Sennacherib Invades Judah 2 Ki 18:13-16; 2 Chron 32:1-8
Introduction: 1. We noted in our first study that Hezekiah focused on worship and war a. The last four lessons have focused on the reforms instituted by Hezekiah in the realm of religion 1. He was part of a great religious revival 2. The result of the revival was the cleaning out of the temple, the reinstitution of worship and ridding the land of idols b. Today we begin looking at his war campaign 1. Four lessons are devoted to this war campaign 2. Most of the focus will be on the conflict with Assyria and it’s evil king Sennacherib 3. The conflict with Assyria was one of the most memorable crises that Judah passed through. 2. It looked as though Judah would be destroyed and the nation ended much like happened with the northern kingdom 3. Then God stepped in with a great miracle and delivered Judah and sent Assyria into a tailspin from which it never fully recovered
I. The Moment of the Invasion o Scripture gives us two instructive points of reference in regards to the moment of this invasion by Sennacherib and the Assyrian army A. Moment and Reign of Hezekiah – 2Ki 18:13 1. The 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign was a traumatic year 2. The two greatest trials of Hezekiah’s life were faced a) The attack by Sennacharib b) The life-threatening illness of Hezekiah – he reigned 29 yrs and God gave him 15 extra yrs 3. The two greatest demonstrations of God’s power were seen a) God provided miraculous deliverance from Assyria b) God healed Hezekiah and gave him 15 added years 4. Maybe you look back over the year and say to yourself, “This sure has been a difficult year” 5. Things may be going along fairly well, then all of a sudden we have a year like this 14th yr of Hezekiah 6. The bottom seems to drop out a) We begin to wonder where God is b) God did not forsake Hezekiah during this time c) God did not forsake Job in his trials d) When God allows us to go through trials, it is not to destroy us, but to strengthen us 7. Be encouraged in trials and look for opportunities to strengthen your faith B. Moment and Revival Under Hezekiah – 2Chron 32:1 o The effects of the revival under Hezekiah lasted more than just a few months o 12+ years after the revival the effects are still seen o That Hezekiah would experience an attack from Sennacharib after leading in the revival does not seem fair o Don’t be discouraged if great trials come after great dedication 1. Guile of the World a) The world is a wicked place and no friend of righteousness b) Salvation delivers us from sin problems, but it does not deliver us from the trials which come from wickedness c) Joseph stood true and pure but went to prison d) Revival is an assault on the work of Satan and he won’t take that sitting down 2. Glory of God a) God decrees and designs our trials in order to bring glory to Himself b) The trial of Sennacharib invading Judah gave great opportunity for God to display his great power c) God could show himself strong on behalf of His returning, reforming people d) Jesus (God) suffered for our eternal glory and we should not complain if we have to suffer some for His glory
II. The Might of the Invasion o Assyria was a major world power when Sennacharib led the Assyrian army against Judah o The Assyrian army had rolled over kingdom after kingdom o Judah would be an easy target A. Capture of the Cities 2Ki 18:13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 1. Strategy in Taking the Cities a) Sennacharib did not lead his army to attack Jerusalem first b) Conquering the smaller cities would prevent them from coming to the aid of Jerusalem when it was attacked c) Jerusalem was the prize city to conquer and it would be the hardest 2. Strength of the Cities Taken a) These cities were called “fenced cities” b) Walled cities were the most important cities of a nation c) Insignificant cities would have no wall, but when they grew in size and importance then they would have a wall d) Conquering fenced cities would require more might than conquering unwalled cities e) Losing all those walled cities would cause Hezekiah much fear 3. Sum of the Cities Taken a) Ancient records of Assyria claim that Sennacharib took 46 cities of Judah b) This shows that Sennacharib had conquered much of Judah before God destroyed the army c) Jerusalem would be the prize
B. Capitulation to the Conqueror o Hezekiah’s conduct in the conflict with Sennacharib did have some bad moments o His behavior is noble most of the time but there was some poor behavior on the part of Hezekiah o Remember that our Bible heroes were human and had human frailties just as we do but they still accomplished much. 1. Sinner 14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended… a) When Sennacharib was attacking Lachish, Hezekiah sent a letter of capitulation to him b) When he said that he had offended, Hezekiah was saying that he was a sinner c) Joseph said, “How can I do this great evil and sin against God?” Sin = offended d) Hezekiah had rebelled against Sennacharib and refused to pay the tribute (2 Ki 18:7) e) The tribute had been paid since the reign of Ahaz f) When the flesh rules in our lives instead of faith then things will get all mixed up – sin will be called righteousness and righteousness will be called sin g) Today those who cry out against homosexuality are called sinners and the homosexuals are righteous 2. Supplication 14b …return from me… a) Hezekiah pleads for Sennach to cease warring against