Session 12 2 Kings 19:10-19,32-34
2 KINGS 19:10-19,32-34
MEMORY VERSE: 2 KINGS 19:19
Prayer is an invitation into the throne room of God. This invitation is about having a conversation with the Creator of the universe and being ushered into His presence as someone He desires to spend time with. God wants to hear from us and to show us His wisdom and plans. Like any other invitation, we must choose to accept it. Too many times, we expect God to act but do so without approaching Him.
(In PSG, p. 109)
Hezekiah became king and acted to turn Judah back to God (2 Kings 18:1-6). Early in his reign, Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel (18:9-12). The king challenged the priests and Levites to help him bring about spiritual renewal (2 Chron. 29:3-19). Hezekiah then restored the sacrificial system, and the Levites and people praised God and celebrated (2 Chron. 29:20-36).
The king then invited all Israel and Judah to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 30:1-6). Many northern citizens mocked Hezekiah’s invitation, but others came (2 Chron. 30:7-12). The people celebrated the Passover at a level they had not done since Solomon’s days (2 Chron. 30:13-27).
When Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, Hezekiah initially capitulated to the king’s demands (2 Kings 18:13-16). Sennacherib then sent a large army and delegation to Jerusalem to encourage surrender and warn the people not to trust Hezekiah’s assurances of deliverance (18:17-37).
Isaiah told Hezekiah God would rescue Judah (19:1-7). However, the Assyrian official returned and again warned the people not to let either Hezekiah or his God deceive them into believing they could win (19:8-13).
Hezekiah went to the temple and prayed fervently for God’s deliverance (19:14-19). Isaiah then sent a second reply to Hezekiah, assuring him of Assyria’s impending defeat (19:20-28). The prophet further stated that life in Judah soon would return to normal (19:29). God would defend Jerusalem for His own sake and for King David’s sake (19:34). An angel of the Lord decimated the Assyrian camp that night, and Sennacherib returned home (19:35-37).
When Hezekiah became ill, Isaiah told the king he was about to die, but God extended Hezekiah’s life by fifteen years after Hezekiah prayed (20:1-11). Unfortunately, the king became proud when a Babylonian delegation visited him, and he foolishly showed them all he had (20:12-13). Isaiah told Hezekiah that one day the Babylonians would return and exile Judah’s citizens (20:14-19).
Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, succeeded him and reversed his father’s policies (21:1-2). He re-established Baal worship and rebuilt the false worship sites his father had destroyed (21:3-9). God’s prophets warned disas-ter would come upon Judah because of the king’s sin (21:10-15). Manasseh eventually repented and turned to the Lord after the king of Assyria captured him (2 Chron. 33:10-16), though much spiritual damage already had occurred. Amon, Manasseh’s son, continued Manasseh’s evil practices and reigned only two years before he was assassinated (2 Kings 21:19-26).
EXPLORE THE TEXT
10 “Say this to King Hezekiah of Judah: ‘Don’t let your God, on whom you rely, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.
When King Hezekiah first reported the Assyrian ultimatum to Isaiah, the prophet had encouraged the king not to fear (19:6). However, the king of Assyria sent a second delegation to Jerusalem, and that delegation brought an even greater taunt.
The words say this to King Hezekiah of Judah prefaced the message the king sent. Probably, the messengers gave the message orally and then in writing to the same group that had received the earlier message (18:18). They likely delivered it loudly for all to hear, as they did the first one (18:27-35). The Assyrians could work diplomatically, but they also knew how to work through intimidation. The Assyrian spokesman urged, don’t let your God, on whom you rely, deceive you. The spokesman’s words signaled a turning point in the narrative. In his first encounter with the Jewish delegation, he had encouraged them not to let Hezekiah mislead them (18:29-30). Now, the focus was not on Hezekiah, but on Hezekiah’s God. Initially, Hezekiah’s honor was at stake; now, God’s honor was at stake.
We do not know why the Assyrian delegation may have thought God was promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Perhaps the Jewish delegation had mentioned Isaiah’s words to the Assyrians, but this seems unlikely. Maybe the Assyrians were simply working an educated guess that the people might have considered doing this. After all, in his first message, the spokesman had suggested Hezekiah had angered his God by smashing God’s high places throughout Judah (18:22). Of course, this was actually a good work Hezekiah had done, but probably many of the common people perceived this as not good.
11 Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: They completely destroyed them. Will you be rescued? 12 Did the gods of the nations that my predecessors destroyed rescue them — nations such as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the Edenites in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah?’”
