In 701 BC, the Assyrian King Sennacherib sent a delegation to Jerusalem to demand King Hezekiah and his people submit to his authority and return to their former vassal status under Assyrian rule. The Assyrian delegation taunted Hezekiah and his people by saying their political alliances would not prevent their destruction, nor would their faith in the LORD God save them.
2 Kings 19 reports Hezekiah’s response to these threats: No advisors were consulted, no war council was convened, no messages sent to Egypt or other allies for reinforcements, no stalling tactics or negotiations with the Assyrians. Instead, Hezekiah was unhesitant in his response—he went to the temple and laid the Assyrian letter before God and asked God to intervene on Jerusalem’s behalf.
With his back up against the wall, and annihilation at hand, Hezekiah’s first course of action was to pray. His prayer was short, five verses, and simple, but very compelling. Hezekiah did not try to tackle this looming enemy alone; he sought God’s aid.
Is God our first course of action in crisis, or our last resort? Are we inclined to pray before we do anything else? Or do we devise our own solutions, only to seek God’s guidance only when all else fails? Our first thoughts, words and responses in crisis tell us a great deal about our faith, or lack of faith in God.
Scriptures report God struck dead 185,000 of the Assyrian army that night and Sennacherib returned to Nineveh without attacking Jerusalem. God is ready to perform a great work in our lives, to vindicate His name and deliver us from our enemies. We just need to make Him our first course of action; not only in times of crisis but in our everyday choices.
“…The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”—2 Samuel 22:2-4
