Truth Magazine

By Lewis Willis

Bible students are aware of that time when the nation of Israel divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Samaria was the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. Israel was very wicked, living defiantly against God. The Assyrian army came against Samaria, besieging the city for three years, until it fell to Sargon II in 721 B.C.

In time Sargon II was succeeded by Sennacherib as king of Assyria. In a move to stabilize his empire internally, he defeated an old enemy of his father, Marduk-Aplaiddina, consolidating his rule. Within the empire, there were many cities which had kings, creating mini-nations. Several of these kings revolted against Sennacherib and he sent his armies to quash these rebellions. He overcame opposition in Tarsus, captured the kings of several towns in Israel, defeated the Egyptians, and “sacked forty-six towns and villages in Judah, taking away 200,150 prisoners and much spoil” (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible V:340).

These events occurred as Hezekiah, age 25, began to reign in Judah. He would reign for 29 years (2 Chron. 29:1). His reign was likened unto the reign of David because “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord (29:2). Before Hezekiah, Judah’s kings had permitted the worship of God to almost disappear. The priesthood was corrupted and they had allowed the temple to be polluted. Hezekiah ordered the priests to sanctify themselves and the house of the Lord to be cleansed. This task was accomplished in eight days (29:17). He recognized that the wrath of God was against the nation and it was in his heart to make a covenant with God that his fierce wrath might be turned away from them (29:10). With the temple cleansed, the rulers of the city were gathered to the temple and sacrifices were offered (29:31).

Next, Hezekiah sent to the whole nation in Israel and Judah that they should come to Jerusalem to keep the Pass-over, which had not been kept for a long time (30:1-2). This proclamation was declared from Dan to Beer-sheba. He called on the nation to “turn again unto the Lord . . . be not like your fathers . . . which trespassed against the Lord … be not stiff-necked . . . but yield yourselves unto the Lord . . . and serve the Lord . . . if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren . . . shall find compassion . . . for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, if ye return unto Him” (30:6-9).

When the messengers took this message throughout the northern part of the nation, they were laughed at and mocked (30:10). However, many people assembled at Jerusalem as the king had required, and kept the feast of unleavened bread (30:21). “So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem” (30:26). The king had all of the altars to idols destroyed and he “wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began . . . he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (31:20-21).

At the conclusion of these events Sennacherib, king of Assyria came into Judah and began to destroy the cities of the region. Hezekiah saw that the Assyrians were coming and decided to fight against them, refusing a demand to surrender (2 Kgs.18:17-23). Sennacherib said, “Hezekiah, the Judean, I shut up in Jerusalem, his royal city, like a bird in a cage” (Zondervan V:340). Hezekiah gathered his people together and stopped all the fountains and the brook that ran through that part of the land. He strengthened himself and built up all the wall of Jerusalem that was broken. He armed his people and set captains of war over them. He prepared himself and Jerusalem for battle.

Then he issued a truly remarkable charge to his people. He gathered them to him in the street of the city and “spake comfortably” to them (2 Chron. 32:6). Another translation (NASV) says he “spoke encouragingly to them.” One has to wonder how the people could be encouraged as they were facing the mighty army of the Assyrians. City after city had fallen to that army and now they had laid siege to Jerusalem itself. Still, good king Hezekiah knew there was reason to be encouraged.

He said, “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles” (2 Chron. 32:7-8). The people gave heed to his exhortation and “rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” (32:8).

Sennacherib sent servants to Jerusalem. They asked how Hezekiah had persuaded his people to die by famine or thirst, saying that the Lord would deliver them (32:11). The Assyrians told the Jews not to be deceived for “no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people” out of the hands of the Assyrians (32:15). Sennacherib’s servants spoke much against God and Hezekiah and wrote letters “to rail on the Lord God of Israel and to speak against Him” (32:16-17). They tried in every way possible to scare the people.

Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed to God (32:20). The king had said that the Lord God would help them and fight their battles, and he now called on the Lord to do so. God responded, sending an angel which killed all the mighty men of valor and the leaders and captains in the Assyrian camp (32:21). In defeat Sennacherib returned to his own land with shame. He went to the house of his god and while there, members of his own family slew him with the sword (32:21).

“Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side” (2 Chron. 32:22). The king’s encouraging and comforting words had come true!

This remarkable story illustrates an abiding truth. The same God that was with king Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem is with us also. Jesus promised, “. . . lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20). And again, God has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5-6).

