Title: Waiting Connotes Hope
2 Kings (43) Waiting Connotes Hope
(2 Kings 18:26-37)
< Rabshakeh's ridicule >
When Rabshakeh, who was fluent in the language of Judah, mocked him in the Jewish language to demoralize Judah, Hezekiah's servants asked him to speak in Aramaic, not Judah (verse 26). Hearing this request, Rabshakeh said that he could not do so because he came not only to warn King Hezekiah and his servants, but also to the people sitting on the wall. He told them to surrender quickly because they were in a miserable situation to drink (verse 27).
After saying those words, Rabshakeh stood up and told Hezekiah to not be deceived by Hezekiah’s words that Judah would be saved, but to surrender, eat grapes and figs, symbols of a prosperous life, and each drink from his own well (verses 30-31). It also glorified Assyria's policy of relocating the conquered people, leading to the surrender of the people of Judah (verse 32). Furthermore, Rabshakeh said that the Lord would not be able to save you, in order to shake the people of Judah's faith in the Lord (verses 33-35).
How hard it must have been to hear the ridicule of Rabshakeh, who spoke arrogantly without knowing how high in the sky. But the king had commanded him not to answer, so the people remained silent and did not answer Rabshakeh a word (verse 36). If you were excited to hear the ridicule, the situation would have been more difficult as you lost your composure and grew frustrated and resentful among the people. So, sometimes the adversary pours out ridicule, but you have to be quiet and listen.
He did not appear weak in front of Rabshakeh like that, and tried not to lose his composure and composure, but how angry must he have been inside? In the end, Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the officer, after meeting with Rabshakeh, tore their clothes in anger and sorrow, and went to Hezekiah and told Rabshakeh's words (verse 37). By holding back his extreme anger for such a short time, he was able to prevent the situation from getting worse and create a history of reversal.
<Waiting implies hope>
There are times in life when we are faced with injustice and ridicule that we cannot bear. One of the most necessary attitudes at that time is to quietly look to God and wait for God's time. Then you should not act on your emotions, but on your beliefs. Acting on your emotions inevitably leads to side effects and often complicates matters. Conversely, if you act according to your beliefs, you will surely find a way to solve the problem somewhere.
The real enemy of the saints is not anything else, but their pride and unbelief that distances them from God. As long as the saints are in Christ, no one can harm them. Don't be too intimidated by the closed-loop reality. God has delivered us from our sins and has led us up to this point. He will guide us along the way in the future. Therefore, no matter what difficulties you may face, just keep your eyes on God and wait a little more with faith.
In that sense, waiting with faith is a representative element that makes life lively. Happiness is the product of waiting, and victory is the result of endurance. How exhilarating is the amount of time you texting your cell phone and waiting for a good reply? In the end, the saints always win. Therefore, the waiting of the saints is never in vain, and the waiting itself becomes a strong support for sustaining life.
Faith is waiting in unpredictable circumstances. If you do not despair even if the waiting continues, you will get tired of despair and retreat, and hope will begin from that point. Mature faith is the length of waiting, and the deepest spirituality is the spirituality of waiting. Successful people are usually those who succeed in waiting. Ultimately, failure is a failure of waiting.
Don't be too hasty. Satan urges, “Do it now!” But God says, “Learn to wait!” The waiting God waits for our covenant, our shortcomings, and our immaturity. Because God has not given up on waiting, we have come to exist until now, and because God will wait for us in the future, hope will overflow in the future. Even when the night of hardship sometimes comes, have firm faith and quietly look to God and be blessed spirits who greet the brilliant morning by waiting.