeyed him. No organisation would run smoothly without simple obedience down the line of the hierarchical order; and much so in the church of God. The King of heaven and earth demands willing obedience from us. In it, we would have peace with Him, and in ourselves. There should be the willingness to respect and comply with the instructions or directives of the leadership, for ORDER is the first law in heaven. Anything contrary to it does not stand or subsist.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
When the king and the people held their peace and remained calm, the king was able to better articulate his line of action. He presented the matter before God; and He took over the battle and uprooted the Assyrian army. The Bible says, “Then the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses — all dead” (Isa. 37:36 NKJV). King Sennacherib of Assyria escaped to Nineveh but his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer located and killed him there in the house of Nisroch his god.
Let us always hold our peace and handover our unfavourable circumstances and problems to our Lord Jesus Christ. He knows how to take care of them. He cares. Let us just trust and obey Him. There is no other way
CHALLENGES
How much do you remain calm and silent when you are provoked?
PRAYER POINT
Lord, give me an obedient heart to enable me obey you always.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 1:21-31; Matthew 23:23-28; 1 John 4:7-21
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 25 January 2021
