God Fought for Hezekiah

Synopsis     2Chron 32:13-23    5/15/2020 

King Sennacherib was a great Assyrian king. As he prepared to attack Jerusalem, he sent envoys to warn the Israelites not to resist. Specifically, he told them not to trust in Hezekiah or in the God of Israel.  

In response, King Hezekiah cried out to God. Both he and Isaiah the prophet went before the Lord and prayed to God for relief. And God heard their prayer from the Temple.  

In response to Hezekiah’s prayer, God sent angels to afflict the Assyrian army with a great loss inside their camp. As a result, Sennacherib was forced to withdraw from Jerusalem. He ended up returning to Assyria. And once home, he was assassinated by his own sons.  

For Hezekiah’s part, God gave his kingdom peace on every side. And many nations brought gifts to Hezekiah to celebrate God’s defense of Jerusalem. In fact, Hezekiah became an international celebrity because of this victory.  

God Fought for Hezekiah 

Sennacherib was both a great warrior and a ruthless tyrant. He was bent on destroying every nation within his realm that resisted his rule. And no nation had ever successfully resisted his devastating army. 

But Hezekiah knew God. And he faithfully served God. So, when Sennacherib invaded with an overwhelming force, Hezekiah knew that only God could save him and the kingdom. So, he took what action he could to prepare. But most importantly, he prayed to God for deliverance. 

And God fought for him. In the end, the Israelite army never even engaged in battle.  God single-handedly defeated the Assyrians.

God Fights 

Jesus once said to Simon Peter, “Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail…”

Hearing this brings the sudden reminder of my own vulnerability.

God delivers me every day from satanic deception, sin and death. The God of all Creation knows my weakness and sin. And yet, he saves me anyway.

“The LORD goes forth like a warrior, like a man of war he stirs up his fury; He shouts out his battle cry, against his enemies he shows his might” Isaiah 42:13