THE DEFEAT OF SENNACHERIB Having captivated Israel, Assyria intended to captivate Judah as well. The people of Judah were divided into three groups: one saw it better to surrender to Assyria to save themselves from being utterly destroyed; a second group preferred to make an alliance with Egypt against Assyria; and a very small group, intended to put their trust in God who is capable of saving them. King Hezekiah, being of the third group, resorted to prayer, and God sent the prophet Isaiah to confirm to him that his prayer was heard. 1- Hezekiah resorts to Isaiah the man of God 1 - 7 2- Rabshakeh’s temporary retreat 8 - 9 3- Rabshakeh’s message to Hezekiah 10 - 13 4- Hezekiah displays Rabshakeh’s message before the Lord 14 - 19 5- The Lord sends the prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah 20 - 34 6- The angel of the Lord strikes the Assyrian army 35 7- Sennacherib’s retreat and death 36 – 37 1- HEZEKIAH RESORTS TO ISAIAH THE MAN OF GOD: “ And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD” (1). Having heard Rabshakeh’s insolent reproach against the living God, as well as against the king and the leaders, Hezekiah tore his clothes, a sign of intense grief (6: 30), as well as of remorse and repentance (Joel 2: 12 – 13). Tearing his royal clothes, and putting on sackcloth is counted a great deal for a king; but as the living God, Himself, is reproached by such words of blasphemy by Rabbeshakeh, the king, not enduring the situation ; expressed the bitterness of his soul by tearing his royal clothes and covering himself with sackcloth. Believing that the Lord is God of the impossible, king Hezekiah expressed his trust in God by presenting repentance, and by going into the house of the Lord to seek His counsel and help…. The problems, indeed, are golden opportunities to make God intervene in our life. The king did not enter into the house of the Lord to inquire how he should respond to that blasphemer; but to deliver the whole matter into the Lord’s hand. + Faith without temporal protection, is armed by God. Through the power of faith, Hezekiah proved that, by his weakness, he is mightier than Sennacherib king of Assyria and of Ninevah. Sennacherib brought forth the armies of Assyria and Mades By his huge armies he destroyed the surrounding nations; and headed toward the holy city of the Lord, and concentrated all his possibilities against her; He sent to Jerusalem a rude message that carried arrogant threats; Hezekiah received it with grief, carried it to the Lord in His house; cast himself down, together with his people, read aloud the arrogant words, drenched the message with his tears, and trusted in the Lord; By prayer alone, Hezekiah got conquest over the Assyrians, who suffered serious defeat by the intervention of God; Once the tears expressed his complaint; … Once his godly lamentation rose up from a humble heart, … crossed over the stars of heaven, … and rushed to the ears of the High Father, the divine gates were shaken and ` were opened wide; and an angel with his wings came down, armed with the sword of the Word, and stroke the evil hosts. God was glorified by slaying 185,000 of the sleeping enemy, in one day. (Fr. Paulinus, bishop of Nola) “ Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebnah the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz” (2) Isaiah’s prophetic ministry started in the year Uziah or Azariah died (Isaiah 6: 1), 40 years ago (740 BC). He prophesied in the fays of Uziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. … While Ahaz disregarded Isaiah, Hezekiah, on the other hand, listened to his counsel. Although Assyria was the greatest universal power at that time, yet it could not overcome Judah, as long as Isaiah was the counselor of the kings. Eliakim and Shebnah, having personally heard the words of blasphemy, insolently uttered by Rabbashakeh, they were the best messengers to be sent by the king to the prophet Isaiah, to express, by their words, attitude, feelings, and the sackcloth by which they covered their bodies, what the wicked Rabbeshakeh said . “And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth” (3). Hezekiah confessed that the kingdom of Judah was helpless in a time she needed to be very strong to confront Assyria, the greatest power on earth. What preoccupied the heart of Hezekiah was not only the daring of Rabshakeh to reproach the living God, but that the day was a day of trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy on Judah and Jerusalem. He likened that day to the day of childbirth, when there is no more strength to bring the newborn forth; and the matter was in need of the intervention of God Himself, the wonder-Maker Hezekiah and his men counted that what dwelt upon them and the people, was a chastisement they deserve for their sins. Before complaining against Rabbeshakeh, and the king of Assyria as blasphemers, they did against themselves as sinners who were worthy of chastisement.. They did not suggest a solution to the problem, nor a revenge against Assyria, but sought from the man of God to put the whole case in the hands of God, to do according to His will. “ It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh,)whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left” (4) The king seeks from the prophet Isaiah to pray to God to listen to the reproaches of Rabshakeh who was sent by the king of Assyria. By “the remnant that is left”, Assyria has already led Israel (the ten tribes) into