If you’re not currently experiencing some sort of difficulty, then you’ve most likely just come out of a season of trial…or you’re about to head into one. It’s inevitable. Sorry.
In the 14th year of his reign over Judah, King Hezekiah learns that Sennacherib, the king of Assyria has attacked the cities of Judah and captured them. Sennacherib has already conquered the kingdom of Israel and sent the Israelites into exile. Judah was next on the list.
Hezekiah sends a message to Sennacherib. “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.”
Done wrong? What’s Hezekiah talking about?
Earlier in 2 Kings 18, it says about Hezekiah, “The LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.” Hezekiah knew God was with him and had no intention of serving anyone other than the LORD.
So I find it interesting that Hezekiah would choose to give the king of Assyria 11 tons of gold and 1 ton of silver, all the silver found in the temple of the LORD.
That didn’t satisfy Sennacherib though. He sends his supreme commander, his chief officer and field commander with a message for Hezekiah. Hezekiah sends his top officials out to the wall of Jerusalem to receive the message. Bottom line of the message: if you’re depending on the LORD to save you, you’re going to lose. Make a deal with us now, because you can’t beat us.
Hezekiah’s officials ask the field commander to speak to them in Aramaic not Hebrew, so the people on the wall listening in won’t understand what’s being said. As if to mock them, the field commander calls out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!” The field commander’s message is this, “Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.'”
“The people remained silent and said nothing in reply.”
When Hezekiah hears what has happened, he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and goes to the temple of the LORD. Then he sends messengers to Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah sends a message back to Hezekiah and tells him to not be afraid. God has something in mind. Hezekiah takes the letter and again goes to the temple where he spreads the letter out before the LORD and prays.
The prayer is found in 2 Kings 19:15-19. It’s a great model for how to pray.
“O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.
“It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men’s hands. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.”
Isaiah sends another message to Hezekiah, letting him know the LORD will take down Sennacherib. The message concludes with, “I will defend this city and save it, for My sake and for the sake of David My servant.”
That night, God strikes down 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. Some time after that, the sons of Sennacherib kill him while he’s worshiping his god, Nisroch. God did all He promised.
Hezekiah provides us with some great principles on how to handle difficult circumstances in our lives.
God’s perspective on your circumstances is the only one that matters. Before Hezekiah seeks the LORD, he tries to pay off the king of Assyria with tons of gold and silver. It’s only after Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem a second time that Hezekiah goes to the temple to pray and seek God. Take your confusing, painful, scary circumstances to God. I have wasted a lot of time worrying and fretting when I could have gone to God and experienced His peace and perspective a lot sooner.
Be careful who you listen to. Most people are not walking by faith. They will look at your circumstances and conclude you’re in trouble. The officials sent from Sennacherib tried to get the people to focus on their circumstances. Hezekiah was wise enough to tell the people not to respond. There’s nothing to be gained by trying to defend your faith-filled actions to someone who is walking by sight.
Even your friends can cause you to doubt and become discouraged. They may not mean to, but it can happen. They may express their doubt through what they say, questions they ask you or even a facial expression. When you’re out on a limb by faith, you don’t need the doubts of others to discourage you. A number of years ago, I was taking a giant step of faith in response to what I felt God was leading me to do. Some of the most discouraging people were those in full-time ministry.
Remember the God you are seeking. Hezekiah begins his prayer in chapter 19 by talking to the One “enthroned between the cherubim”, the One “over all the kingdoms of the earth”, the One who “made heaven and earth.” We don’t serve a small God. There’s nothing too difficult for Him. Ever. It’s good to remind ourselves once in awhile.
God’s heart is for people to know Him. Hezekiah concludes his prayer with these words “…deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.” Regardless of the circumstances you’re facing, God’s heart has not changed–He wants everyone to know He alone is God, including you and those around you.
God is always faithful. He is always about accomplishing His purposes. He will do what He said He would do. He tells Hezekiah He will defend Jerusalem for His sake and for the sake of His servant David. And He does.
Are you in circumstances that look bleak? Do you see no way out? Don’t waste time trying to make sense of it on your own. Remind yourself of these five truths. They are as true for you today as they were for Hezekiah. God has not changed. Trust Him.