Can you think of a time in your life when it felt like you
were being attacked on all sides? Maybe
you're there now. Where it feels like
everywhere you look there's an army advancing on you. Where all seems hopeless. If so, you would have a lot in common with
King Hezekiah. The Assyrian army had
just conquered a nearby city and was headed straight for Jerusalem. At this point everyone around them has fallen
to this army, considered by some to be the most brutal army in all of
history. And here it was at Hezekiah's
doorstep . . . literally. The army has
surrounded the city and a decision is to be made. As the king, Hezekiah had to decide if he
would surrender to this army in hopes that not as many lives would be lost or
stand their ground inside the city in hopes that they might be saved. Hezekiah chose to pray. He cried out to God seeking guidance one what
they should do . . . and God answered.
The prophet Isaiah was sent to the king with a message from God:
"Therefore this
is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: "He will not enter
this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or
build a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came he will return; he will
not enter this city," declares the Lord. "I will defend this city and
save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!" – Isaiah 37:33-35
God promised the Assyrian army would not enter
Jerusalem. Instead, they would return to
where they came from by the same road which brought them there. If I were Hezekiah I would probably be
thinking something like- Are you
serious? This army which has demolished
whole cities, this army known for it's brutal form of warfare, this army which
moves forward and doesn't turn back? This
army is going to retreat? The Lord had spoken through Isaiah, but
Hezekiah still had a choice to make. He
could rely on his own knowledge and understanding of the situation and choose
to surrender or He could trust that God is faithful. Notice that God does not explain how all of
this will happen, just that it will.
Hezekiah chose to take God at His word and trust His promises. See what the Lord did:
Then the angel of the
Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the
Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning--there were all the dead
bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to
Nineveh and stayed there. – Isaiah 37:36-37
Hezekiah chose to believe that God keeps His promises and
the entire city of Jerusalem was saved.
It was not by the might of the Israelite army, nor the cunning of the
king, but by the Lord's hand alone that Jerusalem was not taken on that
day.
What promises has God made to you? What armies are coming against your city that
you fear will overtake you? Will you
trust God to defend you? Will you choose
to take Him at His Word?
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. – Exodus 14:14
The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never
leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. –
Deuteronomy 31:8
