April 15, 2026 - 2 Kings 18-21

Hezekiah began his reign, and “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD . . . He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel . . . He held fast to the LORD.  He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses.  And the LORD was with him” (18:3-7).  During Hezekiah’s reign, the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and took the people and scattered them throughout the nations “because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God” (18:12).  Quite a contrast:  Hezekiah held fast to the Lord while Israel refused to obey the Lord. 

Now, Hezekiah and Judah did not escape trouble from the Assyrians for Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem.  The Assyrians taunted Hezekiah, claiming that no nation had ever been able to stand against Assyria and that Judah would not be the first:  “Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?” (18:35).  Well, it would not be long before that question was answered, for Hezekiah heeded the prophet Isaiah’s counsel and turned to the Lord for help.  In one night, the Lord sent his angel through the Assyrian army, striking down 185,000 of the enemy.  Sennacherib turned tail, ran home and, soon thereafter died.  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” (Psalm 33:12)

Ye holy souls in God rejoice,

Your Maker’s praise becomes your voice;

Great is your theme, your songs be new:

Sing of His name, His Word, His ways,

His works of nature and of grace,

How wise and holy, just and true!

Justice and truth He ever loves,

And the whole earth his goodness proves.

The fires and seas, and heav’n and earth,

His everlasting orders keep.

Let mortals tremble and adore,

A God of such resistless pow’r.

Nor dare indulge their feeble rage;

Vain are your thoughts and weak your hands,

But His eternal counsel stands,

And rules the world from age to age.   -- Isaac Watts (1740)