The word look signified the importance of what the spokesman was about to say. He asserted you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries. The language of the original stresses Hezekiah’s personal knowledge of the devastation Assyria’s conquests had brought. The spokesman then answered his own question—they completely destroyed them. In light of the Assyrians’ perfect record of victories, the spokesman asked Hezekiah, so will you be spared? The original language stresses the word you. In his taunt, the spokesman was calling Hezekiah to consider carefully the potential implications of his choices. Did he really want to challenge the mighty Assyria?
The Assyrian spokesman continued his taunt with another question: did the gods of the nations that my predecessors destroyed rescue them? The question in verse 13 was rhetorical. He was not asking for the location of these conquered kings but stressing that these kings existed no longer. Hamath was a significant city-state in Syria north of Damascus during the days of the divided kingdom. The region had made peace with King David (2 Sam. 8:9-10), and Jeroboam II, king of the Northern Kingdom, also had extended his empire that far north (2 Kings 14:25). Arpad was closely connected with Hamath and was also a leading region of Syria. It, along with Hamath, had fallen to Tiglath-pileser when he conquered Damascus in 732 BC (2 Kings 16:7-9). The cities of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah seem to have also formed part of Syrian territory.
The Assyrians had conquered everyone in their path so far, including the Northern Kingdom of Israel and its capital Samaria (2 Kings 18:34), and now wanted Hezekiah to consider that Judah would be next.
Pride often leads to greater acts of arrogance. The more victories the Assyrians won, the prouder they became, and the more they thought themselves invincible. God was about to humble them. Likewise, success we have today, whether in local church ministry or in marketplace ministry, can tempt us to pride. We must remember God has given us all we are and have (1 Cor. 4:7), and it is by His power that we accomplish what we do. When God gives us success, we should give the glory to Him.
(In PSG, p. 113)
14 Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers’ hands, read it, then went up to the LORD’s temple, and spread it out before the LORD. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: LORD God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are God — you alone — of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers’ hands. The letter contained the terms of the Assyrian ultimatum, and Hezekiah read it already knowing what it essentially contained. He knew he faced desperate circumstances, so he went up to the Lord’s temple. King Solomon, Hezekiah’s ancestor, had prayed there that God would respond to desperate circumstances such as these (1 Kings 8:33-34,37-40). Hezekiah took the Assyrian letter and spread it out before the LORD. He knew the Lord knew its contents, but the king’s tangible actions probably helped him process the situation personally.
Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, knowing Judah’s future was at stake. He began by affirming the Lord’s uniqueness over all lands and over all the universe. He addressed Him as LORD God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim. The words enthroned between the cherubim referenced the ark of the covenant and the angelic cherubs that adorned its top, where God’s presence sometimes manifested itself (Ex. 25:17-22). The expression denotes God’s closeness to His people.
Hezekiah also affirmed of the Lord, you are God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth. The Assyrians embraced a polytheistic view and believed different gods controlled different nations. The Assyrian spokesman had even suggested that the gods of Assyria were stronger than the gods of the other nations (2 Kings 18:33-35; 19:12). Hezekiah affirmed God’s absolute sovereignty over all earth’s kingdoms. He also affirmed of the Lord, you made the heavens and the earth. The structure emphasizes God’s personal involvement in the creative process. He created it all, and He controlled it all.
16 Listen closely, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see. Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God. 17 LORD, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands—wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. 19 Now, LORD our God, please save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are God — you alone.
Hezekiah called the Lord’s attention to the scroll that lay in front of the king: listen closely LORD, and hear. Hezekiah’s words may suggest the king was reading the Assyrian threat aloud before God. Further, Hezekiah urged, open your eyes, LORD, and see. Hezekiah’s use of these verbs called God’s attention to the urgency of the situation.
Hezekiah’s plea, hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God, closely parallel David’s words concerning Goliath, the Philistine giant David killed (1 Sam. 17:26,36,45). David was offended when Goliath taunted Israel’s army—God’s honor was at stake—and now Hezekiah was offended that the Assyrians mocked God. God’s honor was at stake again, as was the destiny of the nation!
The Assyrian spokesman earlier had highlighted Assyria’s record of victories. Hezekiah affirmed this with the words, LORD, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands. Hezekiah also agreed, they have thrown their gods into the fire. As the Assyrians achieved victory over nation upon nation, they had humiliated these nations. In their minds, their god Ashur was more powerful than the gods of the other nations.
However, Hezekiah then declared the false premise behind the Assyrians’ reasoning: they were not gods, but made by human hands—wood and stone. Hezekiah had affirmed that God and God alone was God (v. 15). Idols were the work of human hands. The psalmist described the pointlessness of serving idols that really had no life in them (Ps. 115:4-8). Isaiah also condemned God’s people’s foolish thinking about the power of idols over their lives (Isa. 44:9-20). Hezekiah’s word, so they have destroyed them, simply affirmed that the Assyrians had destroyed idols of wood and stone that in and of themselves were powerless anyway. They had not faced any god like the Lord, but they soon would.
