King Hezekiah was one of three kings of Judah that the Bible identifies as following in David's footsteps (2 Ki 18:3). The others were Asa (1 Ki 15:11) and Josiah (2 Ki 22:2). Hezekiah was a religious reformer, putting away idolatry and reviving true worship. He heeded the words of the prophets (Jer 26:17-19).
In 705 BC, when the Assyrian king Sargon II died, Hezekiah stopped paying tribute to Assyria. He retook some Philistine towns and strengthened Jerusalem's defenses.
But in 701, Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah and took Lachish, the second largest city, and was set to continue on to Jerusalem, even after Hezekiah gave him silver and gold (2 Ki 18:14-16).
Sennacherib sent three representatives to Jerusalem to try to intimidate Jerusalem into surrendering to him. They arrived at the same location to which Isaiah had gone, years earlier, to encourage Hezekiah's father King Ahaz to trust in God rather than in Assyria (Isa 36:2; 7:3). Isaiah 36-37 are the climax of Isaiah's teaching about not placing trust in the nations.
The Assyrians announced to the people of Jerusalem that there was no way God could save them. The Assyrians had defeated every nation and god they had encountered.
Hezekiah responded by going to the Temple to pray (Isa 37:14-20). He began by praising God as sole ruler of the universe and faithful to his people (v. 16). He then asked God to defend his Name against the mocking and blasphemous words of the Assyrians (v 17). Admitting that the Assyrians had overrun all their enemies so far, he asked God to deliver Judah for the sake of his reputation among the nations.
The prophet Isaiah announced that God had heard Hezekiah's prayer. God who rules all nations, including Assyria, would not allow the Assyrians to attack Jerusalem. Instead, he sent an angel to wipe out the Assyrian army (v 36). Judah and the line of the Messiah were rescued.
No comments:
Post a Comment