2 Chronicles 32:7, 8

"Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."

"And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." Sooner or later we end up believing someone concerning matters that affect us. When we are confronted by a threat, especially by an apparently insurmountable one, we have to stake ourselves on something or someone. The residents of Jerusalem found themselves surrounded. The enemy was visible from anywhere on the wall. There was no hope of help from fellow Israelites for Jerusalem was the capital, and the army was there. Since the enemy surrounded them, there was no hope of escape either to get help, or to get supplies. And this was the whole point. The enemy without was well supplied, and could sit there as long as they needed. Inside there was whatever food was available before the enemy arrived, and that was all. Eventually supplies would run out, and people would die of starvation. Then the enemy would have easy access to the city.

Prior to this passage the king of Assyria made a speech in which he pointed out that no other city had a god that could save them from him. He had lain siege to many a city, and all were now his possession. Each of these cities were religious in that they had their deity, their god that would protect them. But protect them he did not. The king of Assyria prevailed. He also pointed out that King Hezekiah had removed all of the idols from Jerusalem. But he put it a little differently. He told the people of Jerusalem that Hezekiah had removed all of the places of worship unto the God of Israel. His implication was that in so doing Hezekiah had set the God of Israel against Jerusalem. Essentially, in his boast the king of Assyria was defying the God of Israel to do anything about the fact that he was laying siege to Jerusalem. He was telling the Israelites in Jerusalem that there was nothing God could or would do for them, and they were doomed.

After hearing this speech by the king of Assyria, the people turned to Hezekiah to see what he would say. All that he told them was what is recorded in 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8. He did not defend himself for removing the places of worship to idols, as the enemy charged. He did not point out the errors of what the king of Assyria said. There was only this one simple sentence in which he told them not to be afraid because they had more help in this battle than did the king of Assyria. He stated that the reason they need not fear was because with them in the battle was the LORD their God. Having heard what their king had said the people rested themselves. They believed what the king had said, and did not despair as to their situation any longer.

A similar circumstance is recorded in 2 Kings 6. The king of Syria was trying to track down and kill Elisha the prophet. In verses 14-17 we read, "Therefore sent he (the king of Syria) thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." In this case, the worried soul (Gehazi, the servant of Elisha) got a glimpse of the army that was protecting him and the prophet. Because of this vision his fear was relieved. As in the previous case, God also brought a great victory. The Israelites in Jerusalem, with Hezekiah, their king, were no less safe.

Generalizing these things to all of God’s children is appropriate. In Hebrews 13:5, God said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." When the Israelites heard what their king said, they "rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." If their faith in God, as seen in their reaction to their king, was rewarded by God (as it was) so then ours will be also. God is One on Whom we can certainly depend. No matter the greatness of the foe, He is greater still.

And for those who have not Christ as LORD and Savior, the great enemy that you face is your sin. It separates you from Him, and, as Jesus Himself said in John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." But, in Hebrews 2:14, 15 it is said of Jesus, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Through Him you, too, can know the promises of God’s protection for yourself, and the promise of eternity in His presence.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,
Only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.

HJK