WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 50 3. We must talk to the Lord about our trouble.

In verse 15 we read that Hezekiah

BIBLE STUDY NOTES HOLDING OUT THE WORD OF prayed to the Lord. He was a man of faith, and here we see his faith working
(James 2:17,20,26). There is a wonderful therapy in taking your trouble to the
LIFE
Lord and talking to Him about it, for apart from any other consideration, ‘a
by Francis W. Dixon
trouble shared is a trouble halved’. How true this is when the One with whom
you share your trouble is the Lord Himself.
Study 10 SPREADING OUR TROUBLES BEFORE THE LORD 4. We must recognise and rejoice in God’s greatness and power – verse 16. If
(Scripture Portion: Isaiah 37:14-21, 36) God is so great and mighty is anything too hard for Him? See Genesis 18:14
and compare Luke 1:37. God knew all about Hezekiah’s trouble and He allowed
It is the common experience of believers, as well of unbelievers, to experience it. God was on the throne and He still is; He knows all about your trouble, and
trouble and trial – compare Job 5:7 and 14:1. If you are passing through a time He also loves you.
of great trouble now, this short study will help you to face your trouble and to be 5. We must assure ourselves that God cares for us and is willing to help us.
victorious in the midst of it, because in Isaiah chapter 37 we read of a great Hezekiah was sure about this and that is why he turned straight to the Lord. It
threat that came to King Hezekiah in the form of a letter (Isaiah 37:14). Notice is as though he said, ‘I must take this to my Father. I’m His child and I’m sure
exactly how the trouble came, what Hezekiah did, and how he faced this He will see me through.’ Even if you have brought your trouble upon yourself by
trouble. your own folly and sin, the Lord still loves and cares for you.
6. We must ask God to undertake for us. In verses 17-20 we have the record of
1. Notice how troubles come upon us the definite, specific prayer that Hezekiah made to the Lord, and this prayer is
1. They come suddenly. Hezekiah’s letter came out of the blue. Perhaps we open summed up in the three words in verse 20 – “Lord…deliver us..” God is always
a letter and at once realise we are in trouble! Sometimes it is a telephone call, a ready to hear a prayer like this – look up Romans 10:13.
visit to the doctor, or a misunderstanding that arises between ourselves and 7. We must make sure that our motive is right. Hezekiah’s motive in asking for
someone else; sometimes it is the result of overwork, of strain or of an deliverance was the glory of God (second part of verse 20).
accident; sometimes it is the result of our own folly and sin (Psalm 32:1-5).
2. They come with other troubles. The old proverb says, ‘Troubles come in pairs’! 3. How the Lord undertakes for us in our trouble
It was something like this in the case of Hezekiah, who was brought under In verses 21-38 there are three important things to notice:-
great pressure by the threat that was made by his enemy. 1. He gives us words of assurance and comfort: “Then Isaiah…” (verse 21).
3. They can be overwhelming. Sennacherib and his servant Rabshakeh were Isaiah was God’s prophet and it was through him that the Lord spoke to
terrible enemies, and their preparations for invasion and the announcement of Hezekiah, giving him words of assurance. He does this from His own Word
their evil intentions nearly overwhelmed Hezekiah. Little wonder that he as we read it, or as we listen to it through a preacher; He gives such words
trembled when he received the letter! as Psalm 37:23; Psalm 50:15; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 33:3; John 10:28-29.
Sooner or later every Christian has these experiences; but we must ask, How 2. He takes our trouble in hand and promises to deal with it. By reading from
should we react when trouble comes upon us? What should we do when we verse 21 to the end of the chapter you will see how the Lord did this in
receive an evil letter or when we are involved in an upsetting experience? – answer to Hezekiah’s prayer; particularly notice verses 33-35. If you will
because the important point is not the things that happen to us, for we cannot commit your trouble to the Lord and trust Him with it He will undertake for
prevent these – but our reaction to the experiences that come. you – see Psalm 37:5.
3. In God’s own time He will fulfil His word to you. Perhaps He will not do this
2. What to do when trouble comes upon us immediately – look again at verses 36,37,38, and notice the word ‘then’ at
Verses 14-20 tell us this, so it is worth studying this section with care:- the beginning of verse 36. This speaks of God’s time.
1. We must clearly see what the trouble is. Notice in verse 14 that we are not only
told that Hezekiah received the letter but that he read it. When trouble comes Troubles and difficulties will surely come until we reach the end of the journey
we must sit down quietly and weigh the matter up; we must face it; we must see and go to be with the Lord, but the important thing is the way we react to these
exactly what it is and what is involved. troubles. We must follow the example of Hezekiah and spread our troubles
2. We must take the trouble to the Lord at once. Hezekiah “spread it out before before the Lord and look to Him to see us through.
the Lord” (verse 14). He most certainly shared the contents with his friends and
counsellors, but he brought the whole matter to the Lord first. WORDS OF LIFE MINISTRIES
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