Hezekiah Saved by the LORD from Assyria, but Sinned in Pride

Hezekiah was one of the righteous kings of Judah who walked with the LORD. He led a great revival and was an encouragement and example to his people in following God. When he was buried, not only was he buried with his ancestors who were kings, but he was given a special place among them.

During his reign, he brought Judah back to God and as a result Judah prospered as promised by God. This attracted the attention of Assyria, the power nation at that time. When Hezekiah learned that Assyria was preparing to invade, Hezekiah mobilised and planned his military response, but not leaving God out, for he encouraged his people that "but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles".

Assyria would have been a powerhouse that the king Sennacherib was so confident that he was fighting at Lachish, yet preparing to open a second front of war with Judah. He also would have spies in Judah since he knew Hezekiah was also encouraging his people spiritually. Before his planned invasion, Sennacherib used propaganda by sending his messengers to taunt Judah. The taunts were false since they contradict each other. On one hand they taunted the people that Hezekiah had taken away their idols so they have nothing to worship. On the other hand they said that there was no use praying to any gods, since Assyria had crushed all the neighbouring nations who prayed hard. Basically their aim was to cast doubts on the people's trust in Hezekiah and hence the LORD.

Like King David, Hezekiah responded by praying to God and trusting God, even though he had prepared his army. He prayed together with the great prophet Isaiah. Sennacherib also made the mistake of taunting Judah and the LORD, which was blaspheming to the LORD. As a result, the LORD destroyed the army of Assyria and Sennacherib was himself murdered by his sons, shortly after abandoning the conquest of Judah.

Like any other man, Hezekiah was not perfect and his downfall was caused by pride. After the event with Assyria, Hezekiah's fame grew and Judah prospered more. When Hezekiah was sick, they prayed and Hezekiah was healed. His pride came in perhaps by not honouring God or acknowledging that God healed him. However, he did humble himself later and the wrath of God was postponed to the future. Then God put him through a trial by letting him do as he wished, when the emerging power of Babylon send envoys to visit the prosperous kingdom of Judah. Hezekiah's pride moved him to show all his riches to the future enemy, Babylon. This no doubt led the envoys to report on the wealth of Judah which soon attract the Babylonians to invade Judah.



2 Chronicles 32

Sennacherib Boasts Against the LORD

 1 After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his leaders and commanders[a] to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 Thus many people gathered together who stopped all the springs and the brook that ran through the land, saying, “Why should the kings[b] of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo[c]in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude 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 were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (but he and all the forces with him laid siege against Lachish), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: ‘In what do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem? 11 Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, “The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, “You shall worship before one altar and burn incense on it”? 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 in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could 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 persuade you like this, and do not believe him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?’”
16 Furthermore, his servants spoke against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah.


Sennacherib’s Defeat and Death
 
20 Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. 21 Then the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.
22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them[e] on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the LORD at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.

Hezekiah Humbles Himself
 
24 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah’s Wealth and Honor
 
27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; 28 storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks.[f] 29 Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel[g] to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

Death of Hezekiah
 
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, indeed they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 So Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place.