There were 185,000 Assyrian soldiers encamped around Jerusalem. “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to ATTACK THE FORTIFIED TOWNS OF JUDAH and TO CONQUER THEM.” (King Sennacherib sent his field commander to discourage Hezekiah) “…perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the LORD our God!’ But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?” (Isaiah 36:1, 7)
Hezekiah did tear down all the false gods and the shrines built for them, so, Hezekiah had his advisors go to Isaiah the prophet. “Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the LORD says: DO NOT BE AFRAID OF WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! When he hears a certain report, I WILL MAKE HIM WANT TO RETURN to his own country, and there I WILL HAVE HIM CUT DOWN with the sword.'” (Isaiah 37:6-7)
And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth…Now, LORD our God, DELIVER US FROM HIS (King Sennacherib’s) HAND, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that YOU, LORD, ARE THE ONLY GOD.” (Isaiah 37: 15,16,20)
This is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria, “‘I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ “Then the angel (one angel) of the LORD went out and killed in the camp of the Assyrians ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY–FIVE THOUSAND; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.” (Isaiah 37:35-36) “Then King Sennacherib of Assyria returned to his own land. One day while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer KILLED HIM WITH THEIR SWORDS.” (Isaiah 37:37-38)
When we need help with anything in our lives remember, “AH, LORD GOD! BEHOLD, YOU HAVE MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH BY YOUR GREAT POWER AND OUTSTRETCHED ARM. THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR YOU.” (Jeremiah 32:17)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham