How did God save Hezekiah and Jerusalem from Assyria in 2 Chronicles 32:22? Setting the Scene 2 Chronicles 32:22: “Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from every other enemy. He gave them rest on every side.” The Crisis • Assyria, the super-power of the day, had captured every fortified city of Judah except Jerusalem (2 Chron 32:1). • Sennacherib’s officers mocked the Lord, comparing Him to the powerless “gods of the nations” (2 Chron 32:14-17; cf. 2 Kings 18:35). • Fear gripped the people, but Hezekiah encouraged them: “With us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chron 32:7-8). Hezekiah’s Faith-Filled Response • Practical preparation – Repaired walls, built towers, stocked weapons (32:5). – Stopped outside springs to deny water to the Assyrians (32:3-4). • Spiritual preparation – Joined the prophet Isaiah in earnest prayer (32:20). – Sought the Lord’s guidance rather than relying on alliances (cf. Isaiah 30:1-2). God’s Dramatic Deliverance • An angel of the Lord struck down “every mighty warrior, commander, and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria” (32:21; cf. 2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36). • Sennacherib returned to Nineveh in disgrace and was later killed by his own sons (32:21; Isaiah 37:37-38). • No Judahite lifted a sword; the victory was entirely the Lord’s (Psalm 44:3). Immediate Results • “Rest on every side” (32:22) — a season of peace and security. • Hezekiah’s honor and wealth increased; surrounding nations brought gifts to Jerusalem, acknowledging God’s intervention (32:23). Timeless Truths to Remember • God defends those who rely on Him, however formidable the enemy (Psalm 20:7-8). • Prayer and practical action are not opposites; faith expresses itself in both (Nehemiah 4:9). • The Lord alone determines the outcome of conflicts (Proverbs 21:31). • Mockery of God never nullifies His power; He vindicates His name in His time (Isaiah 37:20). |
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