This victory is as remarkable in its way as the Exodus. It seems strange that it isn’t celebrated more.
Assyrian army destroyed
2 Kings 19:35-36, 2 Chronicles 32:21-22, Isaiah 37:36-37
God the judge
Psalm 75
God the victor
Psalm 76
Hezekiah’s prosperity
2 Chronicles 32:23, 270-30, 2 Kings 20:20
The Babylonians ambassadors
2 Kings 20:12-19, Isaiah 39:1-8, 2 Chronicles 32:31
Hezekiah’s death
2 Kings 20:21, 2 Chronicles 32:32-33
Assyrians settle in Samaria
2 Kings 17:24-41
The angel of death gets another outing, the Assyrian army is decimated. Sennacherib finds reason to return home, where two of his sons attempt a coup against him, and he is killed. At a stroke, the mighty Assyrian war machine is humbled. God has acted, as he promised he would.
Strange that there is no exuberant triumph. It seems that Hezekiah and his people are too tired. Too battered by events, too close to death, they have no energy for celebrations.
Some time later, Babylonian ambassadors come to visit Hezekiah, and he shows them everything. Bad move. Isaiah warns him of it, but Hezekiah no longer has the strength to care. At least it won’t happen in my lifetime, he thinks.
Two slightly solemn Psalms tell of God’s victory. Psalm 75 surveys the battlefield. God’s enemies lie still, as if they were asleep. Oh good, God has saved us. Now can we have a rest?
Assyrian army destroyed
2 Kings 19:35-36, 2 Chronicles 32:21-22, Isaiah 37:36-37
God the judge
Psalm 75
God the victor
Psalm 76
Hezekiah’s prosperity
2 Chronicles 32:23, 270-30, 2 Kings 20:20
The Babylonians ambassadors
2 Kings 20:12-19, Isaiah 39:1-8, 2 Chronicles 32:31
Hezekiah’s death
2 Kings 20:21, 2 Chronicles 32:32-33
Assyrians settle in Samaria
2 Kings 17:24-41
The angel of death gets another outing, the Assyrian army is decimated. Sennacherib finds reason to return home, where two of his sons attempt a coup against him, and he is killed. At a stroke, the mighty Assyrian war machine is humbled. God has acted, as he promised he would.
Strange that there is no exuberant triumph. It seems that Hezekiah and his people are too tired. Too battered by events, too close to death, they have no energy for celebrations.
Some time later, Babylonian ambassadors come to visit Hezekiah, and he shows them everything. Bad move. Isaiah warns him of it, but Hezekiah no longer has the strength to care. At least it won’t happen in my lifetime, he thinks.
Two slightly solemn Psalms tell of God’s victory. Psalm 75 surveys the battlefield. God’s enemies lie still, as if they were asleep. Oh good, God has saved us. Now can we have a rest?
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