For Your Glory, Lord

“Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.” 2 Kings 19:14-19

Instead of immediately responding to the Assyrians, Hezekiah goes to the Temple and spreads the letter before God. He addresses God as the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, and the only true God over all kingdoms, specifically acknowledging him as Creator. He asks God to turn his ear and see the words of Sennacherib, which mock the living God. He acknowledges that the Assyrians have indeed destroyed other nations but explains that this is because those nations worshiped idols made of wood and stone. He then asked for salvation from the Assyrians, with the explicitly stated goal that “all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone“. 

 The natural instinct when confronted with fear is either to react or retreat. Most people either start planning immediately in their own strength, or they spiral internally before speaking to anyone. Hezekiah does neither. He pauses long enough to relocate the problem into the right place. He went to the temple and spread the letter before God.

What does this mean ? Hezekiah is saying, in effect, “This problem is bigger than me, but it is not bigger than God.” He is refusing to let the words of the enemy have the final interpretive authority over his situation.

What stands out for me is how Hezekiah prays. He does not begin with panic, nor even with the size of the Assyrian army. He begins with God’s identity. He calls him the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, the Creator, the only true God over all kingdoms. Before he speaks about the problem, he affirmed who God is.

Then he brings the specific issue. He asks God to hear the insults, to see the mockery directed at the living God. He is not merely asking for personal deliverance. He is concerned about God’s name being dishonoured.

There is also a useful insight in his reasoning about the defeated nations. He recognises that those nations fell because they trusted idols that were not alive. You cannot contrast lifeless gods with the living God.

Finally, his request is clear: “Save us.” But the purpose is bigger than survival. It is revelation. “That all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

In Exodus 32:11-13 and Numbers 14:13-16, Moses appeals to God’s reputation among the nations. Basically saying “Lord, let the outcome of this situation reflect your true character in the eyes of the world.” For your glory, Lord!

Kay Alli