Hezekiah pleaded, now, LORD our God, please save us from his power. The words LORD our God stress the Lord’s personal relationship with His people. Hezekiah implored God’s deliverance so that all kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are God—you alone.
Certainly, Hezekiah knew that if Judah fell, he likely would die. Nevertheless, he first and foremost called for God’s glory among the nations. Kingdoms and people who had been unable to withstand the Assyrian onslaught would witness God’s victory over the mightiest army in the world. When they did, Hezekiah knew they would know such a victory could only come by the power of Judah’s God, because no other god or nation had been able to defeat Assyria.
Believers can and should humbly approach God in prayer. The prophet Isaiah described how God takes note when we come to Him humbly and respect His Word (Isa. 66:2). Hezekiah came to God asking Him to intervene so the nations would see His glory. Likewise, when we come to God in prayer, pleading for specific answers, our desire should be for His glory. He is greater than we are, and His ways and thoughts are far beyond ours (Isa. 55:8-9). He can do beyond all we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20), but He also will not share His glory with another (Isa. 42:8). How might God show His greatness through a serious challenge you, your family, or your church is facing right now? Perhaps He is waiting for you to ask Him to show His glory in that situation.
(In PSG, p. 115)
32 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, shoot an arrow here, come before it with a shield, or build up a siege ramp against it.
The words therefore, this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria introduce the Lord’s impending judgment against Assyria’s proud king. Sennacherib had arrogantly mocked the Lord, the Holy One of Israel (19:22). He had boasted of his many accomplishments but did not realize God had made him who he was (19:23-26). God knew everything about Sennacherib, and He would lead him home in disgrace (19:27-28). The Lord of Armies, whom Sennacherib had mocked, would accomplish this (19:31).
Isaiah’s message described particular acts of warfare Sennacherib would fail to do. First, he said, Sennacherib will not enter this city as a victorious king. Second, not he or anyone in his army would even so much as shoot an arrow here. Invading armies often used archers to send barrages of arrows over a city wall to keep the citizens pinned down while other soldiers moved closer to the city. Third, Sennacherib would not come before it with a shield. Invading armies might approach a city with its troops bearing shields to repel the counterattack from the city walls. Fourth, Sennacherib would not build up a siege ramp against it. Invading armies would employ a battering ram against a city gate, but they also might build a ramp against the city wall so soldiers could get over the wall into the city. None of these warfare tactics would happen, not one, because God controlled the situation.
33 He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city. This is the LORD’s declaration. 34 I will defend this city and rescue it for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.”
Isaiah’s message then contained a summary statement about Sennacherib: He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city. Sennacherib would return to his land without claiming Judah. The words this is the LORD’s declaration put a final exclamation point on God’s verdict against Sennacherib.
The Lord promised, I will defend this city and rescue it. Hezekiah had prayed God would intervene and reveal His power to the nations (vv. 14-19), and God had answered the king’s prayer. Indeed, the Lord affirmed He would defend Jerusalem for my sake. Glory would come to the God of Judah when Sennacherib went home in disgrace. God also promised to save the city for the sake of my servant David. God had made David a promise concerning David’s house (2 Sam. 7:12-16), and Hezekiah, one of David’s descendants, had shown himself faithful before the Lord. Consequently, God would bless Hezekiah and save the city. David had died approximately 270 years earlier, but God’s promise remained true.
Second Kings 19:35-37 records God’s victory over Sennacherib. Interestingly, Sennacherib described his invasion of Judah and battle with Hezekiah in his own royal inscriptions. He claimed that he “shut up Hezekiah like a bird in a cage”—probably a veiled concession that he couldn’t take Jerusalem. God heard the faithful king’s prayer, brought dramatic deliverance, and still brings glory to Himself through this account as we study it today.
God will defend His name and His people. Sometimes we wonder why we see so many people mocking God and His ways in today’s world. God’s Word assures us the day of judgment is coming for the wicked (Ps. 37:13). The Lord also will choose to defend His own honor in the manner He chooses, whether through life’s ordinary events or once and for all at Jesus’s second coming (2 Thess. 1:6-10). Either way, God will hear His people’s prayers and act on their behalf.
(In PSG, p. 116)
God
God is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. (See Jonah 3:10; Acts 14:15.)
Use other Scripture to help understand a Bible passage.
Read 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (God’s promise to David) and 1 Kings 2:3-4 (David’s reiteration of that promise to Solomon). God promised to build David a lasting house and promised to bless all David’s descendants who remained faithful to Him. How do these verses provide a deeper understanding of 2 Kings 19:34?