2 CHRONICLES 32:1-8
ACTS OF FAITHFULNESS
[Isaiah 37:10-20, 36-38; Ps. 46; 2 Kgs 18:13-19:37]
King Hezekiah [reigned 726–697 BC] had been on fire for the Lord God. First he had aggressively removed evil influences from his life (30:14; 31:1). Next he had torn down the idols in Israel and then instituted reforms to bring true worship back into the daily life of Israel. Then on the heels of Hezekiah's faithful obedience to the Word of the Lord, he was attacked and besieged by the vicious warrior-king of Assyria, the most powerful nation on earth. What did this devoted heart do? Did he give in, give up or turn to other outside help? Did he turn aside from his faith because God didn't treat him as protectively as he felt he deserved?
This king's experience of evil coming in the face of determined good effort and obedience mirrors the experience of devout men and women of every age and teaches us to believe in the constant working of Divine Providence, even in difficult circumstances. God allows evil to bring committed people into new stages of growth (CIT).
I. After Acts of Faithfulness, 1.
II. Energizing the People of God, 2-6a.
III. The One Who Brings Victory, 6b-8.
In verse 1 the chronicler emphasizes the connection between Hezekiah’s faithful reforms including the restoration of temple worship and Sennacherib’s attack on Judah. “After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities and thought to break into them for himself.”
Quite often devoted followers of the Lord experience testing after a time of great spiritual attainment. King Hezekiah is a prime example. Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, was a wicked king. He destroyed the sacred articles of the temple, closed the doors of God's house, and burned incense to other gods. But God used his son Hezekiah's dynamic leadership to spearhead a great spiritual revival in the land of Israel. When Hezekiah became king, he smashed the idols and destroyed the high places of pagan worship (31:1), he cleansed the temple and restored the priesthood. Verse 20 of chapter 31 says, “thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right, and true before the Lord his God. (21) And every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.”
Then after fourteen years of faithful service and obedience Sennacherib the warrior-king of Assyria comes to conquer Judah. The Assyrian king had no regard for Yahweh or His Word and thus there was no way to reason with him. The only authority he recognized was his own. He was intent on subjugating the southern kingdom by his military might. And his military might was the most powerful the world had experienced up to that point in history.
The text is worded this way; “After these acts of faithfulness.” The reason is to let us know that for people, even for leaders, who trust and serve God faithfully, that God does not guarantee them that things will always go smoothly. The good kings Asa and Jehoshaphat also suffered foreign invasion after bringing about religious reforms. The genuineness of faith often emerges only in one's reaction to trouble.
Hezekiah could have asked, why me Lord? He could have been angry with God. He could have supposed that all his personal and national religious reforms would put him in favorable status with God and make him exempt from serious trouble. But along with the blessings that he experienced, here came the king of Assyria intent on destroying his kingdom, His capital Jerusalem and removing his head from his shoulders.
II. ENERGIZING THE PEOPLE OF GOD, 2-6a.
(Hezekiah's Reaction)
From verse 2 we learn that Hezekiah prudently made preparation against this storm that threatened him. “Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem.”
Hezekiah didn't panic. He didn't give up and say what's the use servicing God and accomplishing all my good work. He saw the seriousness of the situation and was led to even greater dependency upon God and was led to purposeful planning and major undertakings.
He found renewed strength in the Lord to meet the threatening challenges that God and his own rebellion were letting him face. [Hezekiah had disregarded the Word of the Lord though Isaiah and become involved in plots with Egypt, (Isa. 30:1-5, 31:1-3)].
The Assyrian records show in detail that the invasion captured 46 Judean towns. No doubt the fortified cities were the ones that Solomon and his successors built and rebuilt through the years. Sennacherib's determination was to "set his face for war against Jerusalem," even after Hezekiah had paid tribute and penalty to him. This was to be the climax of his campaign (2 Kings 18:13; Isa. 36:1).
Beginning in verse 3 we learn some of the measures that Hezekiah took to protect Jerusalem. “He decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him.”
When Hezekiah was confronted with the frightening prospect of an Assyrian invasion, he made two important decisions. He did everything he could to deal with the situation, and he trusted God for the outcome. That is exactly what we must do when faced with difficult or frightening situations. Take all the steps you possible can to solve the problem or improve the situation. But also commit the situation to God in prayer, trusting Him for the solution.
Hezekiah proves his wisdom by the fact that He consulted with other wise men for there is "much wisdom in many counselors." As a result, they decided on a two prong approach. The second we will find in verse 6 was encouragement to those who would lead the fighting. The first response in verses 3-5 involved three practical steps. Here in verse three they prevent the Assyrians from being able to cut off Jerusalem's water supply and using it for themselves.
The situation galvanized Hezekiah and the leaders into action and motivated them to agree on a plan. Threats from without, unlike threats from within, can cause people to unify, to pull together, to sacrifice and defeat a common enemy.
