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2 Chronicles 32:1-23 – Praying through the Bible #139 – A Prayer More Powerful than Preparations
“After these faithful deeds, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities and intended to break into them” (2 Chronicles 32.1-2). The Assyrians were a war-machine to be feared. Sennacherib describes his trap:
“As for Hezekiah, the Judean who did not submit to my yoke, I surrounded and conquered forty-six of his strong-walled towns and innumerable small settlements around them by means of earth ramps and siege-engines and attack by infantry men….I brought out from them and counted 200,150 people of ranks….He himself I shut up in Jerusalem, his royal city, like a bird in a cage….Fear of my lordly splendor overwhelmed that Hezekiah. The warrior and select troops he had brought in to strengthen his royal city Jerusalem did not fight….He sent his messenger to pay tribute and do obeisance” (Price, The Stones Cry Out, 272-273).
Before Hezekiah flees to the temple to pray, Jerusalem prepares practically: stopping up springs, repairing walls, reinforcing militarily, and building the water tunnel (32.1-6). The outward “Broad Wall” is 23 feet wide and 27 feet high (Price 268). The most famous and amazing architectural feat is Hezekiah’s tunnel covering 1,750 feet (Price 267). In these actions, Hezekiah and the Judeans “seem” to be doing everything right. With great personal sacrifice, they even break apart their own houses to reinforce the walls (Isa.22.10). After these works, Hezekiah reassures the people: “be strong and courageous;” and “He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh to fight our battles” (2 Chron.32.7-8). Again, seemingly these are acts and words of faith. Then I discovered God’s opinion was greatly different than mine. Isaiah 22:8-11 condemns works that sound similar to Hezekiah’s self-preservation preparations of 701 BC.
When reliance is placed upon works alone, they become unfaithful. Preparations, praise and platitudes mean nothing without prayer. So far there is no record of Hezekiah praying. Should we do all that we can? Yes, while praying. There is a danger in working that we trust our works. There is a danger in not working that we test God. So pray as if everything depends on God; and work while trusting in nothing we do.
The siege is on. The preparations have not yet been fully tested. Those on the wall could see the smoke rising from Lachish 30 miles southwest. Fear grips Hezekiah, a fear more powerful than his preparations. Finally, “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven” (32.20); only after this is Judah saved “by an angel who annihilated every brave warrior, leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria” (32.21). Sennacherib is defeated by prayer, not by preparations; defeated by God, not by Hezekiah. Is God waiting for us to pray?
Prayer Challenge: Pray while preparing, not just afterwards; and pray that we totally realize our works and preparations are not our salvation even when commanded.
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