2 Chronicles 32:1-5

1 After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls. 2 When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city. 4 They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?” 5 Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces[a] in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields.

We live in uncertain times and there are a lot of things that can create panic in our hearts and cause us to focus on fear. Right now before you read any further I’m going to ask you to take the time to write down your fears, those uncertainties that work you over with worry. Now that you have name your fear I want to remind you that you are not alone, you are not the first person to face problems and want to panic.   We have a tendency to forget the pressures and problems that previous generations of people have had to face. The Bible is a book written to and about people who lived in uncertain times. Moses was called to the mission of leading people out of slavery, David faced Goliath, Peter stood and preached to the crowds on Pentecost. All of these people lived through times of great uncertainty. So how do we face these trying times of uncertainty?  We have to remember that life is uncertain, but God is not, that no matter what happens, we have a King that is in control. As the song “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” says: Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. In 2 Chronicles 32 we come across a man who had to face fearful and uncertain times and figure out how do I handle the hard things that came at him in these trying times. In 722 Assyria wiped out the Northern Kingdom of Israel who had turned from trusting God to serving sin. Then in 715 BC Hezekiah became king of Judah, the southern kingdom, when he was just 25 years old. He married the daughter of a prophet named Zechariah, talk about marrying the preachers kid, and one of his close friend was Isaiah. When he became king the country was in chaos, Judah had been led away from God in every way imaginable. They were worshipping false gods up on the hills, out in the open for all to see. These were a people who had fallen into spiritual prostitution, who no longer worshipped, obeyed, or even acknowledged God. As a result the whole country was falling apart, craving and caving to the carnal, focusing on the feel good instead of their heavenly Father.  So when Hezekiah became king he chose to confront the chaos and clean house and for over a decade he faithfully continued. In 2 Chronicles 29-31 we see story after story of how Hezekiah boldly brought God back to the center of their country. He used his position of power to bring purity and peace, challenging his culture of corruption and transforming it with God’s truth. So much so that it says it was a transformation like nothing ever seen since David was king three hundred years earlier. It is here that we would love to linger and even live, but this success is not where the story stops. No chapter 32 introduces us to an invading army, after all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria shows up and lays siege. Even though for over a decade Hezekiah has done everything right, trouble still turns up. This is where we may be tempted to turn and say “But God, I don’t understand, I was doing everything right so why did you let this happen to me?” Why is it that we seem to think that if we follow the Father and do what is right we won’t have to deal with difficulties and that somehow our problems will all be gone never to return again? Hezekiah’s response reminds us of the truth that just because we trust in God and do what is right does not guarantee us a problem free life. So rather than shaking his fist at God, blaming and pouting because somehow God is not playing fair he chooses to face the fear head on. We need to remember that the presence of problems doesn’t necessarily point to a lack of living for the Lord and it certainly doesn’t diminish His power. It is here that we see our first lesson, that in times of uncertainty, we still have responsibility to respond rightly. When uncertainty show up there are still things that we are responsible for. Suppose you saw a farmer sitting on his tractor, pouting and you asked him what was wrong? Well He responds I’m mad at God because the harvest isn’t what I thought it would be. As you look out into the fields you see nothing growing so you start to ask some questions. What happened was it drought, no we got plenty of rain. Is the soil not fertile? No they tested it and its fine and that is why I am so mad at God. I’ve got good soil nice rain so I should have had a good harvest. Well is it the seed you planted? What seed he reply’s, I didn’t plant any. At this point you would be thinking what an idiot, I mean if you don’t sow any seed how can you expect a harvest? You see Hezekiah responded to these times of uncertainty by planting some seeds. He chose to do three practical things that provide a pattern for us today. Today we will deal with the first one:

• Put your house in order.

To get his house in order Hezekiah did three things, he blocked off the bad, mended the broken, and bolstered the weak. He took a personal inventory of where things were at and then got down to business so his house would be in order. What were the things that you wrote down earlier, the uncertainties in your life? I want you to take these thoughts and apply them to the issues of your life. First Hezekiah blocked off the bad, he noted the springs outside the walls of the city and thought “why would I let the enemy have access to anything that would cause them to linger, why would I give them a foothold and strengthening their resolve.” What are the springs in your life that could supply and strengthen the enemies advancing on your position through the habits, attitudes and patterns of your thinking? It could be that you are facing a time of financial uncertainty, yet you choose to keep chasing after a lifestyle that is not sustainable. What if you chose to live within your means? What if you stopped the flow of wants and dammed up the desires of more? When it comes to those relationships that have a tendency to pull and push you away from purity, what if you were bold and block out their influence. Or spiritual you may find that your busyness leaves no time for being with God, so what if you chose to block out some time to spend in His presence? In short we need to stop doing the things that cause the enemy to make camp outside our city. Next he mended the broken, he working hard to repair those sections of the wall that had been damaged. At one point these parts of the wall were once strong and in good repair but time and trials had taken their toll. We too have gaps in our wall, things that might once have been healthy but are now battered and broken. It could be the communication in your marriage, or trust in a relationship. It could be your physical body or even a bank account. What it says here is that they worked hard, it’s not easy but it is necessary. What is it that is broken in your life, what is it that really needs your time and attention? Next he bolstered the weak, he not only reinforced the supporting terraces but he built another wall outside the first. There are areas in our life right now that may seem fine but what if the enemy concentrated all of his effort on that particular point, he might just break through. So we need to stop being lax and instead take a look at what we need to reinforce. What are your potential weak points? Where are you vulnerable? Don’t procrastinate and wait until the storm hits, prepare, be proactive, put your house in order. Where do you need to blocked off the bad, mended the broken and bolstered the weak areas in your life?

