Hezekiah’s Comforting Words

by Lewis Willis
via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 6 p. 14, March 16, 2000

Bible students are aware of that time when the nation of Israel divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Samaria was the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. Israel was very wicked, living defiantly against God. The Assyrian army came against Samaria, besieging the city for three years until it fell to Sargon II in 721 B.C.

In time Sargon II was succeeded by Sennacherib as king of Assyria. In a move to stabilize his empire internally, he defeated an old enemy of his father, Marduk-Aplaiddina, consolidating his rule. Within the empire, there were many cities that had kings, creating mini-nations. Several of these kings revolted against Sennacherib and he sent his armies to quash these rebellions. He overcame opposition in Tarsus, captured the kings of several towns in Israel, defeated the Egyptians, and "sacked forty-six towns and villages in Judah, taking away 200,150 prisoners and much spoil" (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, V: 340).

These events occurred as Hezekiah, age 25, began to reign in Judah. He would reign for 29 years (II Chronicles 29:1). His reign was likened to the reign of David because "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" (II Chronicles 29:2). Before Hezekiah, Judah's kings had permitted the worship of God to almost disappear. The priesthood was corrupted and they had allowed the temple to be polluted. Hezekiah ordered the priests to sanctify themselves and the house of the Lord to be cleansed. This task was accomplished in eight days (II Chronicles 29:17). He recognized that the wrath of God was against the nation and it was in his heart to make a covenant with God that his fierce wrath might be turned away from them (II Chronicles 29:10). With the temple cleansed, the rulers of the city were gathered to the temple and sacrifices were offered (II Chronicles 29:31).

Next, Hezekiah sent to the whole nation of Israel and Judah that they should come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover, which had not been kept for a long time (II Chronicles 30:1-2). This proclamation was declared from Dan to Beersheba. He called on the nation to "turn again unto the Lord ... be not like your fathers ... which trespassed against the Lord ... be not stiff-necked ... but yield yourselves unto the Lord ... and serve the Lord ... if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren ... shall find compassion ... for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, if ye return unto Him" (II Chronicles 30:6-9).

When the messengers took this message throughout the northern part of the nation, they were laughed at and mocked (II Chronicles 30:10). However, many people assembled at Jerusalem as the king had required, and kept the feast of unleavened bread (II Chronicles 30:21). "So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem" (II Chronicles 30:26). The king had all of the altars to idols destroyed and he "wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began...he did it with all his heart, and prospered" (II Chronicles 31:20-21).

At the conclusion of these events, Sennacherib king of Assyria came into Judah and began to destroy the cities of the region. Hezekiah saw that the Assyrians were coming and decided to fight against them, refusing a demand to surrender (II Kings 18:17-23). Sennacherib said, "Hezekiah, the Judaean, I shut up in Jerusalem, his royal city, like a bird in a cage" (Ibid. 340). Hezekiah gathered his people together and stopped all the fountains and the brook that ran through that part of the land. He strengthened himself and built up all the wall of Jerusalem that was broken. He armed his people and set captains of war over them. He prepared himself and Jerusalem for battle.

Then he issued a truly remarkable charge to his people. He gathered them to him in the street of the city and "spake comfortably" to them (II Chronicles 32:6). Another translation (NASV) says he "spoke encouragingly to them." One has to wonder how the people could be encouraged as they were facing the mighty army of the Assyrians. City after city had fallen to that army and now they had laid siege to Jerusalem itself. Still, good King Hezekiah knew there was reason to be encouraged. He said, "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: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles" (II Chronicles 32:7-8). The people gave heed to his exhortation and "rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah" (II Chronicles 32:8).

Sennacherib sent servants to Jerusalem. They asked how Hezekiah had persuaded his people to die by famine or thirst, saying that the Lord would deliver them (II Chronicles 32:11). The Assyrians told the Jews not to be deceived for "no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people" out of the hands of the Assyrians (II Chronicles 32:15). Sennacherib's servants spoke much against God and Hezekiah and wrote letters "to rail on the Lord God of Israel and to speak against Him" (II Chronicles 32:16-17). They tried in every way possible to scare the people.

Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed to God (II Chronicles 32:20). The king had said that the Lord God would help them and fight their battles, and he now called on the Lord to do so. God responded, sending an angel which killed all the mighty men of valor and the leaders and captains in the Assyrian camp (II Chronicles 32:21). In defeat Sennacherib returned to his own land with shame. He went to the house of his god and while there, members of his own family slew him with the sword (II Chronicles 32:21).

"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 others, and guided them on every side" (II Chronicles 32:22). The king's encouraging and comforting words had come true!

This remarkable story illustrates an abiding truth. The same God that was with king Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem is with us also. Jesus promised, "... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). And again, God has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).

There is much adversity in serving the Lord. "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Timothy 3:12). When hardships come, we need to be comforted and encouraged. Like Hezekiah of old, the apostle Paul "spoke encouragingly" unto us saying, "and in nothing terrified by your adversaries" (Philippians 1:28). After all, "there is more with us than with him ... but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles" (II Chronicles 32:7-8). Let us depend upon the help of the Lord. Let us stand fast before the adversary (Philippians 1:27). Paul charged the Ephesians, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil ... Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13). Do we have enough faith and courage to heed these admonitions -- to follow the example of Hezekiah and Jerusalem? Will we trust God, and Hezekiah's comforting words?

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