There is much adversity in serving the Lord. “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). When the hardships come, we need to be comforted and encouraged. Like Hezekiah of old, the apostle Paul “spoke encouragingly” unto us saying, “and in nothing terrified by your adversaries” (Phil. 1:28). After all, “there is more with us than with him . . . but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles” (2 Chron. 32:7-8). Let us depend upon the help of the Lord. Let us stand fast before the adversary (Phil. 1:27). Paul charged the Ephesians, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil . . . Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand ” (Eph.6:10-11, 13).

Do we have enough faith and courage to heed these admonitions  to follow the example of Hezekiah and Jerusalem? Will we trust God, and Hezekiah’s comforting words?

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 14-15
March 20, 1997

By Bryan Gibson

Recently, my wife and I were blessed with the birth of a baby girl, Leah May Gibson. We now have two daughters  Alli is three years old. As any father is likely to do, I’ve done some thinking about what the future holds for my two daughters. Here are some things I want for my girls, things I believe God wants for them, too.

I want my daughters to be beautiful on the inside. It’s not that I want them to neglect their outward appearance; it’s just that there are some things far more important. I want them to be clothed with “strength and honor” (Prov. 31:25), and with a “meek and quiet spirit” (1 Pet. 3:3-5). I want them to have the kind of beauty that never fades. In looking through the New Testament I see many qualities I would love for my daughters to have. I want them to be poor in spirit, meek, merciful, compassionate, tenderhearted, for-giving, kind, longsuffering, pure in heart, and patient. I want them to hunger and thirst after righteousness. I want them to mourn when they sin. I want them to learn to rejoice, even in the midst of difficult times. 1 want them to learn what it means to be truly content. In short, I want them to be like Christ, which should be the goal of every faithful Christian.

I want them to marry faithful Christians. I want this, partly, for selfish reasons. I want my daughters to be treated well, and if they marry faithful Christians, they will be. If married to faithful Christians, they will be loved as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25). They will have unselfish husbands (Phil. 2:3-4). They will have husbands who not only tell them they love them, but who show them as well (1 John 3:16-18). But there are other reasons for wanting them to marry faithful Christians. I want them to marry someone with whom they can pray. I want them to marry someone who will want the same things for the children as they do.

I want them to marry someone with whom they can be fellow-workers in the kingdom of God, a husband and wife team like that of Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26; 1 Cor. 16:19; Rom. 16:3-4).

I want them to be good wives. Each will need to understand her role of submission in this relationship (Eph. 5:22-24, 33). Each will need to look out for the interests of her husband, as well as her own (Phil. 2:3-4). Each will need to show her husband she loves him (1 John 3:18). Each will need to do her husband good as long as she lives (Prov. 31:12).

I want them to be good mothers. I want them to see the importance God places on bringing up children (1 Tim. 2:11-15). I want them to be like the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, who was very attentive to her children’s needs. I want them to be like Hannah, who said of her son Samuel, “I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (1 Sam. 1:11). I want them to be like Eunice, who taught her son Timothy the Scriptures from childhood (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15).

I want them to be ready to do good for others. I want them to be like the virtuous woman who “extends her hands to the poor . . . reaches out her hands to the needy” (Prov. 31:20).1 want them to be like Dorcas, who was “full of good works and charitable deeds” (Acts 9:36); like Phoebe, who was “a helper of many” (Rom. 16:1-2). I want them to be the kind of women who have “diligently followed every good work” (1 Tim. 5:10).

Finally, I want my daughters (as well as my sons) to go to heaven. If they can do the things mentioned earlier in this article, they will be well on their way.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 18
March 20, 1997

By Dan McKibben

I found an interesting little point the other day in studying 1 Timothy 2:9-10. The text says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” I was looking up this word sobriety in Strong’s concordance. According to Mr. Strong, this word means “soundness of mind, i.e. (lit.) sanity.” Thus I learned that when women (and men) dress in modest, decent apparel; having the attitudes of shamefacedness and sobriety, that they have a soundness of mind, that they are showing forth “sanity” of mind by their good choices in the modest clothes they wear.

Also along this line in Luke 8, we read an interesting account of a man that was demon possessed, in the country of Gadarenes. In verse 27 the text records, “And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.” As we read on in this account in Luke 8, verses 28-34 describe how Jesus cast out the demons from the man, and how they entered into the swine. Then the record goes on to say in verse 35, “Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” Thus we would learn from this passage that a man in his “right mind” will be wearing his clothes. And that a man that does not wear his clothes, is not in his “right mind.” I guess we would have to say, that folks who dress immodestly, are displaying “in-sanity.” And we would also have to say, that folks who dress modestly, are displaying “sanity.”

