King Hezekiah's Faith and the Defeat of Sennacherib
In the annals of Judah’s monarchy, King Hezekiah stands as a beacon of righteous leadership, a man who, unlike many of his predecessors, “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.” (2 Kings 18:3). His reign, beginning around 715 B.C., was marked by profound spiritual reforms, as he diligently purged idolatry from the land and restored the true worship of Jehovah. It was during this period of renewed devotion that Judah faced its gravest external threat: the formidable Assyrian Empire under the ruthless King Sennacherib. This epic confrontation, chronicled in 2 Kings 18, 19, Isaiah 36, 37, and 2 Chronicles 32, serves as a powerful testament to the efficacy of faith in the face of overwhelming odds.
Hezekiah's Righteous Reign and the Impending Storm
Hezekiah’s early actions set him apart. He broke the brazen serpent that Moses had made, which the children of Israel had corrupted into an idol, and he cut down the groves and broke the images (2 Kings 18:4). His trust was wholly in the Lord God of Israel, so that "after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him." (2 Kings 18:5). He clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, keeping His commandments. Consequently, "the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth" (2 Kings 18:7). However, this prosperity did not exempt Judah from trials. The Assyrian Empire, a relentless force of conquest, was sweeping across the ancient Near East, subjugating nations and boasting of their gods' impotence against the might of Asshur.
The Assyrian Invasion and Sennacherib's Blasphemy
In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, came up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them (2 Kings 18:13). Jerusalem, the capital, now stood isolated and vulnerable. Sennacherib sent his chief general, the Rabshakeh, with a great host to Jerusalem, to demand its surrender. The Rabshakeh, speaking in the Hebrew tongue to demoralize the people, delivered a message laced with psychological warfare and egregious blasphemy.
He mocked Hezekiah’s trust in God, asserting that the Lord was no different from the gods of other nations that Assyria had annihilated. "Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?" he taunted, listing the conquered cities and their fallen deities (2 Kings 18:33). His most audacious claim was that the Lord Himself had commanded the Assyrians to destroy Judah: "Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it." (2 Kings 18:25). The Rabshakeh’s words were designed to sow fear and despair, to undermine the very foundation of Hezekiah’s faith and the people’s hope in their God. He urged the people not to listen to Hezekiah, who would persuade them that the Lord would deliver them, but to make an agreement with Sennacherib and live (2 Kings 18:31-32).
Hezekiah's Humble Prayer and Unwavering Trust
Upon hearing the Rabshakeh’s blasphemous words, Hezekiah did not panic or resort to human alliances. Instead, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD (2 Kings 19:1). He sent messengers to Isaiah the prophet, seeking divine counsel and prayer. Hezekiah understood that this was not merely a military or political crisis, but a direct challenge to the sovereignty and honor of the living God. The Rabshakeh had not just insulted Hezekiah, but had "reproached the living God" (2 Kings 19:4).
Perhaps the most poignant display of Hezekiah’s faith was his act of taking Sennacherib’s threatening letter and spreading it out before the Lord in the temple. This was not a mere ritual, but a profound act of surrender and trust, laying the enormity of the threat directly before the One who alone could deliver. His prayer was a masterpiece of humility and theological accuracy:
O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear: open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.
Hezekiah’s prayer was not primarily for his own safety or Judah’s preservation, but for God’s name to be glorified among all the kingdoms of the earth. He recognized that the Assyrian threat was ultimately against God Himself, and therefore, God’s honor was at stake.
Isaiah's Prophecy and God's Assurance
The Lord’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer was swift and decisive, delivered through the prophet Isaiah. God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and issued a scathing rebuke to Sennacherib, highlighting his arrogance and ignorance of God’s supreme power. God declared that He would put a hook in Sennacherib’s nose and a bridle in his lips, and turn him back by the way he came (2 Kings 19:28). The Lord promised to defend Jerusalem:
For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
This prophecy was a testament to God's faithfulness, not only to Hezekiah but to His covenant with David, ensuring the preservation of the lineage through which the Messiah would come. It was a promise of divine intervention, a guarantee that the battle was the Lord’s.
The Miraculous Deliverance of Jerusalem
The fulfillment of God’s promise was nothing short of miraculous. That very night, “the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” (2 Kings 19:35). In a single night, without a single sword drawn by Judah, the mighty Assyrian army was annihilated. Sennacherib, humiliated and defeated, was forced to retreat to Nineveh, his capital. There, years later, while worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, he was assassinated by his own sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer (2 Kings 19:36-37). The proud king, who had defied the living God, met a ignominious end, just as the Lord had foretold.
Lessons from Hezekiah's Faith for Today
The account of Hezekiah and Sennacherib offers timeless principles for believers facing overwhelming challenges:
- Trust in God Alone: Hezekiah did not rely on political maneuvering or military might, but on the Lord. When facing insurmountable problems, our first recourse must always be to God, not human solutions or despair.
- The Power of Prayer: Hezekiah’s earnest, humble, and theologically sound prayer was the catalyst for divine intervention. It demonstrates that prayer is not merely a spiritual exercise but a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare, capable of moving the hand of God.
- God's Honor is Paramount: Hezekiah appealed to God's honor and name, recognizing that the challenge was ultimately against God Himself. When we pray for God's glory to be revealed, we align our desires with His perfect will, and He is pleased to act.
- Humility in Crisis: Hezekiah's act of wearing sackcloth and spreading the letter before God illustrates profound humility and dependence. Acknowledging our weakness and God's omnipotence is the starting point for receiving divine strength.
- God's Faithfulness: The swift and complete defeat of Sennacherib attests to God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and His people. Though unseen, His hand is always at work for those who trust Him.
- God Opposes the Proud: Sennacherib's arrogance and blasphemy led to his downfall. The narrative underscores the biblical principle that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).
Conclusion
King Hezekiah’s encounter with Sennacherib stands as an enduring testament to the power of faith and the sovereignty of God. In a moment of existential crisis, Hezekiah chose to lean not on his own understanding, but to cast his burden upon the Lord. His faith was not a passive belief but an active reliance, expressed through fervent prayer and unwavering trust. The miraculous defeat of the Assyrian army serves as a powerful reminder that no foe is too great for the Lord, and that He remains the defender of His people, ready to intervene on behalf of those who put their trust in Him.