Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 19
Of course, God already knew what the king of Assyria had written to Hezekiah. However, Hezekiah wanted to hand this matter over to God, for God to deal with it. So, he took the letter that Assyria’s king had written to the temple, God’s house in Jerusalem. There, he opened the letter and he placed it in front of God. Then, he prayed.
In his prayer, he declared that the God of Israel is the only true God. He referred to God’s throne (royal seat) as a word-picture for God’s authority to rule. So, God is not like other kings; they only have a place on earth where their enemies may attack them. However, God rules over all things from his royal seat above the heavens, where no enemy can attack him. There he sits between the special angels called the cherubim, his servants who act as guards of the most holy things. He is the real God, who alone created both heaven and earth.
Unlike the false gods, whose images the army from Assyria destroyed, he alone is the living God. From him, every living thing comes – so he is the judge of all that live (Genesis 18:25; Acts 17:28). The king of Assyria had written foolish and evil words that insulted God.
Assyria’s army was a very great and powerful army. It destroyed whole nations. So, Hezekiah asked God, for his (God’s) own honour, to act against this cruel and evil enemy. When God rescued Judah from this terrible army, people across the world would hear. They would realise that the true God, Israel’s God, is the only real God. He alone – and none of the false gods – was able to defend his people from this enemy. The fact that God saves (rescues) his people always brings great honour to God’s most holy name.
Next part: God's message against Sennacherib, the king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:20-24)
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