11 Chronicles Chapter 32

A time of Testing

2Chronicles 32:1 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.

At this time Hezekiah believed God. It is true that when a person or a nation trusts in the true and living God, not just a religion or an idol, there indeed is more with them than those with a large mighty army. I'm reminded of the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings chapter 6 where Elisha was surrounded by horses and chariots from the king of Syria. Elisha's sevant was frightened and Elisha spoke the same words that Hezekiah spoke. Elisha asked the Lord to open the eyes of his servant so that he could see.

2Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Sennacherib Blasphemes

2Chronicles 32:9 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.
17 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.

Sennacherib was a powerful man as was his fathers who had conquered other kingdoms including the northern kingdom of Israel. He boasts of his power over all other nations that worshipped other gods and defied Hezekiah to trust in his God. He assumed he had power over the God the kingdom of Judah trusted in. He wrote letters threatening Hezekiah for trusting in his God. He thought he was going to be the king of the whole earth I assume like many other dictators throughout history have done. He didn't realize that Hezekiah's God was the read God. Not some worthless statue.

Oh how foolish we can get if we thinking we are mightier than God. Little do they know that God sees and hears everything and nothing is hid from His mighty power.

In 2 Kings chapter 18, we read that Hezekiah had lost some of the cities in Judah already and even paid him much treasure out of the kings house but that didn't satisfy Sennacherib. He even warned the citizens not to believe Hezekiah or trust in God.

Where are all the past dictators in history? What did they gain? Where are they now? All for nothing. Something to think about.

The Lord Delivers Jerusalem

2Chronicles 32:20 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.
22 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.

Hezekiah's deliverance was known among other nations and they brought gifts. God delivered them out of the hand of the king of Assyria. Evidently that king had enemies among his own family members, probably his sons killed him. All his bragging and threats were for nothing.

Hezekiah's Pride and Achievements

2Chronicles 32:24 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.

Hezekiah was a good king but had his faults that we all have at times and that is pride. Pride comes when we forget who is our creator, our protector and we fail to give all praise and thanksgiving to God. Pride surely is a dangerous thing to have and many get hit with this temptation.

2Chronicles 32:26 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.
27 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 enquire 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.

These ambassadors were actually spies but pride caused Hezekiah to show off his treastures. Isaiah the prohet came to warn him of the future Babylonian captivity but said it would not come in his lifetime. This was in Isaiah 39. In Isaiah 38, Isaiah tells him to set his house in order but when Hezekiah asks for more time, he was given 15 more years to live. It was during those 15 years that he showed off his treasures to the spies.

2Chronicles 32:32 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.

In spite of his faults, Hezekiah was considered to be one of the good kings. Like David he did not worship idols and fall into that type of sin. He was buried with the sons of David in a place of honor. Dorna

11 Chronicles Chapter 33