Isaiah 22-27; 2 Chronicles 29-31; 2 Chronicles 32:24-31; 2 Chronicles 32:1-23; 2 Chronicles 32:32-33

History reveals the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies so thoroughly that scoffers try in vain to prove that he wrote all of this AFTER the events occurred. Simply read Isaiah 53 (which everyone agrees was written before Jesus) and try to deny the power and accuracy of predictive prophecy in Isaiah. Jerusalem fell and was utterly destroyed, never again to enjoy the prominence from the days of Solomon. Tyre was an economic trading powerhouse, and today is a wasteland. Egypt fell from astounding heights of glory, and wallows today as a has-been. Then we read of coming judgment upon the whole earth. Maybe this prophecy will fail. Right?

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.” The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous. In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Isaiah 26:3-9

Do you see what God did through Isaiah right there? In the midst of the promise of judgment is the way of escape. Yahweh is the Way. The Word of God is the Truth. Righteousness is the Life. Rather than trusting in stone blocks and a precarious water tunnel for salvation, refuge is found in the city on the hill and is supplied with Living Water. The Good Shepherd will gather together His flock. The True Vine will bear much fruit in the vineyard of the LORD.

We have the advantage of looking back and seeing the things that Yahweh has accomplished. We have the luxury of reading these prophecies and seeing the precision of divine fulfillment. Ok. So, what do we do with this information? Look again to Hezekiah.

Early in his reign Hezekiah undertook a sweeping (pun intended) cleansing of the Temple and consecration of the priesthood. Obedient worship was restored and daily service was set in proper order. Passover was observed as Yahweh had commanded, so that the children of Israel might always remember His deliverance. The idolatrous altars, poles and places were removed from the countryside. It was a true spiritual spring cleaning.

When Sennacherib came against Jerusalem and mocked God, Hezekiah and Isaiah call upon the LORD. They drew near to Him, and He exalted them. They resisted the force of evil, and righteousness prevailed.

Sennacherib may not come against us, but Satan surely will. The cleansing and reforms of Hezekiah prepared the people beforehand for the coming storm. The time to prepare for judgment is now, not when the enemy is at the gate. Take a look around your life. Maybe some things need to change. You can clearly see how Yahweh acted in the past to fulfill His prophecies against Jerusalem, Egypt, Tyre and Assyria. He did what He said He would do all along. What do you expect God will do at the end? I expect Him to do exactly what He has said He will do all along.

Maybe it’s time to get a broom…

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!