This is excerpt from Jehoshaphat – Part 14 – The Almighty God
III – Hezekiah
The third example I would like to use of the display of the power of the Almighty God is an epic from the reign of king Hezekiah. Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, had come up against Hezekiah and Judah. This Assyrian king was so vain and proud that he sent messengers to Hezekiah and declared that no god could stand before the mighty forces of Sennacherib.
Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? (2 Chronicles 32:10)
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? (2 Chronicles 32:11)
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? (2 Chronicles 32:12)
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? (2 Chronicles 32:13)
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? (2 Chronicles 32:14)
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? (2 Chronicles 32:15)
And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 32:16)
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. (2 Chronicles 32:17)
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. (2 Chronicles 32:18)
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. (2 Chronicles 32:19)
And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. (2 Chronicles 32:20)
The Proud Boaster
The apostle Paul speaking to the Corinthians said, Where is boasting? Others had been boasting about their work, their credentials, and their position. Paul laid out his credentials and authority for what he had suffered for Christ and his faith; these marking his position and work in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not where is boasting? But who is boasting? Sennacherib forget one thing, he was only a man, and he had challenged not Hezekiah, not Judah nor Jerusalem, but this vain and wicked king had challenged the Almighty God the Creator of all things. Sennacherib, Himself, was created by the power of God. He was only a man, but this king of Assyria condemned God and boasted that all gods were inferior to him. Have you ever met Sennacherib?
Awhile back my wife related to me an incident that had occurred at our place of business: while she was meeting with a potential client, he spotted a poster with Bible verses on the wall behind her. He informed her that there was no God. My wife looked him straight in the eye and said, “Say that louder, please.” He then replied, “There is no God.” Once again, my wife asked him to repeat it a little louder, and once again, the man said, “There is no God.” This was repeated between them a few more time when finally, she asked him, “Please, this time shout it out, for I want everyone to hear what you have to say.” So he shouted out, “THERE IS NO GOD!” Then she leaned a bit closer to him and very softly said, “You will never forget this moment, for when you stand before the Almighty God, you will remember this moment in time and what you said here, and God will judge you based on your own words.”
We deal with an Almighty God who created heaven and earth. Why should He pay attention to ants like Sennacherib who think that they are greater than their Creator. He was also a very vain man; he had the character of those who you have met. They say to you, I will do what I wish to do, and God can’t stop me. I remember while listening to a tape by Robert Little, he described that before the depression in 1929 there were billboards from coast to coast that said, YOU CAN’T STOP US. And the US was painted in red, white and blue. While these billboards were still standing the great depression hit. The motors in the factories came to a halt, and their doors were sealed. The tractors on the farms came to a standstill, and farms were lost. The banks closed their doors, and men lost all that they had. Food lines became a common sight in every town and city. This country had boasted a boast that they could not fulfill — they were stopped in their tracks by an Almighty God. The man who curses God, the man who laughs at God will only find himself in the judgment of God. The men of Jerusalem, both the Pharisees and the Sadducees in the day of Christ, mocked the Son of God. While He was dying on the cross, they proclaimed, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. (Matthew 27:42) He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:43)
Where is Boasting?
