Lesson 344 - Senior

Memory Verse

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

Cross References

 

I Sennacherib's Invasion and Hezekiah's Faith

1. Sennacherib encamps against the fenced cities of Judah, [2CH:32:1]; [2KG:18:13-16]; [ISA:36:1].

2. Hezekiah makes valiant efforts to defend Jerusalem, [2CH:32:2-5].

3. His faith in God enables him to speak words of encouragement, [2CH:32:6-8].

II Sennacherib's Blasphemy and Hezekiah's Prayer

1. Reviling speeches are directed against Hezekiah and against the Lord, [2CH:32:9-19]; [ISA:36:2-22]; [2KG:18:17-37].

2. Sennacherib sends blasphemous letters to Hezekiah, [2CH:32:17]; [2KG:19:8-13]; [ISA:37:14].

3. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," [JAM:5:16]; [2KG:19:14-19]; [2CH:32:20]; [ISA:37:15-20]; [PS:46:1].

III The Lord's Answer and Sennacherib's Destruction

1. Sennacherib's fate is pronounced through Isaiah, [2KG:19:20-34]; [ISA:37:21-35].

2. The visitation of the angel brings death to the army of Assyria, [2KG:19:35-37]; [2CH:32:21-23]; [ISA:37:36]. 

Notes

 

Unity

"Where no counsel is, the people fall" [PRO:11:14]). As soon as Hezekiah knew that Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was coming to fight against him, he took counsel with his princes and mighty men. Together they worked to strengthen their defences and prepare themselves to fight against Sennacherib. The unity that prevailed under these trying circumstances speaks well of the revival of spiritual worship during Hezekiah's reign. Hezekiah did what he could and then "spake comfortably" to his people.

Encouragement

"Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed" [2CH:32:7]). How often these or similar words of encouragement have spurred the hearts of God's soldiers to press the fight of faith. It may be through the dismal valley of the shadow of death His warriors are called to go, but the child of God need not fear, for he can look up into Heaven and know that God will "keep him in perfect peace," whose mind is stayed on Him [ISA:26:3]).

God's Host

"There be more with us than with him" [2CH:32:7]). The king of Assyria had his multitudes and was even so bold as to offer 2,000 horses to Hezekiah to make the battle more nearly even, yet Hezekiah could say, "There be more with us than with him." Though his eyes may not have seen the horses and chariots of fire round about as did the servant of Elisha, yet, like Elisha, he knew they were there.

Often we hear the mad sea roar, and we start to tremble, forgetting that we are serving Him who said, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed" [JOB:38:11]). Let us be assured that "when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" [ISA:59:19]). Even though the flood may crumble the walls of brick and mortar and sweep many a pretentious structure from its sandy foundation, the standard of the Lord shall not shake in the fury of the wind nor go down at the pounding of the waves.

What though the arm of flesh seem strong, which is greater, the creature or He who created it? If a word from the Creator could bring it into existence, could not a word from Him also cause it to cease to exist? Shall we His creatures fear to trust God with these bodies in the time of trial and affliction and think the arm of flesh more capable than His Word of power? Shall we tremble at the roar of the devil when we know that he can go no farther than the Lord will permit? God has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" [HEB:13:5]).

Accusations

"And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." How the enemy railed! Oh, the accusations he hurled when he saw the people trusting God! Can you not hear him say, "You will die surely if you do not do something about it! You will die of famine! You will die of thirst! God is not with Hezekiah, God is angry with him! Look at all the places of worship Hezekiah has torn down and the altars he has destroyed!" Often the enemy points to some hypocrite as though he is an example of true Christianity. It is true that Hezekiah destroyed the high places, but he did it in accordance with God's plan. To top off all his rage, Sennacherib blasphemously declared that he had the Lord on his side, and that the Lord had said to him, "Go up against this land, and destroy it" [2KG:18:25]).

Silence

"But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not" [2KG:18:36]). There is no use parleying with the devil. You do not have to answer him. Against railing accusations, Jesus answered "never a word" (Mathew 27:14); and Michael the archangel replied to Satan, "The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 9). To argue with those who are antagonistic to your religious views usually avails nothing. Do not argue or strive, but "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness" [1PE:3:15]).

Hezekiah's Prayer

In the time of trouble Hezekiah humbled himself, rent his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. He also sent for Isaiah, that stalwart prophet of God, to join him in prayer. It grieved these holy men to hear the God of Israel blasphemed and classed with the gods of the heathen which were the work of the hands of sinful men. With Sennacherib's infamous letter spread before him, Hezekiah implored God to protect Jerusalem "that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only" [2KG:19:19]).

The Answer

God sent back the answer to Hezekiah that he had heard his prayer, and then revealed just why Sennacherib had been able to conquer the nations. His feats did not seem nearly so mighty when the Lord revealed that the nations he laid ruin were "as corn blasted before it be grown up" [2KG:19:26]). On more than one occasion the Lord has made it known that He rules in the kingdom of men. The hardened heart of Pharaoh resisted God until Egypt was destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar lifted himself up with pride until God drove him from his kingdom and stripped him of his reason. Belshazzar revelled in sin until the finger of God wrote his doom upon the plaster of the wall. Let Sennacherib and all the rulers of the earth know that "there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" [ROM:13:1]). Satan can go no farther than God permits. Sennacherib found a hook in his hose and a bridle in his lips and returned with shame of face to his own land.

The Angel of Death

The account of the Lord's sending his angel to cut off 185,000 of the armies of Assyria, including all the mighty men of valour and the leaders and captains, is beautifully told in the following poem by Lord Byron:

The Destruction Of Sennacherib

The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,

And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;

And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,

When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.

Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green,

That host with their banners at sunset were seen:

Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown,

That host on the morrow lay wither'd and strown.

For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,

And breathed in the face of the foe as he pass'd;

And the eyes of the sleepers wax'd deadly and chill,

And their hearts but once heaved, and forever grew still!

And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,

But through it there roll'd not the breath of his pride:

And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,

And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.

And there lay the rider distorted and pale,

With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail;

And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,

The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.

And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail,

And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;

And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,

Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord! 

Questions

 

1. What did Hezekiah do to defend Jerusalem?

2. How could Hezekiah say that "there be more with us than with him?"

3. How did the people react to the words of Hezekiah?

4. Name as many ways as you can in which Sennacherib was wrong in his accusations against Hezekiah and against God.

p>5. Why was the king of Assyria able to destroy many nations?

 

6. Whom did Hezekiah ask to help him pray?

7. For whose sake did God say He would defend Jerusalem?

8. How many were slain by the angel of the Lord?

9. Of what rank were those who were slain?

10. What happened to Sennacherib?