2 Kings 19

< Back to 2 Kings Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Lord sends encouragement in the day of distress.

  2. The Lord sends deliverance in the day of distress.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Thank the Lord for His omniscience.

QUESTIONS

  1. When did Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, fall?

  2. What was Sennacherib, the King of Assyria’s, approach in attacking the Southern Kingdom of Judah?

  3. How did Hezekiah react to this threat from Assyria?

  4. What promise and encouragement did the Lord send Hezekiah?

  5. Where is the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem confirmed in history?

ANSWERS

  1. In 722 B.C.

  2. In 701 B.C., Sennacherib invaded Judah and conquered all the fortified cities, which were part of the outer ring defense system for the capital city of Jerusalem. King Hezekiah was able to delay the inevitable siege of Jerusalem by giving the Assyrians a huge sum of money, but it wasn’t long before Sennacherib sent three of his officials to offer King Hezekiah terms of surrender.

  3. He humbled himself before the Lord and sent to the prophet Isaiah to ask for prayer.

  4. No siege of the Assyrians would cause them to starve to death. In fact, no siege ramps would be built against the walls of Jerusalem and not even an arrow would be shot at the city. Instead Sennacherib would return to Assyria by the way he had come and he would not conquer the city of Jerusalem.

  5. Besides being recorded three times in the Bible (Isaiah 37, 2 Chronicles 32, and 1 Kings 19), these biblical accounts are supported by the Assyrian annals of Sennacherib. In a series of clay prisms, Sennacherib’s scribes recorded in cuneiform his campaign against Judah- including his attempted capture of Jerusalem

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Read Hezekiah’s prayer in verses 15-19. Discuss these two points about this prayer, and what we can learn from it: 1) It was short and to the point. 2) Hezekiah prayed for deliverance for the sake of God’s name and glory.

  2. 2 Kings 19:35, “And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses -- all dead.” What an amazing and powerful God we serve. Take some time to thank Him for who He is.

CHALLENGE

  1. The Lord is omniscient. He knows everything about us, and everything about the forces that would oppose us. Aren’t you glad for this truth?

KEY VERSES

  • “Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone.” 2 Kings 19:19

  • “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,’ Says the LORD. ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’” 2 Kings 19:32-34

2 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 KINGS 19