We have not only met Sennacherib, but we have met these men as well. Did we not have this character within us before we knew the glory and power of God in Jesus Christ? Even Peter could not resist his flesh in Adam. He denied the Lord three times: and it took the stare of the sympathy of eternity from the eyes of God, and Peter went out and wept bitterly. So, we have all come from a low estate, we were children of Adam and had no hope; then hope found us in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. He called us to be His own and opened our blind eyes to see ourselves and the world around us that salvation could only be gained at the cross of our Savior. It is Christ who has given us life, and we could say to ourselves: Where is boasting? The great Assyrian king had destroyed all the nations around him, all those nations had bowed before him, the power of his sword had made him a god in his own eyes. His power, however, would be brought to nothing by the endless power of the Almighty God of eternity, the Creator of all things, both seen and unseen. 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? (2 Chronicles 32:15) If we carry this statement to the fullest, did not Sennacherib think that he was greater than the God of creation? Even an unsaved soul might contemplate how could man be so bold? But is not this what man is doing today? He throws his doctrines of the theory of evolution around in denying a supreme and divine Creator. Could we not write Sennacherib on his name tag? The words may have changed, but it is the same voice. It is the voice of Sennacherib, and that voice is full of lies denying the divine power of the Almighty God. The servants of Hezekiah related all that Rabshakeh (Sennacherib’s representative) had said to them; therefore, Hezekiah cried out to Jehovah. And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. . (2 Chronicles 32:20) The heavens heard the cry of Hezekiah and Isaiah, and God answered that prayer with one angel.
If I might take a little liberty here, the camp of the Assyrians was spread out over the hills of Judah. These were valiant men who spent their days with plans of war, some training, some inspecting their weapons making sure they were up to the challenge. According to Rabshakeh (Sennacherib’s general) it should not be much of a challenge to overcome Judah because Hezekiah’s military was weak.
Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. (2 Kings 18:23)
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? (2 Kings 18:24)
Rabshakeh was verbally taunting the messengers of Hezekiah, it looked bleak for Hezekiah and Judah. One could see the sun dropping in the sky, what lay on the morrow, no one knew. Only faith could deliver them now. But Rabshakeh continued his blasphemy against the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: (2 Kings 18:28)
Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: (2 Kings 18:29)
Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 18:30)
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: (2 Kings 18:31)
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. (2 Kings 18:32)
Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? (2 Kings 18:33)
Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? (2 Kings 18:34)
Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand? (2 Kings 18:35)
The Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth said, That is enough, Mr. Sennacherib. In our age of boasters, and to those who are vehemently hostile to God, He is actively warning them, That is enough. The world needs to read Proverbs 8.
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? (Proverbs 8:1)
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.(Proverbs 8:2)
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.(Proverbs 8:3)
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. (Proverbs 8:4)
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. (Proverbs 8:5)
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. (Proverbs 8:6)
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.(Proverbs 8:7)
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. (Proverbs 8:8)
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.(Proverbs 8:9)
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (Proverbs 8:10)
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (Proverbs 8:11)
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.(Proverbs 8:12)
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.(Proverbs 8:14)
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. (Proverbs 8:15)
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. (Proverbs 8:16)
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. (Proverbs 8:18)
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. (Proverbs 8:19)
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: (Proverbs 8:20)
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. (Proverbs 8:21)
¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. (Proverbs 8:22) (Read Luke 11:49)
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.(Proverbs 8:23)
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. (Proverbs 8:24)
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:(Proverbs 8:25)
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. (Proverbs 8:26)
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: (Proverbs 8:27)
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: (Proverbs 8:28)
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: (Proverbs 8:29)
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; (Proverbs 8:30)
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.(Proverbs 8:31)
¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. (Proverbs 8:32)
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.(Proverbs 8:33)
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.(Proverbs 8:34)
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.(Proverbs 8:35)
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.(Proverbs 8:36)
The Delusion of Camelot
The Lord has set the compass of heaven, the endless expanse of eternity belongs to Him. Shall this fly (Sennacherib) rebuke the living God, the Creator of all things? The sun continues to dip deeper into the horizon now and the Assyrians were making their final preparations for their confrontation with Judah. Some may have been laughing and boasting how they would soon destroy the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This would calm their nerves and help them through the long night ahead. They were responding to the arrogance of their king, therefore showing their own twisted and proud character. Their strength was in their sword and spear, they had steads of great endurance, their shields and bucklers would push back the enemy, and their arrows would fly to their mark. They were full of confidence, and nothing was going to stop them.
