Be strong and courageous! Don't be afraid of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are just men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (KJV)
What a positive verse to begin our study with, “Be strong and courageous!”
Hezekiah, king of Judah, spoke those encouraging words when the ruthless Assyrian army surrounded Jerusalem. The Assyrians were big, mean, and ugly (I made up the ugly part), and they were well known for their military conquests. However, Hezekiah was not afraid of them because he knew that his nation held the ultimate weapon. They had God on their side.
But I guess that I need to backtrack for a moment and lay a foundation.
Prior to Hezekiah’s reign, King Ahaz ruled Judah. Ahaz was a wicked king, “…he aroused the anger of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 28:25, NLT).
Judah, under King Ahaz’s rule, did much evil. They had closed all the temple doors, they had erected idols throughout the land, and they had even stopped offering burnt sacrifices to God. Plain and simple, Judah had turned their backs to God. Consequently, God’s anger had fallen on them.
Then King Ahaz died and Hezekiah became Judah’s king at the young age of twenty-five. Hezekiah may have been young, but he was wise. He did not follow the example of his wicked predecessor; instead, Hezekiah vowed to serve God—he was determined to do what was right (2 Chronicles 29:2).
Hezekiah knew that God was angry with Judah. “…He has made us an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can so plainly see. Our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity” (2 Chronicles 29:8-9, NLT).
Thus, as soon as he became king, Hezekiah began cleaning house. He ordered that the temple doors in Jerusalem be repaired and opened (2 Chronicles 29:3). Then he summoned the priests and Levites, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary” (2 Chronicles 29:5, NLT).
Next, Hezekiah ordered the Levites to lead the people in praise and worship of God. Then he reinstated the burnt offerings and sin offerings to the Lord. He even reinstated the Passover of the Lord. Thus, “There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David's son” (2 Chronicles 30:26, NLT).
Hezekiah did, “…what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God…Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful” (2 Chronicles 31:20-21, NLT).
That sounds like a happy ending. However, I am sure that you have already learned in your Christian walk that just as soon as you turn your life around and begin serving God, an enemy appears. The same thing happened to Judah.
Judah’s enemies, the Assyrians, began marching towards Jerusalem, capturing various cities in Judah along the way (2 Chronicles 32:1-2). Jerusalem was their next target.
King Hezekiah began defensive preparations for Jerusalem. He diverted the water springs so that the enemy would not find drinking water. He fortified the walls surrounding the city, even constructing a second protective wall outside of the first wall. Then he had weapons prepared, “…made darts and shields in abundance” (2 Chronicles 32:5, KJV). Hezekiah did everything that he could to prepare his people for battle.
Once all of the preparations were completed, Hezekiah appointed military captains over his people. After that, he had them gather around and he gave them a pep talk—our opening verses.
There are many lessons found in 2 Chronicles 29-32. However, I cannot cover them all in a short article; therefore, I will mention just three key points. First point, King Hezekiah determined in his heart to obey God. He wanted to do what was right so he purified his nation; he removed idols and reinstated temple services. Second point, King Hezekiah did everything that he could do to protect his people, fortifying walls, diverting water, and preparing weapons. Third point, King Hezekiah had faith in God.
Although you may never personally battle with Assyrian armies, you do have an enemy. That enemy is Satan and he is out to destroy you.
In order to withstand the enemy’s attack, you, like Hezekiah, must get ready. Prepare your walls of defense, remove all idols, turn your heart wholly to God, obey God’s commands, sharpen your weapons, read the Word of God, and put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18). Once you have done all of this, then stand your ground in faith knowing that God will protect you. When you do your part then God will do His part.
Oh, I’ve left out one critical detail in this story…the ending. “That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere” (2 Kings 19:35, NLT).
The Assyrians learned a valuable lesson—it’s not safe to mess with God’s children.
I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him, and he rescues them.
Psalms 34:6-7 (NLT)
Three Key Concepts:
1. God protects the pure in heart.
2. Do all that you can to prepare for battle, then stand.
3. “Be strong and courageous!” If God is for you then no one can defeat you.
