Cling To The Lord - No. 35

2 Kings 18:3,5-6 NAS, “Hezekiah… he did right in the sight of the Lord… he trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.” 

What a wonderful testimony to be written over a life. The Bible says that there was no other king like Hezekiah. What was the secret of his success? He clung to the Lord. The kings before him and after him were lured away from the Lord, but Hezekiah did not waver. He clung to the Lord with all his heart.

Where did he learn to cling to the Lord? I believe he learnt it from his mother, Abijah. Abijah was married to Ahaz, Hezekiah’s father. Ahaz was a wicked king, so wicked, that when he died they didn’t even bury him in the sepulchers of the kings of Israel. His greatest wickedness was that he followed the way of the heathen nations around about him and actually “burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen…” 2 Chronicles 28:3 

Who were these children? Obviously they were some of the sons of Abijah. Oh fellow mother, can you even begin to imagine the horror, the terror, torture, the torment, the anguish, the despair, the agony and the dreadfulness (I can’t even find enough adjectives) that Abijah must have experienced as her precious little baby was ripped away from her loving arms and thrown into a fiery pit? Oh it is too painful to think about. It would be enough to send her insane.

How did she survive? She must have clung to the Lord. The God who is Enough, was her comfort, her pillar, her rock and her consolation. It was not enough just to pray. She was desperate. She had to cling to the Lord. She held fast to the Lord and would not let Him go. This was her sanity. 

Are you going through something in your life that you feel is too hard to bear? Is your heart agonizing? Dear friend, cling to the Lord. No, don’t just pray a little prayer. Cling to the Lord. Cry out to Him. Stay in His presence until you feel His loving arms around you. As you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. He will bind up and heal your broken heart. He will keep your mind sound.

Do you have a problem that you don’t know how to solve? Cling to the Lord. Once again, don’t just pray a little prayer. Hold fast to the Lord until you receive His answer. Don’t be swayed by worldly answers. Wait for God’s Word. 

Do you feel that you can hardly bear another moment in your marriage? Can you imagine the heartache Abijah endured as she lived with a man who threw her baby into the fire? Or maybe more than one baby? Dear one, cling to the Lord. Put your trust in the Lord. Have patience and wait for Him. God will work on your behalf, as you trust in Him. And He will work wonders in you while you wait for His delivering power.

What was the fruit of Abijah’s clinging to the Lord? She kept her sanity. She found her victory. She walked in dignity. And she raised a son who became the greatest king in Judah. She raised a godly man who influenced a nation for God. She taught him to “cling to the Lord” and that became the success of his life and his reign as the greatest king of Judah. And Abijah’s name is recorded in the Scriptures as a mother and powerful influence of a godly king. 

Don’t give in, dear one. Cling to the Lord. This is your salvation.

Deuteronomy 13:4 NAS, “You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him and cling to Him.” (Deuteronomy 10:20; 11:22; Joshua 22:5; 23:8; Acts 11:23)

   Deuteronomy 30:20, “Cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days.” 

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, teach me to cling to you. Every other cistern leaks. You are the only one who can support me and hold me. I will cling to you. I will not let you go. I will hang on to you because you are my Source, my Life, my Hope, my Comfort, my Consolation, my Rock and my faithful God.”

QUOTE:

“In Heavenly Love abiding,

No change my heart shall fear;

And safe is such confiding,

For nothing changes here.

The storm may roar about me,

My heart may low be laid;

But God is round about me,

And can I be dismayed?

 

Anna L. Waring