Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
 
2nd Chronicles 32:9
“After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem…”

2 Kings 19:15-16 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, who dwells between the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down your ear, and hear: open, LORD, your eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, who has sent him to reproach the living God.

2 Kings 20:2,3 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech you, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2 Chronicles 32:21 And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he had come into the house of his god, sons that came forth of his own body struck him down there with the sword.
 

2 Kings 20:1-6 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus says the LORD, Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech you, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the ruler of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you: on the third day you shall go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto your days fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

PRIDE VS. HUMILITY

2 Chronicles Chapter 32 contains a wonderful story to learn a lesson from.

Let us meditate on this chapter and also 2Kings 19th Chapter.

There was a King by name, Sennacherib. He is known for his pride, blasphemous nature, and ridiculing attitude. This chapter also concludes the history of reign of a humble and good king, namely Hezekiah. Sennacherib sent blasphemous letters to Hezekiah, ridiculing the God of Hezekiah.

Sennacherib was, (as Nebuchadnezzar was afterwards), a terror and scourge, a great oppressor, whose aim was at raising a boundless territory and monarchy for him.  Several examples can be seen in the history that pride and ambition was the reason for many rulers venturing conquering nations, and aiming at grasping universal dominion.  Sennacherib was depicted here in this chapter as one who tried to misguide the inhabitants of Judah, by speaking against the living God, and ventured invading Judah.  Sennacherib, who worshipped idols,  was not in favor of destroying idols.

Sennacherib had ambition of besieging Lachish (v. 9), but hears that Hezekiah is fortifying Jerusalem and encouraging his people to stand against the invasion.  Sennacherib comes in person to besiege it and before he wages a war against Jerusalem, he sends messengers to make speeches demeaning the living God and proclaiming his own great acts of courage.  He himself writes letters to frighten Hezekiah and his people to surrender the city. His tactics were of mean nature in order to terrify the common people and persuade them to desert Hezekiah.   Sennacherib, the blasphemer and a proud king compared our living God, the Maker of heaven and earth, with the idol-gods of the nations. He treated the work of men’s hands more than the works of living God. (v. 19) He had a great contempt for our God. (v. 13–15), and thence inferred not only, How shall your God deliver you? (v. 14), but, as if he were inferior to them all, How much less shall your God deliver you? Sennacherib had blasphemed the living God and fancifully ridiculed the living God as the God of Israel only. His rude and impertinent and intemperate behavior filled with profane attitude was the reason for his downfall and punishment.

The rage and blasphemy of Sennacherib made Hezekiah to pray fervently and his prayer was answered, which resulted in deliverance of Jerusalem.  More about Hezekiah's prayer and answers We read more about it in the book of Kings, 2 Kings Chapters 18 and 19.  Hezekiah worshipped the living God.  In 2nd Kings 19:20-34 we read the loving and assuring answer given by our Living God to Hezekiah’s prayer.  Hezekiah prays that God will now glorify himself in the defeat of Sennacherib and the deliverance of Jerusalem out of his hands (v. 19): "Now therefore save us; for if we be conquered, as other lands are, they will say that thou art conquered, as the gods of those lands were: but, Lord, distinguish thyself, by distinguishing us, and let all the world know, and be made to confess, that thou art the Lord God, the self-existent sovereign God, even thou only, and that all pretenders are vanity and a lie.’’

Yes! Here comes the downfall of Sennacherib, the proud king.

2 Chronicles 32:21 "And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he had come into the house of his god, sons that came forth of his own body struck him down there with the sword."  and in 2 Chronicles 32:22 we read the victory of Hezekiah, and the people of the living God,   "Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side."   2 Chronicles 32:23 "And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and precious gifts to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from that time on."

We also read that Hezekiah was sick unto death and he received answer to his prayer.

2nd Kings 20:2 -6

Dear Friend,

Are we proud and ambitious like Sennacherib or humble and praying Hezekiah. Sennacherib had his downfall because of his pride. Hezekiah had Jerusalem delivered from the hands of Sennacherib and also had fifteen years added to his life because he was humble and praying man. He wept sore, says the Word. Our tears will never go in vain. Each tear is precious to our God. He counts every one of them.  In John chapter 11: 35 we read. “Jesus wept.” When He saw Mary and Martha weeping over the death of their brother Lazarus, He wept. He shared their troubles and pains.  Our God shares our tears. He weeps along with us, when we are in troubles, and delivers us in time, no matter how great is our enemy and how great is our trouble..

Believe in Lord Jesus Christ. He will save you.

Leslie M. John

Copyright © 2006 Leslie M. John
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