It was a threatening letter from Sennacherib to the King of Judah, Hezekiah. Hezekiah resorted to prayer using the letter as a prayer list for his petitions. There was ample proof that the Assyrian armies had been successful in their aggression with other peoples. All would be lost, unless God intervened. Prayer was heard, and Isaiah gave Hezekiah a prophetic message that Sennacherib would not be victorious. And, that became the way of it. The threat was ended, and blessing followed. The scenario is rather straightforward in the story to us.
It is compelling that our basic understanding and unity of the Christian faith is found in written Scripture. Why should we not also use this documented process to advance what we believe in? We are more careful in writing than in speaking. We cannot deny our written records of truth statements. We may deny some reputed meaning, but we do not deny authorship. There is a psychological mystery in speech related to the personality of the speaker. In writing, that personality is somewhat muted (but not lost), and the meaning holds on what is written, for good or ill. The meaning must be clear in the words themselves, not having voice and gesture to help or hinder the nuances of communication. A major duty of the Christian is to communicate. (How shall they hear without a preacher . . . Go into all the World and preach . . . .)
What if in duty to communicate, in service to God, we did some of it in writing? I have known persons entirely lifted, deeply helped, by letters, cards, even essays of shared joy or sorrow. Some persons are shy about oral speech, but, given time, may write something that is highly inspirational to another, even to their spiritual salvation. In review of my letters file, I found a copy of a hand written letter, of three large pages in small hand, from my wife, now long deceased, to the wife of her youngest brother who had recently died. It recites memories, of appreciation, of courage and comfort. The stories can be multiplied from my own knowledge, in service to mankind as directed by God, notes and letters composed to inspirit others, to help along the way, to share our appreciation of them, our love and the love of God. This is another avenue through which God can make of us the gentle and perceptive persons we ought to become. The writer becomes a better person for it. It cultivates his or her own humility before God, while focusing on the concerns of others. It is an excellent procedure to advance our values – for now and yonder.
Decades after I had completed a doctoral program at a leading state university, my dissertation chairman sent me a note that had been given to him the day after I defended my dissertation to the austere committee of twelve representatives of the faculty/administration. The note included high professional opinion about my defense. (I believe my chairman sent it to me for that sentiment.) But, the writer had no idea that I would ever see the note. He had commended my chairman for mentoring me: So few seem to know how much we put into our students and never hear about it. You need to know what you have done. My chairman sent the note to me just before he died. He had saved it. So have I. What a gracious gift to me. He had told me how pleased he was at my defense, but wanted me to know that another had accented the belief. The whole of the story provides decoration for life work and effort. One of the best things a person may become is to be an inspiriter, an encourager, a believer in others who do what we like to see done. Write! Even preferring the direct speech mode, so beautifully personal to relationships, we should also write. No development in modernization will take the place of that personal contact. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020