The Bible Challenge, Day 229: Isaiah 37-39, Psalm 37:19-42 and 2 Timothy 1
In today’s readings Hezekiah finds himself in fearful places. The army of his arrogant enemy King Sennacherib is threatening to obliterate his nation Judah and its holy city Jerusalem. The field commander of Sennacherib’s army has belittled the Lord God of Abraham, pointing out that the gods of other neighboring nations have done them no good – therefore, he seems to assume, gods are worthless. Furthermore Hezekiah’s army is puny. So what does Hezekiah do about his impending disaster? As would any of us, he prays fervently, “Save me!” Hezekiah reminds God of the outrage that his enemy blatantly taunts the Holy One! And God saves.
Then Hezekiah becomes deathly ill. So what does Hezekiah do about his impending disaster? As would any of us, he prays fervently, and he sobs. God restores the king to health, and Hezekiah responds with praise. I do note, however, Hezekiah’s little reminder to God that the dead can’t thank or praise their Father in Heaven. This is a bargain chip found often in the psalms – e.g., “can the dust praise you?” [Psalm 30:10, BCP Psalter]. Hezekiah is grateful for his restoration, but he has not received a new spirit. He continues in his inclination toward pride and self-satisfaction. He even shows no compassion for the misery to befall his own children
The author of Second Timothy lifts up a very different way of thinking for followers of Jesus. Unlike Hezekiah, Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice care for their offspring and give Timothy the precious gift of faith. In Henry Ossawa Tanner’s painting Christ Learning to Read [Find at this link: http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=45485 .] we see a faithful Jewish mother (Mary) teaching her child to read a scroll of Holy Scripture. I imagine that Lois and Eunice did the same for Timothy, and that they shared Bible stories in daily life, punctuated each day with prayer, and took Timothy to gather with others in the faith community once he was old enough to participate. The letter urges Timothy to appreciate the sacred trust he has received and to respond by working to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus as widely as possible.
A faithful and happy life involves caring for each other in word and deed. We live in a world full of people like Hezekiah. Our opportunity is to respond to the limping world person by person. What can you do to bring light to someone today? Will you do it?
In today’s readings Hezekiah finds himself in fearful places. The army of his arrogant enemy King Sennacherib is threatening to obliterate his nation Judah and its holy city Jerusalem. The field commander of Sennacherib’s army has belittled the Lord God of Abraham, pointing out that the gods of other neighboring nations have done them no good – therefore, he seems to assume, gods are worthless. Furthermore Hezekiah’s army is puny. So what does Hezekiah do about his impending disaster? As would any of us, he prays fervently, “Save me!” Hezekiah reminds God of the outrage that his enemy blatantly taunts the Holy One! And God saves.
Then Hezekiah becomes deathly ill. So what does Hezekiah do about his impending disaster? As would any of us, he prays fervently, and he sobs. God restores the king to health, and Hezekiah responds with praise. I do note, however, Hezekiah’s little reminder to God that the dead can’t thank or praise their Father in Heaven. This is a bargain chip found often in the psalms – e.g., “can the dust praise you?” [Psalm 30:10, BCP Psalter]. Hezekiah is grateful for his restoration, but he has not received a new spirit. He continues in his inclination toward pride and self-satisfaction. He even shows no compassion for the misery to befall his own children
The author of Second Timothy lifts up a very different way of thinking for followers of Jesus. Unlike Hezekiah, Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice care for their offspring and give Timothy the precious gift of faith. In Henry Ossawa Tanner’s painting Christ Learning to Read [Find at this link: http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=45485 .] we see a faithful Jewish mother (Mary) teaching her child to read a scroll of Holy Scripture. I imagine that Lois and Eunice did the same for Timothy, and that they shared Bible stories in daily life, punctuated each day with prayer, and took Timothy to gather with others in the faith community once he was old enough to participate. The letter urges Timothy to appreciate the sacred trust he has received and to respond by working to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus as widely as possible.
A faithful and happy life involves caring for each other in word and deed. We live in a world full of people like Hezekiah. Our opportunity is to respond to the limping world person by person. What can you do to bring light to someone today? Will you do it?
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