Historical Books 2 Chronicles

God is Our Warrior

Discover Jesus as: Royal Throne 2 Chronicles 32-33 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 317 of 730
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INTRO

We are so close to the end of 2 Chronicles. The phrase for 1 Chronicles is Son of David and for 2 Chronicles is Royal Throne. Hezekiah just called the people to be renewed in God. Hezekiah, from the lineage of David, points to the coming of the Royal Throne through the ultimate King, Jesus Christ. In 2 Chronicles 32, however, we will see Satan coming in and trying to destroy it all. Notice both God and Satan can use rulers anywhere in the world, one for God’s glory and the other in an attempt to destroy. Ultimately, God is in charge and can use even bad rulers for His good (Proverbs 21:1). When we see revival such as that brought on by Hezekiah, we should always expect Satan to try to ruin it.

TEACHING

2 Chronicles 32:1-8: After Hezekiah’s reforms, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, entered Judah and laid siege to the fortified cities (v. 1). Second Kings 18:13 says Sennacherib took all 46 of the fortified cities. Hezekiah realized Sennacherib planned war on Jerusalem (v. 2). Solomon was the king who built these cities and settled people into them (2 Chronicles 8:2-6). Hezekiah consulted his officials and warriors about stopping up the spring waters outside the city, and they helped him (v. 3). Hezekiah worked out three ways to stop Sennacherib’s attack.

First, he (and his officials) stopped up the springs outside the city walls of Jerusalem so Sennacherib and his army would not find water (vv. 3-4). Hezekiah then built a tunnel that went from the Gihon Springs to the Pool of Siloam so the city of Jerusalem would have plenty of water. Second, Hezekiah had the entire broken section of the wall rebuilt and the watchtowers heightened (v. 5a). Third, Hezekiah reorganized and reequipped his army (vv. 5b-6c). Are we equipped and ready for battle like Hezekiah and Judah (Ephesians 6:10–18)? Hezekiah encouraged the people of Jerusalem to be strong and courageous rather than afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria (v. 7a). Hezekiah pointed out there were more of them in Jerusalem than Sennacherib had in his army (v. 7b). This king prepared for war by fortifying the water supply, the walls, and equipping the warriors. Are we ready for the battle? Is the Church ready for a battle (Ephesians 6:10-18)?

King Hezekiah sought godly council and he prepared for war. Some would say Hezekiah should have just depended upon God alone without taking other action. I see divine wisdom in the actions Hezekiah took to prepare the city. I wonder if Hezekiah knew the “horses and chariots of fire” were all around (2 Kings 6:16-17). In verse 8, Hezekiah stated Sennacherib only had human strength while the people of Judah had God’s strength to fight their battles. Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, regardless of the improvements they had made. (For the opposite of trusting God, see Isaiah 22:8-11.) Martin Selman has pulled out multiple examples of trusting God:

  • Deuteronomy 31:7-8, 23: Moses called the people to be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
  • Joshua 1:6-9: Joshua called the people to be strong and courageous!
  • 1 Chronicles 22:13: David called the people to be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged.

In the first 8 verses, Hezekiah prepared to defend his people against attack because he saw “the present struggle as a battle not just between nations but also between competing religious systems and ideologies.”1Hezekiah was ready to depend upon Yahweh as the warrior.

Because Hezekiah brought the people back to God, he and his people became a threat to Satan. If you’re not bringing people to God, then you are no threat to Satan!

2 Chronicles 32:9-19: Sennacherib and his forces besieged the city of Lachish, which was located west of Jerusalem (v. 9). Capturing Lachish would have cut Jerusalem off from the west and from the sea.2Then Sennacherib questioned why the people were willing to stay in Jerusalem while under siege, especially since they must be hungry and thirsty (vv. 10-11).

Sennacherib mocked all Hezekiah had done to remove the high places and altars, while requiring all Israelites to worship at the one altar at the temple (v. 12). This king of Assyria then questioned why people thought they could stop him since he and his fathers had a history of having successfully battled the cities of Judah (vv. 13-14). Sennacherib was basically undermining Hezekiah’s beliefs and his reforms. Imagine how devastating his threats could be to someone who did not trust the Lord. Sennacherib was bragging that no god of any nation was strong enough to be victorious over him (v. 15) and his servants said even more against God and Hezekiah (v. 16). Sennacherib wrote mocking letters about the Lord with these same lies (v. 17) and eventually his servants even spoke in Hebrew to frighten the Israelites. The lies, threats, and accusations continued through verses 18-19.

2 Chronicles 32:20-23: But Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, cried out to the Lord who sent an angel to annihilate every warrior, leader, and commander in Sennacherib’s camp (vv. 20-21a). Sennacherib returned home in disgrace and his own children killed him (v. 21b). The Lord saved His people from Sennacherib of Assyria and from all others, giving His people rest and peace (v. 22). Many brought offerings to Hezekiah and he became exalted in the eyes of all nations (v. 23). Hezekiah got everything ready, but the Lord fought the battle for them.

CLOSING

John 8:31-32 states, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” What does the truth set us free from? Jesus explained we are slaves to sin, but the Son can set us free.

What are we hearing today that we can establish ourselves in and say, this is the Word of the Lord? That’s the reason for Revive School!

  1. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 561.

  2. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 561.

Questions

  1. Hezekiah was telling his people to be strong and courageous in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8. In your opinion, can we lose if we have God on our side fighting for us? Where else are we told to be strong, courageous and not to fear? (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9)
  2. The Lord sent an angel to fight Sennacherib and his army in 2 Chronicles 32:21. How many men were cut down (2 Kings 19:35)? What later befell Sennacherib and by whom?
  3. What sign did the Lord give to Hezekiah that he was heard and healed? (2 Kings 20:8-11)
  4. In chapter 33, Manasseh was ruling and doing evil in the sight of the Lord. What happened that made him change his ways? Even though he changed his behavior and started following God, where was he buried compared to his father?
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in 2 Chronicles 32—33 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin 2 Chronicles 32:7–8

“‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.”

After King Hezekiah’s faithfulness in leading the people to return to Yahweh, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, entered Judah with the intention to break into the fortified cities. King Hezekiah saw the enemy approaching, recognized he was in battle, and immediately sought counsel. Then he gathered the people together and encouraged them: “Be strong and courageous … Sennacherib has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” The Lord brought the victory and saved King Hezekiah along with all Jerusalem, giving them rest on every side.

Many times, after a season of great faithfulness to the Lord, the enemy comes in to steal, kill, and destroy. Be aware of the battle raging around you as you live your life boldly for the Lord. But do not be afraid. Just as the Lord said to Moses, Joshua, David, and Hezekiah as they led the people, the Lord tells you to be ready for battle. Be strengthened by the Lord. Put on the full armor of God so you can stand against the tactics of the devil. Pray in the Spirit at all times. Stay alert. The Lord your God is with you to fight your battle, so continue to speak boldly about the mystery of the Gospel. Others only have human strength, but you have the Lord on your side. Walk by faith and do not fear.

“‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.”

—2 Chronicles 32:7–8

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Deuteronomy 31:7–8 — “Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the Lord swore to give to their fathers. You will enable them to take possession of it. The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
  • Joshua 1:7 — “Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.”
  • Ephesians 6:10-11 — “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the devil.”