Daily Readings - Tue Jun 23 2020
2 Kings
9Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the Cushite king of Egypt, was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word:10"Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, 'Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'11Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?14Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.15And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.16Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.17"It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands.18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands.19Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God."20Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.21This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: "'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you. The Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.31For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.32"Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria: "He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it.33By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the LORD.34I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant."35That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning-there were all the dead bodies!36So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
Matthew
6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about trust in God and living according to His will. The first reading from 2 Kings recounts the story of King Hezekiah of Judah, who faced an existential threat from the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. Despite the intimidating words of the Assyrian ruler, Hezekiah turned to God in prayer, spreading the letter of threat before the Lord and imploring Him to save Jerusalem. Through the prophet Isaiah, God assured Hezekiah that He would defend the city, and indeed, an angel of the Lord struck down the Assyrian army, saving Jerusalem. This story reminds us of the importance of trusting God in times of crisis and recognizing His power over all human forces.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to how we should live as disciples of Christ. Jesus warns us not to give what is holy to those who cannot appreciate it, emphasizing the need to live with discernment and integrity. He then teaches the Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would have them do to you,” which is a summary of the law and the prophets. Finally, Jesus speaks about the narrow gate that leads to life, urging us to choose the difficult but rewarding path of following Him. This teaching challenges us to examine our choices and ensure they align with God’s will, even when the world around us encourages a broader, easier way.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust and moral living. Hezekiah’s story shows us that trusting God leads to salvation, while Jesus’ teachings call us to live in a way that reflects our faith. In our daily lives, we are often faced with challenges and decisions that test our commitment to God. Like Hezekiah, we must turn to prayer and trust in God’s providence. Like the disciples, we must strive to live according to the narrow path, treating others with love and integrity. The moral lesson is clear: our faith must be active, guiding our choices and shaping our relationship with God and others. Let us remember that the Lord is always with us, ready to save us if we remain faithful and true to His will.