Judah b) Hezekiah should have been pleading with God to remove Sennacharib c) Sometimes we try to get others to “pull some strings” for us when we should be praying to God about it 3. Submission 14c …that which thou puttest on me will I bear… a) Hezekiah, in effect, gives Sennacharib a blank check to fill in as he wished b) Hezekiah sold out to Sennacharib here to gain peace c) Many govt leaders think that every problem can be solved by throwing money at it d) Compromising will not gain anything but more trouble e) Peace at any price is no good 4. Stipulation 14d …And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. a) The size of the tribute was great b) Hezekiah would have to work hard just to raise this amount c) Whenever we give into the world to gain their favor, the price will be great d) Sin and the devil do not come cheaply e) When Hezekiah paid the money, it did not make Sennacharib quit and go home f) Instead, Sennacharib attacked more of Judah g) Sennacharib must have laughed in scorn at Hezekiah’s capitulation 5. Stewardship – vs 15 a) Hezekiah gave up some of the treasures of the palace, but he also took gold from the Temple b) How shameful that Hezekiah would take from the temple treasuries and adornment to appease evil c) This is like someone getting into financial trouble and withholding his tithe to get out of trouble d) But poor stewardship only gets one into more trouble
III. The Mobilizing for the Invasion o Hezekiah took some important steps to prepare for the invasion of Jerusalem by Sennacharib o Seven mobilizing actions were taken by Hezekiah A. Stopping of the Water 2Chron 32:2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which [were] without the city: and they did help him. 1. A great army needs water in order to survive so Hezekiah stopped up wells, springs and a brook near Jerusalem 2. Stopping the water was a wise move for Hezekiah 3. If Satan can get church members to stop their giving he knows that will hurt the work of God
B. Strengthening of the Will 5a Also he strengthened himself… 1. If Hezekiah is going to lead the nation effectively, then he must be strong 2. He capitulated to Sennacharib which showed weakness 3. Sennacharib is still going to attack so Hezekiah needed to be strong 4. Before he could exhort others to be strong, he himself had to be strong
C. Shoring Up the Walls 5b … and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall without… 1. Assyria has already shown that they could conquer the fenced cities of Judah 2. Hezekiah wisely sought to fortify the wall around Jerusalem 3. Hezekiah was not about to be defeated by weak walls 4. We need to strengthen the walls in our lives also a) Not brick and mortar walls, but spiritual walls b) Walls that keep the evil out of our lives c) Few churches want walls of separation d) If we want to win battles against the evil one, then we must strengthen the walls in our lives
D. Securing the Ward 5c …and repaired Millo [in] the city of David… 1. Millo was a ward or a section of Jerusalem 2. It was part of the old city of Jerusalem captured by David – 2Sam 5:9; 1Chron 11:8 3. It was located on the northern side of Jerusalem which would probably be attacked first by Sennacharib 4. The other sides of Jerusalem had valleys, to the north was a plain 5. We need to especially guard those areas where we are weakest
E. Supplying the Weapons 5d …and made darts and shields in abundance. 1. “Darts” were spears or maybe arrows 2. Hezekiah saw to it that his nation was well supplied with weapons to defend itself 3. A good leader arms his country to defend itself 4. Disarmament can lead to defeat 5. We need to be armed spiritually so that we can win spiritual battles a) We especially need knowledge of the Word of God b) Christ defeated Satan in the wilderness by quoting 3 texts of Scripture c) Cults, isms and psycho-babble have seduced the people because people were not well armed in the Word
F. Selecting the Warriors 6a And he set captains of war over the people… 1. A great leader is a great delegator 2. A good leader needs the help of others 3. Hezekiah knew that he could not lead the people by himself 4. Appointing good leaders shows organization 5. A good army will be organized and a good church will be well organized a good life will be well organized
G. Speech About the War 6b …and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, 1. Encouragement in the Speech “and spake comfortably to them” a) Comfortably is translated heart 500x but comfortably only 4x in the KJV b) Hezekiah’s speech was a very heartening speech c) He encouraged the people for the battle ahead d) We need more encouragers in church 2. Edification in the Speech 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] 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… a) His speech was not empty blather, but it was based on faith in God b) He told the people that God was on their side and would fight for them c) With God on their side, they would outnumber the great army of Assyria d) Anytime God is on our side, we are in the majority
3. Effect of the Speech 8b …And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. a) The effect of Hezekiah’s speech was good b) It gave the people hope and reason to have hope c) His words were based on divine truth so they were able to be trusted d) Though Hezekiah had a lapse of faith, he came back to greatly trust in God e) His faith in God will be tested as Sennacharib gets closer, but God will give great victory.