Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

July 21: 2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32; James 5

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) The Assyrian king is challenging King Hezekiah and Jerusalem: 32:14 “Who of all the gods of these nations that my predecessors destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? 15 Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my predecessors. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand.” …
19 They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world—the work of human hands…
21 And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and the officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace.

Observation: Sennacherib, King of Assyria, had come to capture Jerusalem. He had the greatest army on earth and no one had been able to withstand his advance. But while setting a siege around Jerusalem he awoke one morning to find 185,000 of his men dead! (2Kings 19:35) In his mind he thought Jerusalem’s God would be like all the rest. What a mistake!!!

Application: It might be understandable when God’s enemies underestimate my Almighty God. But I am thinking that it is much worse when I underestimate Him! It dishonors him, I walk in fear, and I can get defeated. That is a mistake I do not want to make! What a difference it makes when I walk in confidence that my God is God above all other gods. That is what He is!

Prayer: Lord, I walk in faith that the power of the unseen God is always greater than the power of any enemy I can see. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!