Psalms 42:1-5

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Over 300 people died and 100,000 were left homeless in the great Chicago fire of 1871. In the midst of the hurt tragedies like this can bring out the hero. One of the heroes was Horatio Gates Spafford an attorney, who saw his sizable investment in real estate reduced to ashes. In spite of their personal loss they unselfishly helped those who were homeless and hopeless. Spafford wasn’t just a compassionate care giver he was a Christian motivated by Christ’s mercy. About two years later, in November 1873, Spafford and his family decided to take a vacation in Europe. Just before they were to leave Horatio was unexpectedly detained by urgent business. The decision was made that his wife Anna and their four daughters would go on ahead and he would catch up with them as soon as possible. Tragedy was again going to strike his life. The ship collided with another vessel and sunk, Anna Spafford was one of only a few survivors, tragically all four of their daughters died. Anna Spafford’s heartbreaking telegram to her husband simply read: “Saved alone.” The grieving father set sail for England to join his grief-stricken wife and as the ship that he was traveling on passed over the approximate location where his daughters had drowned, Horatio Spafford penned the words to one the of the most famous hymns of all time “It is well with my soul”

“When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea-billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know; “It is well, it is well with my soul.” Tho’ Satan Should buffet, tho’ trials should come, Let his blessed assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.”

How about you have you ever been there, when life seems to come apart at the seams and you are trying to survive, surrounded by a sea of sorrow? It’s in these tragic times that you wonder how you can possess peace in the midst of the pain and the problems.  Have you ever gotten to that point and place where you feel like you are drowning in discouragement? When just when you think you have reached rock bottom the bottom actually falls out? We live in a wounded and wicked world, full of failure, trouble and trials. In Psalm 42 we see a song of both pain and praise composed by the sons of Korah. It is worth noting that these were the descendants of Korah, a priest who had led a rebellion against Aaron and Moses and who God had judged using the earth to swallow him for his sin, Numbers 16. Psalm 42 points to the power of God’s grace, that regardless of our past family failures we do not have to live in the cycle of continued chaos repeating our relative’s rebellion. We have a choice we can sing and we can serve, we don’t have to be salves to sin, bound to our parents past problems. Each of us is a testimony to God’s grace, we each have a song of renewed purpose and redemption that should flow from a heart of humility as we remember the fallen state from which He raised us, and the redemption that we experience through His grace. One has to wonder if the poet who penned these lyrics was remembering and reflecting on his ignoble beginnings, his distant ancestor who perished in an earthquake of pride and rebellion. Now we see a family far removed from reckless rebellion, one with a deep devotion and longing for the Lord. The good news is that even in the midst of the mess and the greatest storm we can possess God’s peace. Psalm 42 should cause us to stop and ask ourselves some pointed questions. First who are you turning to in the tribulation, who is you’re:

• Help

Just like the Psalmist you may be experiencing a time of misery “My tears have been my meat day and night” May be your family is falling apart or your finances are failing and you are wondering how you are going to make ends meet. May be your children are caught up in rebellion, or your marriage is a mess and dangerously close to divorce. Or you may feel hopeless because of current health issues. It’s often in these times of tears that those around us will question God’s power and presence, people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why do we interpret times of adversity as an abandonment of the Almighty? Because we believe in a false premise that the presence of problems indicates an absence of God. The lost world sees a Christian suffering and says where is your God, if he is so good why are you going through this time of trial? But peace is not the absence of problems it is the presence of God. Our circumstances are not a reflection of Christ’s care and compassion, troubles and trials come to us all. We may not know the outcome or how long they will last but we know the Lord who loves us will never leave. It is in these times of trial that we are tempted to throw in the towel, for our faith may falter as we whine, Lord why me? We may feel all alone in these times yet we need to remember that even though we may be uncertain God is not, He is very much in control. When trouble turned up the Psalmist turned to truth, looking to the Lord. First who are you looking to for Help, and second are you living with:

• Hope

It is in the hardships that we discover hope, because in the chaos we can draw close and cling to Christ. Do you know what the most frequent promise in scripture is? “I will be with you” Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We don’t have to wait for the next life to have hope, we can have hope even in our times of hurting. Jesus came so that we could have life, and have it abundantly, John 10:10. Hope should cause us to have both a spiritual assessment, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” ss well as sweet assurance “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Notice that it is in the middle of his misery that the psalmist’s finds hope. What is interesting to note is that at this point nothing has changed when it comes to his circumstances. It’s not that hope is hiding it’s that we need to stop and take a spiritual assessment. We need to realize what is real and what is relevant. “Why my soul, are you downcast” In the time of trouble we must turn to truth, we must walk by faith and not by feeling. When we are in the midst of despair and discouragement we can say just like the old song “It is well with my soul” not because of our situation but because of our Savior. Just like the psalmist we too can “praise him, my Savior and my God.” Who is your help and hope in the hardships? So many people look to everything other than Jesus but nothing in this world can give you the hope, joy and peace that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ. Is your soul thirsty for the source of life, the living God? Will you make time to meet with Him today?