Faith under Pressure
And Hezekiah said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.” 2 Chronicles 32:7
“He did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” Not many kings who reigned after King David earned that accolade. Hezekiah did. He ascended the throne at age 25, and his 42-year reign brought revival and prosperity to God’s people.[1]
What was the source of his success? “He sought his God and worked wholeheartedly” (2 Chronicles 31:21). But faithfulness doesn’t always ensure a trouble-free life, does it? Most of us have sloughed through swamps of illness, financial hardship, relationship disasters, and other difficulties. Hezekiah did too.
Second Chronicles 32 begins this way: “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah.” What? How could God allow that to happen to someone who served him faithfully?
God, however, always has more in mind for us than comfort. He is shaping us into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29), and the process requires him to apply pressure in places we’d rather he left alone.
For Hezekiah, that pressure was Sennacherib’s invasion. What did Hezekiah do? He repaired Jerusalem’s walls, built defensive towers, added a new wall, appointed more officers, and stockpiled weapons (2 Chronicles 32:5). He also built confidence in God’s people with these words: “With [Sennacherib] is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles” (32:7).
During the siege, Hezekiah, the prophet Isaiah, and the people continued to cry out to God for relief. He responded by sending “an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king” (32:20–21).
Hezekiah’s conflict with Sennacherib gives us several strategies to use when we face adversity. First, build protective walls by memorizing God’s promises and truths. Second, surround yourself with supportive, like-minded people who will stand with you against the attacks. Third, depend on the greater power of God to wage the battle and win it.
Has some unexpected adversary invaded your comfort zone? How can you implement Hezekiah’s strategy and move toward victory?
Dig Deeper
Read the more detailed account of Hezekiah vs. Sennacherib in 2 Kings 18–19. How did Hezekiah consistently display his trust in God throughout the siege?
King David also depended on God for victory in battle. Read Psalm 18:30–36. In what specific ways did God help him? In what ways does God help you conquer emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical enemies?
Hezekiah was also a poet. Read Isaiah 38:9–20, a poem he wrote after recovering from an illness. What is he thankful for? What are you thankful for?
You may also want to read these two devotions about Hezekiah: Hezekiah’s Prayer and Hezekiah.
Denise K. Loock
This devotion is part of our “Do Not Be Afraid” series.
[1] Hezekiah was a co-regent with his father, Ahaz, from 728 to 715 BC. His sole regency extended from 715 to 686 BC. (See entry “Hezekiah” in The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Revised and Updated Edition, Chicago: Moody Press, 1988).