Who will Stand Firm in the Faith Now for Righteousness? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba

As we come to the close of our study in Isaiah, I want to stop for a moment and review the story of King Hezekiah. I mentioned him back when we began this series of study in Isaiah titled Can hope be found in judgment? How?[1] The story of the times of Isaiah with God’s hand of judgment and grace are as true today as they were then. Israel and Judah, the divided kingdoms both chose to disobey God. Evil had grown within them, although there was a remnant of faithful followers. God asked them, as He does us, “Who will Stand Firm in the Faith Now for Righteousness?

Isaiah the prophet had lived during the times of the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and then was killed by King Manasseh (who it is said cut him in half with a saw). Throughout his prophecies, Isaiah told the people of coming judgment. Indeed when the Syrians had overthrown the northern tribes of Israel and had surrounded the city of Jerusalem, Isaiah told King Ahaz, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9 (NIV). He chose not to trust God and instead built altars to worship pagan gods to appease the Assyrians. When King Ahaz had died, Assyria threatened the city of Jerusalem; but God was about to miraculously give Judah one more chance of grace before judgment came upon the people. That He did through his servant King Hezekiah.

What about now?

Judgment must come when evil overwhelms a nation or the world. As I look around me, I perhaps like Jeremiah weep for this nation and for the world. So many blinded to the truth, believing the narrative that has been so widely spread. Their lie says, “If only we would listen to the “elitist who know that humanity is innately good and they have the key to a global utopia, if only we would listen and follow their lead.” And so, for the past 120 years, we wanted to believe and have followed them into laying aside the truth to embrace their lies. Believing in freedom of thought, we stood by as they changed the narrative, rewrote history, and blamed all others for their errors.

It was their ideologies that lead to Stalin’s power and Hitler; yet they rewrite history to say it is we. Not much different than in the days of Isaiah. The Assyrians promised the people that they would give them a better life, if only they surrendered to them. All they wanted was to enslave them into their ideologies against God, mocking God with every breath.

The nation of Israel was wrought with their worship of Baal with sexual orgies, the sacrifice of babies on the altars of their sensual sins, and rebellious self-exaltations (believing they knew better how to manage their lives than God did). Therefore, Israel fell to the Assyrians. Judah was close behind, as Isaiah warned. However, it would be the Babylonians who overtook both Assyria and Judah.

Still before this would happen, God would send a revival to remind the people and to save the remnant who would follow Him. Were there any who would stand firm in the faith?

Stand Firm in the Faith

When Ahaz died, Hezekiah became King. Although, Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz, there was a big difference. Hezekiah loved and feared God. He tore down the altars, restored the worship, and even provided for all the people the sacrifice they needed. Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone ¹⁹who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” ²⁰And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people (2 Chronicles 30:18-20).

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. ²¹And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21)

Thus, when the Assyrians surrounded the city, Hezekiah stood firm in the faith, choosing righteousness. He had prepared a tunnel to ascertain that water and provision could come into the city through the tunnel. Thus, he had a stronghold. Then he waited for God to act as He promised. The Assyrians heard rumors of other attacks, dispersed and many died in their retreat. This happened while the King and his subjects all prayed. So, they truly could stand firm in their faith, down on their knees.

One Who will Stand firm in the faith

King Hezekiah was not perfect. He made many mistakes as well; but that is the plight of we humans. Yet, God’s grace looks upon the heart. Do we love Him? Is He whom we seek? Hezekiah stood in the gap because he stood firm in the faith. After him, alas his son and grandson perpetuated even more evil. Finally, there would be his great-grandson Josiah who brought a last revival before the Babylonians would come to overthrow the people.

And like unto him (Josiah) was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 23:25 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 34:33

And Now?

I wrote about Josiah in Can One Man Make a Difference in the World? [2] July 2016. Later I wondered if God sent President Trump to do the same. Now I wonder if we listened. Or were we too content with the prosperity we enjoy? Perhaps God will yet use President Trump to bring a revival, it is that for which I pray.

However, whatever happens with this election. Even if we are taken over by communism and the global initiative, my question is. Who will Stand Firm in the Faith Now for Righteousness? No matter what comes. I pray for God’s strength to say I will, so what about you?

So, let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

“Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!
The splendor^[a] of the Lord shines on you!
²For, look, darkness covers the earth
and deep darkness covers^[b] the nations,
but the Lord shines on you;
his splendor^[c] appears over you.
³Nations come to your light,
kings to your bright light.
⁴Look all around you!^[d]
They all gather and come to you—
your sons come from far away,
and your daughters are escorted by guardians.
⁵Then you will look and smile,^[e]
you will be excited and your heart will swell with pride.^[f]
…
Even though I struck you down in my anger,
I will restore my favor and have compassion on you.^[s]
¹¹Your gates will remain open at all times;
they will not be shut during the day or at night,
so that the wealth of nations may be delivered,
with their kings leading the way…
¹⁴The children of your oppressors will come bowing to you;
all who treated you with disrespect will bow down at your feet.
…

Then you will recognize that I, the Lord, am your Deliverer,
your Protector,^[ab] the Powerful One of Jacob…
¹⁸Sounds of violence will no longer be heard in your land,
or the sounds of^[ah] destruction and devastation within your borders.
You will name your walls, ‘Deliverance,’
and your gates, ‘Praise.’…
When the right time comes, I the Lord will quickly do this!” (Isaiah 60 NET)

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.