Second Chronicles 32:1

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 32:1-8, “After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.[2] And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,[3] He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.[4] So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?[5] Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.[6] And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,[7] Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:[8] With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” The king of Assyria came to conquer Jerusalem, and he had a very large army, and he had conquered every other place that he wanted to conquer. This is a fact of the history books. The only place in the Middle East that he did not conquer was Jerusalem and the area surrounding Jerusalem. Notice two important thigs that Hezekiah did to gain the victory over Sennacherib. From a practical standpoint, Hezekiah did everything that he could to strengthen his defenses. Also, notice the phrase at the end of verse seven where Hezekiah said, “for there be more with us than with him.” How could Hezekiah say that? He knew that the Lord was on his side. You and the Lord always make a majority. God is all-powerful. And then Hezekiah said in verse eight, “with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.” Every believer can make that same statement. That is one of the many benefits of knowing Jesus as Savior.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 32:9-16, “After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,[10] Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?[11] Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?[12] Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?[13] Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?[14] Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?[15] Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?[16] And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.” Sennacherib was a very powerful king, and he knew it. Like many people who have success in this world, he became arrogant and over confident. He did not give God the glory. Sennacherib saw that every place that he conquered had their religion. He saw that none of the gods in any of the religions could save the people. And so he concluded that the God of the Jews would be no different. Of course, he was wrong. There is a God who is all-powerful. There are many false teachings, but there are also the true teachings about the One True God. If you seek the Lord, you will find Him. If you do not seek Jesus, then you will find false ideas that will fill your mind.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 32:17-21, “He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.[18] Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.[19] And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.[20] And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.[21] And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.” The purpose of the wicked king of Assyria was to frighten the children of Israel. The wicked king knew that fear was an important weapon. The devil knows that too. Believers should fear nothing because of all the promises that God has made to us. Yes, we might suffer, but only in the will of God. God has a plan for each of His children. Each of us will be here and will be taken care of as long as the Lord has a plan for us. Fear nothing. Do not fear death. Do not fear the people who hate you. Do not fear the devil. Do not fear the future. Do not fear anything: not if you know Jesus as your Savior. In the gospels, Jesus often said to His believers, “Fear not.” He does not want us to live in fear. He wants us to have faith and confidence that He loves us and will take care of us.

Notice what verse twenty says, “And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.” Instead of fearing, we turn to the Lord and ask Him to help us. He loves us. He forgives our sins. He died for us. He answers our prayers. Of course, He will help us. God helped Hezekiah. God sent an angel, a death angel, who killed many of the Assyrian soldiers and leaders so that the remainder returned to their homeland and stopped threatening Israel. And then when King Sennacherib went into his own place of worship to worship his false gods, his own relatives came and killed him. God is in control. God decides what happens to whom and when. God is the holy Judge of the whole earth. Turn to Jesus for forgiveness of your sins while you have a chance.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 32:22-26, “Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.[23] And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.[24] In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.[25] But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.[26] Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.” It sounds like Hezekiah was the best king since King David. But as good as Hezekiah was, he still had some failures. It says in verse twenty-four that Hezekiah was sick to the point of death, and evidently because he prayed, God raised him up and gave his health back to him. Health is a blessing from God. It means that He has something for you to do. But a lot of people receive blessings from God, but they do not react in a thankful way. That may have happened to Hezekiah because it says in verse twenty-five, “But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him…” And then verse twenty-five says that “his heart was lifted up.” If you are not thankful to God for what He has done for you, you are likely to be like Hezekiah and think that your own works and your own efforts and your own wisdom made the good things happen. That is sinful. But then verse twenty-six says, “Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart…” Hezekiah came to his senses spiritually speaking. He must have understood his own heart and understood that he was lifted up with pride, and he needed to humble himself and turn back to the Lord. The Lord Jesus is so merciful. He will always let us turn back to Him.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 32:27-33, “And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;[28] Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.[29] Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.[30] This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.[31] Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.[32] Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.[33] And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.” These verses largely tell of successes that Hezekiah had in his reign as king of Judah. But notice one exception in verse thirty-one where it says, “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him…” It is interesting how that God even uses the failures of people to ultimately bring to pass what is His great plan. God knew that the kingdom of Judah would eventually go away from Him. God’s instrument of chastisement would be Babylon. In a moment of weakness and lack of wisdom, Hezekiah allowed the Babylonians to see all the riches and wealth of Jerusalem. That had one main effect on the Babylonians: they wanted to come back some day and capture all that wealth for themselves. This was part of God’s plan for the future. Everything is part of God’s plan. Thankfully, once we put our faith in Christ, we become His sheep and He leads each of our lives to accomplish His plan for us. What a mighty God we serve.

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