Oh that we would see Satan and his attacks of drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, rebellion, selfishness and laziness and then be unified to fight them so that the fortified places of decency, peace and prosperity might not fall in this country.
Verse 4 records the peoples’ motivated response. “So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?"
Cities had to be built close to a reliable water supply. Two natural springs, Gihon in the Kidon Valley and one in En-Rogel two miles away were major sources of Jerusalem's water supply. The stream which flowed through the land was probably a local water course (aqueduct) which supplied part of the city.
In a brilliant military move, the people united and plugged up the springs outside the city and channeled water through an underground tunnel dug for the purpose of bringing water into the city. The Gihon spring was tunneled through 1,700 feet of rock beneath Jerusalem that connected the springs outside the walls with the city (30:20) creating the pool of Siloam were Jesus would one day send the blind man to wash. Jerusalem therefore would have water even if they faced a long siege. Hezekiah's tunnel has been discovered along with an inscription describing how it was built. Two groups of workers started digging underground, one in Jerusalem and one at the Gihon spring, and they met in the middle.
The next practical step Hezekiah and his fellow leaders took was to repair the city (5a) walls and to reorganize and re-equip the army (5b-6a). Verse 5: “And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down, and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall, and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number.”
Part of a wall which could well be Hezekiah's has been uncovered on the western hill. At seven meters thick, it is the thickest Iron Age wall known in Palestine and was presumably designed to withstand powerful Assyrian battering rams. [The first army to develop battering rams and build ramps to scale walls.] It was constructed from demolished houses and seems to have enclosed a reservoir of water (Is. 22:8-11), possibly brought from Gihon via Hezekiah's famous tunnel.
So Hezekiah built a new wall outside the existing one and rebuilt the defective places and breaches in the wall David and Solomon had built (1 Ch. 11:8, 1 Kings 11:27). The millos’ are fortress towers incorporated into the wall. Finally, the craftsmen manufactured a great deal of offensive and defensive weaponry.
Verse 6 records the organization of the people under specific military leadership. “And he appointed military officers over the people” (6a).
Next, he mobilized the people under army officers. “The people” were divided into defensive units to man the walls and guard the gates and placed under “appointed commanders.”
III. THE ONE WHO BRINGS VICTORY, 6b-8.
With the military preparations made, Hezekiah brings the people together so he can encourage them with where their real hope and strength was to be found in the secon part of verse 6. “And gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying;” (6b).
Then Hezekiah assembled the people together with their commanders in the plaza and preached to them concerning the days ahead. The words he spoke were words of partnership and encouragement. Literally he “spoke to their heart.”
What had happened was that the situation forced the people to form a partnership to complete the task that needed to be done so that they could survive. Any people that want to stand strong, to stand against tough times, to stand above the common will need to agree to bond together in unity of purpose and action!
Have you ever seen the GIANT REDWOODS of California? These trees can tower more than 300 feet in the air. With such height, you might think they require deep roots. Not so. Redwoods actually have very shallow root systems that capture all of the surface moisture possible. Because these roots spread out in every direction, THE ROOTS of all the trees are INTERTWINED. As a result, they end up supporting one another and helping each other stand, even in high winds. That is why you rarely see a redwood standing alone. They need one another to survive. If you are going to really grow to great heights as a person or a Christian, you will need others also.
The truth is that most trees growing in a forest help each other in many ways. A Reader's Digest article entitled "What Good is a Tree?" explains that when roots of different trees touch, a fungus develops in the soil that reduces competition between them. In fact, this substance helps to link the roots of different trees--even of dissimilar species. A whole forest may be linked together. If one tree has access to water, another to nutrients, and a third to sunlight, the trees have a means of sharing with each other.
Too often we labor under the notion that we can do everything by ourselves. But if we would just look at the world around us, we would discover that God has woven the need for partnership into the very fabric of the world.
We each need to help each other to accomplish any significant task. Geese teach this lesson of SHARED LEADERSHIP wonderfully.
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates draft and uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a V formation, a flock of geese adds at least 72 percent to its flying range compared to each bird flying on its own. That's a great model of synergy--the ability to accomplish more together than apart.
When the lead goose gets tired of overcoming the greatest air resistance, he rotates back in the formation and another goose flies point for a while. In doing this they model shared responsibility--leadership that is truly a team effort, not the work of a lone ranger.
As they fly, the geese in the back honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed and momentum. In doing this they model the power of encouragement and affirmation. Everyone performs better with cheerleaders around them.
And finally, any time a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese drop out and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is able to fly again or is dead. They then join another formation to catch up with their group. In doing this they model the care that emerges within a group when it works together to reach a common goal.
We also need to realize that everyone who joins a partnership is needed, particularly in the local church. Let me illustrate our need for honoring and helping each other.
During the 1800's, a famous ORGANIST TRAVELED from town to town across America giving concerts. It was in the days of the old pump organs, so in each town he hired a boy to work the pump behind the organ during the concert. After a performance in one town, he couldn't shake the young boy he'd hired.