I suppose a lot of you have seen Susan Powder (she is the blonde headed lady that wears a burr haircut) on TV, advertising her video and her book called, Stop The Insanity. It is a diet program that laments the myriad of diet books and programs out there in the world, some that Susan feels are way out. On the cover of Susan’s book, they have a picture of Susan cringing, with her fists at her temples, and the caption and title that says, Stop The Insanity. Now this brings me to the point of this article. When one sees all about us, all the people who dress immodestly, folks who shed their clothes almost to nothing when the weather gets a little warm, when you drive through town and have to go by the public swimming pool and there are all those people who are running around in “colored underwear,” when one feels almost embarrassed to go to the store in the summer-time because of all the brief, scanty attire, it just makes you want to put your fists to your temples and say, “Stop The Insanity!”

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 17
March 20, 1997

By Dan King

Sometimes I fear that representatives of several of the religious groups around us are much better prepared to explain what they believe and why they believe it than many members of the church. We cannot depend upon lines like: “I am a member of the Church of Christ, and I believe every thing it does.” After all, the church of Christ has no creed but the Bible. Simplistic replies like that not only are insufficient, they are not true. Besides, members and congregations within the category “churches of Christ” believe all sorts of different things. We ought not to desire to be identified with many of the things which are believed and taught by some people in many of those churches.

So, that puts us back to “square one.” Slogans and generalizations will not suffice. But the truth is that they never have been acceptable. When the apostle Peter wrestled with the problem of Christians who were suffering though they stood for everything that was good and worthwhile in life (“even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake. .. “), he warned them to be prepared in advance. “But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ” (1 Pet. 3:14-16).

Such challenges to one’s faith, and even assaults upon one’s faith, are certain to come. The key to handling the situation well is to make mental preparation and adequate logical and scriptural preparation long before the challenges come. Know this for sure: people place no confidence in a halting or uncertain reply. They are looking for confidence and certainty. The world is filled already to the brim with people who have lots of questions but no explanations, only “possible alternatives” and “unproven theories.” They are looking for people with answers. And they are interested as much in the strength of your convictions as they are in the convictions themselves.

Peter tells us to have the foresight and anticipate the inevitable situations that will arise, before they manifest themselves. Such anticipation involves knowing two things beforehand: (1) What will the questions be?; and, (2) What are the answers to the questions? Now, unfortunately, this is very much like taking a test in school. You never know precisely what the questions will be, only the general information that will be covered in the test. Yet, if you are well practiced on the material which made up the presentations in class and the readings which were to attend them, then you can pass the examination. The same goes for the challenge to your faith that Peter is here describing. You can pass the test, but you must be ready for it to pass it!

One version renders Peter’s exhortation this way, “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” The word translated here as “defense” is the Greek word apologian, which means “an apology.” Apology, as used in this context, does not mean “saying you are sorry,” but rather a “formal defense” of what you believe. Peter was urging Christians to be ready to give a reasoned, intelligent explanation of their faith to anyone who might ask about what Christians believed and practiced. The apostle wanted those who made such defenses to be convincing. Once again, only an adequately prepared defense will be convincing to a listener. Knowledge and deep conviction breed confidence. And confidence is convincing, especially to those who are honestly searching for answers!

Peter also has somewhat to say about how we ought to formulate our reply to questions about our faith. We are to speak with “gentleness and reverence.” The word meaning “gentleness” or “meekness” is rendered “strength under control.” It is used to describe horses who are broken to the bit and bridle, and so are disciplined enough to be useful. The meaning is therefore that we are to bring our emotions, especially anger and malice, under complete control, so that they do not spoil the effectiveness of our presentation. Undoubtedly Peter would have been the first to admit that sometimes it is all we can do to maintain control when epithets and insults are being slung at us by people who are often ignorant and mean-spirited. But our own self-control and maintenance of composure is very much a part of the defense. Because our own behavior is part of our defense. Remember that we serve him who stood in almost complete silence as he was tried for crimes of which he was not guilty. We must never forget this.

“Reverence” or “fear” is also a part of one’s defense of the faith. We know that someday we must report to the Master about how this opportunity that was presented to us went. What will we say? “I wasn’t ready for that one!” “I had never thought about that before!” “That one sure took me off guard!” How do you think the Lord will react? Sounds like we might fail that test.

Are you “prepared to make your defense” of what you believe and stand for? No one can do it for you. Only real preparation can do it. Are you ready? If you are not, then plan to spend some time studying every day. Come to all the Bible classes. Offer to teach in the Bible class pro-gram. Look for opportunities to speak to your non-Christian relatives, neighbors, friends, and co-workers. Test your skills. Refine them by trial and error. Make of yourself a “defender of the faith”!

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 16-17
March 20, 1997