The Paradox of Faithfulness and Suffering
(2 Chronicles 32:1-21)
“After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.” (2 Chronicles 32:1, NIV)
Understanding the Word
This passage presents a very intriguing development in relation to our life of faith. “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came…” At first glance, it is difficult to understand, but upon closer examination, we see two seemingly incompatible meanings contained within a single sentence.
The background is a wartime situation. The army of Assyria is advancing toward Jerusalem. Yet the first half of the verse is fascinating: “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done.” Summarizing what follows in one phrase, it would be: “The king of Assyria invaded.”
King Hezekiah’s Faithfulness
This took place during the time of Hezekiah. “When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem…” (2 Chronicles 32:2). The person experiencing this situation of enemy invasion while having done all these faithful deeds is Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. The story about him goes back to 2 Chronicles 29, which describes his ascension to the throne. 2 Chronicles 29:1 summarizes his reign as follows: “Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.” (2 Chronicles 29:1). And the evaluation of him immediately follows.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.” (2 Chronicles 29:2). In other words, Hezekiah was one of the rare kings of Judah who lived uprightly in God’s sight.
The Paradox of Faithfulness and Suffering
The story of King Hezekiah raises a fundamental question we often encounter in our life of faith: “Why does suffering come to those who serve God faithfully?” Unlike his wicked father Ahaz, Hezekiah was a king who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” He purified the temple, restored the sacrifices, supported the Levites and priests, and completed all the faithful deeds for God. Yet, immediately after finishing all these faithful acts, he faced the tremendous trial of an invasion by Assyria, the superpower of the time. This is a struggle that believers today who diligently practice their faith also feel equally: “Why am I facing such a trial when I serve God like this?” Hezekiah’s story offers not a simple answer but a profound insight.
Hezekiah’s experience shows that faith is not a ‘shield’ that prevents suffering itself. His father Ahaz forsook God and served idols, resulting in constant war, defeat, and humiliation. Hezekiah rejected his father’s path and accomplished restoration to God. However, his faithful faith did not prevent the external threat of Assyria’s invasion. This suggests that the essence of faith is not guaranteeing ‘a life without problems.’
The Response of Mature Faith in the Face of Adversity
When adversity struck, Hezekiah and the people of Judah responded fundamentally differently than in the past. He showed an example of mature faith in two aspects:
· Active Preparation and Courage: Hezekiah did not neglect practical measures, repairing the walls and preparing weapons. At the same time, he instilled courage in the people by declaring, “With us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). This shows that faith is not an escape from reality but a source of courage to face reality head-on.
· The Will to Move Forward in Prayer: The most decisive difference was prayer directed toward God. “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.” (2 Chronicles 32:20). He overcame the crisis not through his own faithfulness or efforts, but by praying, seeking solely God’s help.
Reinterpreting the Meaning of Suffering: Training Spiritual Strength
Hezekiah’s story leads us to reinterpret suffering not as ‘discipline’ or ‘evidence of failure,’ but as a process of ‘training spiritual strength.’ Worshiping weekly and serving faithfully is like an athlete training their physical strength. Training does not completely prevent injury during a game, but it gives the ability to overcome injury and win. Similarly, the life of a true worshiper does not prevent suffering from coming, but is a process of building spiritual muscle and resilience that enables them to hold on to the Lord and overcome it when suffering comes.
The Identity of the True Worshiper Completed in Suffering
God answered Hezekiah’s prayer, sending an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army, demonstrating overwhelming salvation. This salvation was not ‘purchased’ by the price of Hezekiah’s faithfulness, but was due to God’s sovereign love and faithfulness. Ultimately, for the true worshiper, suffering is a device that tests the genuineness of their faith and, rather, becomes a channel of grace that allows them to experience that God alone is sufficient.
Hezekiah’s story declares to us:
“Trials also come to true worshipers. But true worshipers have the strength to overcome those trials.” Our faith is not a ship on a paradise voyage that avoids the storms of life, but an ark that enables us to not sink and to advance toward our destination in any storm.
Therefore, when adversity strikes, we can move forward without discouragement or doubt, like Hezekiah, boldly confronting it and advancing in prayer, believing in our ultimate victory in God.
Prayer
O Heavenly Father,
Just as Hezekiah faced the Assyrian army after completing all his faithful deeds,
There are times when we too face unexpected suffering and trials.
You gave Hezekiah
The wisdom to repair the walls,
The courage not to fear the enemy,
And finally, made him cry out in prayer to heaven.
Give us that same faith.
We know that our faithful lives
Cannot be a shield that blocks suffering,
But enable us to overcome the crisis through prayer, seeking only God’s help.
Like Sennacherib’s army,
From all the fear and despair that束缚 us,
From our thoughts and circumstances,
Send only Your heavenly host
To protect and save us.
You alone are the living God.
You alone are the Sovereign who saves Your people,
In history and now.
Make us confess this truth from our hearts.
To the Lord who heard and answered Hezekiah’s prayer,
Hear also Your servant’s petition
And establish us firmly in Your salvation.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