As the organist walked towards his hotel in the cool of the evening, the boy beamed up at him. "We sure had a great concert tonight, didn't we?"
"You mean I had a great concert tonight," replied the maestro. "You ONLY PUMPED the organ. Now, go home!"
The next night, the organist gave another concert in the same town, and once again the boy worked the bellows behind the scenes. The opening piece of the concert was a beautiful fugue by Bach. But as the performer masterfully attacked the notes of the second piece, the music suddenly stopped, his rapid fingering bringing nothing more than a faint clicking sound from the keyboard. That's when the little boy stuck his head around the corner of the organ, smiled, and said to the maestro, "We aren't havin' a very good concert tonight, are we?"
The encouragement which the King gave to his people to depend upon God in this distress begins in verse 7. “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor because of all the multitude which is with him; for the One with us is greater than the one with him.”
Hezekiah evidences the lesson he had learned from the prophet Isaiah that there is danger in trusting in human strength and military defenses (Isa. 22:8-11). Faith in God is our main resource.
The quality of faith is marked by the extent to which a person's attitude is focused on God. Physical resources can be of real assistance where they are available, but they are no substitute for relying on God. Hezekiah's message concentrates on rejecting fear and accepting the difference between human, demonic, and divine strength. His answer to the power of fear is to repeat a series of four imperatives previously issued by Moses, Joshua (Dt. 31:7-8, 23; Jos. 1:6-9), and David (1 Ch. 22:13, 28:20). Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid or discouraged. The reason for his confidence is that he is utterly convinced about the supremacy of his God in every situation. He again appeals to Scripture to support his point, especially the prophets, though the key phrase, 'there is One greater with us than with him' which is based on Elisha’s Words in 2 Kings 6:16.
Hezekiah could see with eyes of faith. The number (hundreds of thousands) of his opponents meant nothing as long as he was on the Lord's side. Victory is 'not by might not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty' (Zechariah 4:6). Hezekiah could confidently encourage his men because he had no doubt about where he stood with God.
Are you on the Lord's side? Does God know you’re on His side. You may never face an enemy army, but the battles you face every day can be won with God's strength.
Hezekiah does not focus on his own preparations, but on Yahweh’s help. In verse 8 he contrasts the human power of the Assyrian army with the divine power on Judah’s side. “With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.’
As verse 8 makes clear, the question is not simply who has the greater power or numbers, but which God is intrinsically greater. In fact, Sennacherib has no divine support, for he relies entirely on an arm of flesh, that is, mere human strength. Judah on the other hand, can count on God's being “with us” and being ready to help us.
It is not surprising that the people “were encouraged by,” literally, 'leaned on', Hezekiah's words. Many were clearly afraid and tempted to rely on the defenses they had constructed. Under Hezekiah's leadership ability and faith both increased. They joined together as a 'great many people' to help the king before assembling for their encouragement in one of the city's squares.
How could Hezekiah encourage the people in their seemly hopeless situation with the declaration "there are more with us than with them?" Because God was on their side. That was their hope and must be our hope. Sennacherib had power, men and prestige. The inhabitants of Zion had the Lord!
Is there some "enemy" pressing in on you today? Do you feel as though the opposition is about to crush and destroy you? Does everything seem hopeless? Take heart, child of God! With the Lord on your side, you are never outnumbered.
The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do. NAPOLEON'S MASSIVE ARMY was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border.
A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church.
The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our service as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us."
The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
Like Hezekiah in today's Scripture, we too may be facing circumstances that threaten to crush us. But let us call out to the Lord and depend on His almighty power. HE WILL FIGHT FOR US.
In CLOSING
Hezekiah could have responded to adversity and cried as we sometimes do "Why me, Lord?" He could have been angry by this discouraging turn of events. But he wasn't. In a remarkable demonstration of faith, he cast himself in total dependence upon the Lord and called the people to unify themselves and work. Judah experienced great deliverance and a deepened relationship with Yahweh.
I could use a healthy portion of Hezekiah's spirit. There is something within me that wishes God would always reward my faithfulness with prosperity and protection. But God is working far beyond what I can see and is accomplishing His eternal purposes. My present difficulties are never the final measure of His blessing and love.
Hezekiah modeled true faithfulness. He determined to obey the Lord without demanding guarantees of a trouble-free life. Like him, we can be confident of God's presence and power, and trust Him even in the darkest hours.
Obstacles only seem too large when we take our eyes off the Lord and look at the enemy. Our heavenly Father doesn't shelter us from the winds of adversity. He uses them to strengthen our faith. Instead of asking, "Why me, Lord?" it's better to accept God's purposes and say, "Why not me, Lord?"
By the way, have you heard the end of the story? The Angel of the Lord Struck the army of Assyria killing 160,000. The rest returned home. [Isaiah 37:36-38]
]
