Suffering Under a Task Master?
Henry Omotayo
Suffering Under a Task Master? (2 Kings 19:1-37)
Message No. 0516 | Twitter @GodandUs |
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In 2 Kings chapter 16, Ahaz, king of Judah, ran to the king of Assyria for help when he came under attack by the kings of Syria and Israel. In verse 6, the Bible says:
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.”
In those days, when one king helped another to defeat an enemy, it was not only based on alliance and friendship, it was sometimes based on an opportunity to establish a master-servant relationship. So it was, that the king of Assyria saw an opportunity to establish himself as master over Judah, and to levy and collect tributes. By running to this king, and by presenting him gifts (gold from the house of the Lord and from the treasuries of the king’s house), he had, intentionally or otherwise, sold himself as subject to Assyria.
Now, Ahaz did not follow God during his tenure as king of Judah. The Bible says that he deviated from the ways of David, his ancestor, and did evil in the sight of the Lord. Under this condition, he could not run to God for help when oppressed, harassed or bullied by other kings. Fast forward to the reign of Hezekiah, his son. The Bible says that Hezekiah wholeheartedly followed the Lord, removed idol worship from the land and basically cleansed the nation from guilt and evil.
When Hezekiah refused to pay tributes to the king of Assyria or to present him with golden gifts as his father did, the king got angry and sent his messengers to warn him of the imminent consequences of disrespecting his master. The king’s messengers arrived at the gates of Jerusalem and started to shout at the king, in an attempt not only to bring the king’s servants out, but also to create fear in the inhabitants of the city who lived close to the gate. They even spoke the Hebrew language so everyone who heard them could understand them. In 2 Kings 18:19-20, Assyria’s messengers screamed:
“…Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust? You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?
Imagine that an external ruler comes to a country to harass its leader and also speak to its people to not rely on the ability of the leader to defend the nation. What a shame would that be on the country’s leader! Hezekiah was suffering this shame and intimidation for no fault of his. His father signed Judah into this servanthood arrangement with the king of Assyria. Why must he continue to live under an oppressive ruler when he was a follower of the Almighty God?
Sometimes parents and grand parents intentionally or otherwise sign their children up for agreements that would hurt them in the future, well after they have departed this earth. The moment you try to exit such agreements and free yourself from such burden and bondage, the master gives you the impossible sign. Depending on one’s parent’s background, some agreements might even be diabolical, and the children might be completely oblivious of such arrangements.
No one should be suffering under an unknown arrangement or under an unchosen master. Knowing whom he served, Hezekiah ran to Isaiah the prophet so he could speak to God and obtain deliverance for him and for Judah. The king of Assyria had questioned his confidence and it was necessary to prove that his confidence was in the Lord. He was not disappointed because God rose in defense of Judah: the angel of the Lord entered the camp of the Assyrians and killed 185,000 people in one night. The defeat was so much for the king of Assyria, he returned home from the camp, only for his two sons to have him killed.
You do not need to suffer under some inherited arrangements or agreements. You can renounce spiritual agreements by running to God for help. This is the reason why deliverance ministers lead us in certain types of prayers, to break every agreement made by our ancestors that is now negatively affecting us. Every covenant, blood-related or otherwise, can be renounced and broken. If such agreements are legal in nature, you can prayerfully ask God for leading and favor as you seek legal advice for what your options are. God does not only resolve spiritual matters, He does legal also. You can go to God today and ask Him to dethrone every spiritual master that is holding you bound. In the same manner as God humiliated and dealt with the king of Assyria, He can do the same to your oppressors. You will receive the help you need, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Remain safe and remain blessed!
PLEASE ACT NOW:
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!
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