#579 I Found Your Heart

After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it,[a] and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Blasphemes

9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”?12 Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?15 Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

16 And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the Lord, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.”18 And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

The Lord Delivers Jerusalem

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. 22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

Hezekiah's Pride and Achievements

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign.25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions.30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 32 ESV

Sister Passage 2 Kings 19


Sibling Passage 2 Kings 20


The chronicler covers a good bit of ground here, but I urge you to read the sister passages linked above, for much of this depends on or assumes that knowledge. So after "these acts of faithfulness", Hezekiah finds his kingdom under attack, and the Assyrians have already taken many of the cities in Judah, also the northern kingdom as well. In quiet and time of peace, Hezekiah was one of few kings who actually did the right thing. He went further than any other king, even taking down the high places, so is no good deed truly unpunished? Is that how we are to read into this? Lord, I cleaned up the temple, the arrogance of the high places, set out to honor You as God above Israel, and yet here is this test brought against me. I did what I was already suppose to do, honor the One Who made me, yet we would like to wash our hands then and retire to our tables of celebration. There are other things here as well, for Hezekiah also tried to pay the Assyrians to leave him alone, which only acted as an appetizer. He is quite tempted to run to Egypt, but it must be the respect of the prophets that constantly hold his face to the law that kings are supposed to know. Don't go back to Egypt. Don't sell out your moral, spiritual and national convictions to those who don't know Jehovah, let God deliver you in righteousness. 

The king is not lazy in this, he repairs the breaches and adds to the walls of defense for Jerusalem. He cuts off the water supply so as not to help the invaders, because he knows their tactic of a siege. He proclaims to the people a reason not to lose heart, and in 2 Kings we see that he goes to Isaiah to inquire of the Lord and they pray. With Assyria is an arm of flesh, but unto us is Immanuel. There is more for us than against us, so don't be deceived by all the pomp and circumstance you see outside. He has built up the wall, prepared the well and now the people. Our acts of faithfulness are often seen as shots fired.

Here comes the enemy, and he sends his best orators ahead of him. They speak loudly, often and in the language of the people. Hezekiah is deceiving you, and let me count the ways:

1. The enemy is now an expert on your religion, or he would at least like to pass himself off this way. Didn't Hezekiah tear down the high places, those that were places of worship to this very same God? I can't count how many times someone has told me "you believe this", "you Christians", and I haven't the faintest clue what they mean at first. It sounds like they are saying Christian, like a follower of Christ, but maybe its Krishna or they know someone named Kristen and there is a speech impediment or accent, but whatever they mean, it is not what I believe, and I am a Christian. God told the people how they should worship, instituted the Levitical priesthood and sanctioned the temple. Now God is truly kind and patient with us in our ignorance, but as they came out of ignorance, studied the Word, they also wanted to return to obedience. The high places should have been torn down a long time ago. Read the books of 1st and 2nd Kings, but this is a good ploy upon those who do not read, who remain ignorant, the godless will shake them with the wisdom of men, but it will be foolishness for sure. Many people in our day will use the argument of unity and inclusion to dismiss the truth of God, but His word will still stand, will you? The Assyrian rightly stated that Hezekiah believed that there was one altar, One Way, but he thought that more was better.
2. He doesn't really know your God, but that's irrelevant, this is his testimony, now be afraid. Now this seems more realistic, this may well reach even to the heart of the theologian, look at the other countries I have passed through on my way to you. They all had other gods, yet none were able to save them. Well, I know that those were just idols, and I know that the Creator is greater than any created thing or imagination of men, but from a practical stand point, they did just shred those other places. This is a massive army, how long can we survive a siege? And there is this, why should God preserve us? 

This didn't lead Hezekiah to break out a boom box, there was no trash talk, again, read the sister passages. He took the letters of the Assyrians, the situation, and all his own weakness before God. I did not trust in chariots or horses this time, Egypt is not my master, and I did fail at sending tribute to the Assyrians, to wicked men, but I thought that life and peace would be better than silver or gold. Your honor, oh God, is above all of these things, and though it may come against contest, spit and furry, it is worth every bit of discomfort to bring glory to Your name. Lord, deliver us, I cannot see it any other way. The Lord sent one messenger to conquer all that stood against them, to deliver all that waited upon Him. It is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. Pray.

All this and we read years later of sickness, then humility and healing, of pride yet again and then repentance. Hezekiah respected wealth and he used his extended life to acquire more. It was unfortunately the glory of  gray head, and a failure before the kings of the earth. God causes His rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He brought down the king of Assyria in the most dishonorable of fashions, by the hands of his own sons. He was told, as all other kings, not to return the way of Egypt, yet he was tempted and God intervened. Egypt is not just a place but many, and those who despised the Lord in Babylon, were in every way as arrogant as the pharaohs in Egypt. Tell them about the greatness and goodness of your God, about the folly of riches and the foolishness of pride, but instead he elevated himself above his kingdom and made much of his worldly success. I have known heroine addicts that would trade eternity for one more shot, just one more fix, and somehow it will all be worth it. Pray. 

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7-8