Constant Coulibaly

The story of God standing with King Hezekiah of Judah against Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, is a fascinating account. Detailed in 2 Kings 19 and 2 Chronicles 32, this narrative showcases God's support for His chosen rulers in times of crisis.

In 701 BC, a confrontation arose between Hezekiah and Sennacherib. The king of Assyria made known to King Hezekiah his plans to invade the city of Jerusalem. This was the consequence of Hezekiah rebelling against Assyrian rule after Sennacherib came to the throne. With the change of monarch in Assyria, Hezekiah was tempted to break free from Assyrian domination. Judah refused to pay tribute to Assyria, forming an insurrectional alliance with several other nations, including Egypt.

The northern kingdom of Israel had already been defeated and conquered by the Assyrians when Sennacherib threatened to take the city of Jerusalem down. The war against Israel was started by King Shalmaneser and finished by Sargon II. When King Sargon II died, his son Sennacherib took over and led a military campaign against Judah. Sennacherib had already swept into Judah from the north and was about to launch an attack on Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the only fortified city of Judah that had survived the Assyrian assault.

Sennacherib sent his general Rabshakeh to besiege Jerusalem and completely defeat the kingdom of Judah. In the face of this grave threat posed by Sennacherib, King Hezekiah took practical steps to resist the Assyrian siege. He Fortified the city walls (2 Chronicles 32:2-5). He cut the water supply outside the city, thus denying the besieging Assyrians soldiers access to water (2 Chronicles 32:3-4). He built an underground tunnel to bring water inside the city (2 Chronicles 32:30). And he galvanised his people; he said to them, “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” (2 Chr. 32:7). Also, Hezekiah turned to God in prayer for help. The king prayed fervently to God, seeking His intervention (2 Chr. 32:20).

In response to Hezekiah’s prayer, God said to him that Sennacherib would not even set foot inside the city walls of Jerusalem. A message from God to Hezekiah, brought to him by the prophet Isaiah, said that God had heard his prayer and would defend Jerusalem. God further said, “Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.” (2 Kings 19:32) Sennacherib was not actually going to enter the city of Jerusalem.

The Lord God Almighty sent His angel to the Assyrian camp, and it killed 185,000 soldiers there in one night. This forced Sennacherib to lift his siege on the city of Jerusalem and flee back to Assyria. There in Nineveh, while worshipping in the temple of his god, he was assassinated by his sons, who struck him down with the sword (2 Chronicles 32:21; 2 Kings 19:36-37).

The biblical story of the Assyrian king's war against Jerusalem and God's favour towards King Hezekiah teaches us several lessons:

1) The power of fervent prayer. As James states, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas. 5:16). When King Hezekiah poured out his heart, God answered him.

2) Hezekiah’s reliance on God rather than military might alone. He demonstrated dependence on God for the safety of Judah. The Psalmist says, “In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah" (Psalm 62:5-8 NKJV).

3) God’s ability to protect and save His people even in the face of overwhelming challenges. Despite the formidable Assyrian forces, God delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib's siege as he had promised (Exo. 14:13-14, Jude 1:24-25).

4) Hezekiah's faithful and righteous leadership played a crucial role in preserving Jerusalem. This highlights the importance of having leaders who seek to honour and obey God (Titus 1:5-9).

5) In contrast, Sennacherib's arrogant attitude against God and His people ultimately led to his downfall. We need to guard against pride, for as the Bible says, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Pet. 5:5)

These lessons encourage us to trust in God's protection, seek His help through prayer and recognize His power and sovereignty over all things.

King Hezekiah is remembered for his courageous defence of the city of Jerusalem against Assyrian invasion. The spiritual leadership of a righteous king saved his people from being conquered and subjugated to a foreign power.