The world is declaring that we have arrived. The people of 2016 are here, and we, the whole world, are just as arrogant and mighty as Sennacherib. The world in their hatred towards God has proclaimed that not even God can stop them. Well, the sun now is only half a sun on the horizon. The shadow of their spears is longer, one could follow the shadow of their spears, they were four or five times larger as their shadows crept closer to Jerusalem and the coming destruction of the city. With the breeze blowing the banners of this great host, all was right in the camp of the Assyrians, as all is right in Camelot today. In the city of Jerusalem, the city of the great King, the city where Jehovah had placed His name; men feared and women hid their children, and king Hezekiah humbled himself before God.
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. (Isaiah 37:14)
And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, (Isaiah 37:15)
O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.(Isaiah 37:16)
Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.(Isaiah 37:17)
Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,(Isaiah 37:18)
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.(Isaiah 37:19)
Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only. (Isaiah 37:20)
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria: (Isaiah 37:21)
This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. (Isaiah 37:22)
Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 37:23)
By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel. (Isaiah 37:24)
Isa 37:25 I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places. (Isaiah 37:25)
Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps. (Isaiah 37:26)
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up. (Isaiah 37:27)
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. (Isaiah 37:28)
Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. (Isaiah 37:29)
And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. (Isaiah 37:30)
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: (Isaiah 37:31)
For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. (Isaiah 37:32)
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 shields, nor cast a bank against it. (Isaiah 37:33)
By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 37:34)
For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. (Isaiah 37:35)
Read this prayer of Hezekiah very carefully, you will notice that it is short, simple, and to the point. (Verses 15-20) Sometimes we worry the Lord with long and meaningless prayers for our hearts are not in touch with heaven, but with the earth. The answer that Hezekiah received from the Lord came through Isaiah, the prophet. The answer of God was longer than the prayer of Hezekiah. It was a complete answer to Hezekiah’s faith. Hezekiah could now put his face to the wind of unbelief and take the hand of Jehovah and believe by faith that Jehovah would deliver Hezekiah and his people. All day men had been watching the sun as it first rose in the sky, and then passed over their heads. Now just a small crown of the sun lay on the horizon, and darkness crept into the land from the east. The Assyrians were still around their fires in the early darkness, not knowing of their fate that when their eyes closed that very night they would never open again. A hundred and eighty-five thousand men were weighed in the balance and found wanting. (Daniel 5:27) When you close your eyes tonight will they open to see another day, or forever be shut? Will you, like these 185,000 men be silent and cut off from God? Have you made your boast that there is no God? Think, before you close your eyes, they may never, I said, never open again. The power of the Almighty God is in Jesus Christ. He and He alone, can save you from the dark curtain of death. Cry out to Him before it is too late for the night is far spent and the day is at hand. (Romans 13:12) This Assyrian host would never rise to fight ever again. All the 185,000 men of valor would forever be still. God would send one angel of death to still this great host and deliver Hezekiah and His people. It was the power of prayer, and that prayer was in the hands of the Almighty God. For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. (2 Kings 19:34) God asserts His reason for the deliverance of Jerusalem; then He continued with judgment upon the Assyrians.
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 Kings 19:35)
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. (2 Kings 19:36)
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. (2 Kings 19:37)
God’s judgment was not only that the great host of the Assyrians were destroyed, but later Sennacherib, was slain in the temple of his gods by his own sons. So much for the gods of Sennacherib who could not protect the king. The world, in our age, has the heart of Sennacherib, they do not believe in a God of judgment; even though He is speaking in judgment all over this world. We could say that it is the beginning of sorrows for the sun is slowly going down. Very soon those who love the Lord will have their prayers answered, How long, O Lord? The stench of the sin of this world is unbearable; yet, the Lord waits for the last soul to be redeemed. We, as Christians, are waiting for the trump of God: to hear His voice, and to be caught up in the air to ever be with the Lord. Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.(1 Thessalonians 4:15)
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:(1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.(1 Thessalonians 4:17)
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.(1 Thessalonians 4:18)
“The Almighty God”
Amen
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)