2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 32: The LORD saves Jerusalem from Assyria

Begin in prayer

Before you open 2 Chronicles 32, stop and ask God to teach your family where real help comes from. Ask Him to show you Jesus, who could have called angels and went to the cross.

Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

Psalm 124:6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are greater than any king, and show us Jesus, who stayed on the cross for sinners. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Sennacherib king of Assyria invades Judah and plans to fight against Jerusalem. Hezekiah stops the springs outside the city, strengthens the wall and sets captains over the people. He tells them there is a greater one with them, for the LORD is with them to help and fight. Sennacherib's servants mock the LORD and say no god has saved his people from Assyria. Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet pray and cry to heaven, and the LORD sends an angel who cuts off the Assyrian leaders. Sennacherib goes home in shame, and later Hezekiah is ill, prays, and humbles himself when his heart is lifted up.

As you read 2 Chronicles 32, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD sent an angel and saved Jerusalem from Assyria's king when Hezekiah and Isaiah cried to heaven.

Sennacherib king of Assyria invaded Judah, planning to fight against Jerusalem (verses 1 and 2). Hezekiah prepared by stopping the springs, strengthening the wall, and setting captains over the people (verses 3 to 6). Then he told them, “there is a greater one with us than with him” (verse 7). He said an arm of flesh was with the king, but the LORD was with them to help and fight (verse 8). Sennacherib's servants mocked the LORD, saying no god had saved any people from Assyria (verses 13 to 15). He wrote letters insulting the LORD, and likened Him to gods made by men's hands (verses 17 and 19). Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet prayed and cried to heaven (verse 20). The text says, “Yahweh sent an angel,” who cut off the Assyrian leaders, and Sennacherib went home in shame (verse 21). This shows that the One with His people is greater than any king, though Hezekiah later humbled himself (verses 25 and 26).

How does 2 Chronicles 32 show us that the LORD sent an angel and saved Jerusalem from Assyria's king when Hezekiah and Isaiah cried to heaven?

Hezekiah told the people that the LORD was with them.

Sennacherib camped against the fortified cities (verse 1). Hezekiah stopped the springs, built up the wall and made weapons (verses 3 to 5). He told the people not to be afraid, for there was a greater one with them than with the king (verse 7). He said the king had an arm of flesh, but the LORD was with them to help (verse 8).

Sennacherib mocked the LORD and spoke against Him.

His servants asked in whom Judah trusted (verse 10). They said no god of any nation had delivered his people from Assyria (verses 13 to 15). They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods made by men's hands (verse 19). They shouted this to frighten the people on the wall (verse 18).

Hezekiah and Isaiah cried to heaven, and the LORD sent an angel.

Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet prayed and cried to heaven (verse 20). The LORD sent an angel, who cut off the mighty men and the captains in the camp of Assyria (verse 21). Sennacherib returned home in shame (verse 21). The text says the LORD saved Hezekiah and Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib (verse 22).

Jesus could have called angels, and He went to the cross.

Jesus said He could ask His Father, and He would send more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26 verse 53). Jesus did not ask. He went to the cross for His people (Matthew 26 verse 54). One angel saved Jerusalem, and Jesus gave His life to save sinners.

Memorise

An arm of flesh is with him, but Yahweh our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles.

2 Chronicles 32:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, who is with me against sin and death, and have I trusted Jesus?

Hezekiah told the people, “there is a greater one with us than with him.” Then “Yahweh sent an angel,” and Jerusalem was saved. Jesus said He could ask His Father for more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26 verse 53).

Jesus did not ask, and He went to the cross for His people. He stayed there, and His death paid the price of their sin once for all. He rose from the dead, alive forever.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and the One who is with them is greater than any enemy.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD saved Jerusalem from Assyria, and that Jesus stayed on the cross for sinners. Parents, verse 21 tells of the Assyrian king's death by the sword, so you may leave that sentence out for young children. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He is greater than any enemy, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

As birds hovering, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”

Isaiah 31:5

Father, thank You that You sent an angel and saved Jerusalem. Thank You for Jesus, who could have called angels and stayed on the cross for sinners, and who rose. Please teach us to trust Him. Amen.