2 Chronicles 32:1-8--Sennacherib Invades Judah

2 Chronicles 32:1-8
English Standard Version

Sennacherib Invades Judah
32 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, 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.

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Normally the pattern in the books of Kings and Chronicles is that we've seen a pattern of unfaithfulness and disobedience, and the LORD brings in a foreign power to discipline His people and draw them back, yet there has been great revival and the text calls all the previous events a time of faithfulness and obedience.  Yet, we still see that the Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, invades Judah with the intent of taking their fortified cities for himself.  You probably remember Sennacherib's name from the book of Kings where he had a more major role.  For now though, we must see how Hezekiah and the people respond to this situation.  Do they trust in themselves or do the trust in the LORD?

Hezekiah clearly trusted in the LORD to save him in this passage, but that didn't stop him from rallying the troops for battle and coming up with a plan.  The king, the commanders and the representatives of all the people decided they would stop up the rivers and streams that made the Land fertile so that Assyria would no longer desire it.  The Land would become arid and desolate.  He also repaired any walls that had been broken and fortified their positions with towers for defense (so they could see the enemy from far off and fight from a defensible position.

He also built a second wall around Jerusalem outside the existing wall so that they had a second layer of protection.  All these investments were wise, but inadequate if the LORD was bringing the Assyrians to judge the people of Judah.  If the LORD was for Assyria, then Judah could not possibly stand against them, and vice versa.  So, after the fortifications had been built and the shields had been distributed, the king gathered everyone to encourage them with words from the book of Joshua--"Be strong and courageous."  Hezekiah then adapts the message specifically for the people today in their situation, "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."

The people trusted in the LORD to fight for them, but they also stood ready to fight at the LORD's command.  The people took confidence in (were encouraged by) the words of Hezekiah.  We'll see next time exactly how the LORD comes to the defense of His people as He will be pleased that they called out to Him for assistance.