captivity. The kingdom of Judah with its two tribes: Judah and Benjamin only remained as “a very few remnant” that needed a divine help and a heavenly intervention to be saved. Although Hezekiah sought from Isaiah to pray for his sake and that of the kingdom, Yet, on his part, he himself went to the house of the Lord, spread the message before Him. … So it is befitting of us, when we seek from our beloved, whether the living or the departed, to pray for our sake; to pray together with them with the spirit of humility and repentance. Hezekiah seeks help and support from the “the living God” whom Rabshakeh and Sennacherib reproach; before whom Assyria cannot stand. “So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah” (5). “And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me” (6). God assures Hezekiah that what the servants of the king of Assyria, were just empty word (6), Even if it sounds fiery and loud, it lacks power. Assyria cannot stand before the Spirit sent upon him (7). “ Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land” (7) If Hezekiah, terrified before the threat of Assyria, resorted to God; And the man of God proclaimed to him that Sennacherib will not only fail to enter into Jerusalem, but God will put in him the spirit of terror, and let him hear a rumor that makes him hasten to return to his own land, where he will fall by the sword on the hands of his own sons.. The solution of that problem needs only a spirit, a wind, or a breath from the Lord to blow on the king of Assyria , to be scattered and to perish. In this prophecy, Isaiah presents four warnings to the king of Assyria: 1- God will send on him a spirit, or a breath, that will disturb him, concerning ‘Tirhaka’, king of Ethiopia 2- He will hear the horrible news that 185,000 men of his army were killed in one night, without a single soldier lost to Judah 3- He will hasten to return to his land in a disgraceful defeat, that he never experienced before. 4- He will fall by the sword, not as a hero in a battle, but in the temple of the idol, on the hands of his own sons. 2- RABSHAKEH’S TEMPORARY RETREAT: “Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish” (8) Rabshakeh did his best to enter Jerusalem by putting it under siege without need to fight a battle; but having returned after addressing the deputies of king Hezekiah, he found out that the king of Assyria has entered into another war against Libnah, drawing the army with him from Lasich, Both locations: Libnah and Lashich are close to each other on Mount Judah south of Jerusalem. “And the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “Look, he has come out to make war with you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, …” (9) The movement of the Assyrian army was so quick and unexpected, that when Rabshakeh went to Lashich where Sennacherib was fighting , he found out that he has already left it, on account that the king of Ethiopia came to make war against him. And lest Hezekiah would use it as a chance to do any attempt, Rabshakeh sent to him a message mocking and a warning that he will besiege him soon, and seeking from him to surrender, . As it is well known that ‘Tirhaka’ has not become a king before the year 690 BC; the one mentioned by the Holy Book was most probably another king of Cush or the Sothern part of Egypt, for by the name ‘Tirhaka’, many kings of Cush were called at that time. ‘Tirhakah’ was the king of Upper Egypt. While So (Sabaco) was the king of Lower Egypt; He was a strong king who left many antiquities that reveal his greatness. His name was inscribed in a temple in the city of ‘Abou’, that he had a multitude of captives of war. The news of Tirhakah’ coming with a great army to fight against Assyria, was most probably just a rumor, as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah (7). Which was not strange to the ears of Sennacherib and Rabshekah, who always anticipated an alliance to be made between Judah and Egypt against Assyria.. Rabshekeh previously warned Judah againt such an alliance; likening Egypt to a staff of broken reed, on which, if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it (2 kings 18: 21) At the same time, moving to confront a battle against Egypt, lest Hezekiah might make any attempt during his absence or preoccupation with another battle, Rabshakeh sent a message to warn Hezekiah, in an attempt to confuse and disturb him, and to confirm to him that Assyria will have a sure and swift victory on Egypt, after which it will come back to put Jerusalem under siege;. That message came attacking the God of Hezekiah; as though the battle was between God and the devil. 3- RABSHAKEH’S MESSAGE TO HEZEKIAH:; . “Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria” (10) Assuming that he would soon return to put Jerusalem under siege, and to enter into it, his message to Hezekiah conformed to how he previously addressed to him in (2 kings 18: 29) “ Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered?” (11) “Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? (12) “Eden” here, does not refer to the garden of Eden that came in the Book of Genesis, but refers to another location known nowadays as ‘Bit-Adini’ south of Haran (Ezekiek 27: 23; Amos 1: 5). “Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?” (13) 4- HEZEKIAH SPREADS RABSHAKEH’S MESSAGE BEFORE THE LORD: “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD” (14). Although Hezekiah believed that God is Omnipresent, hears the voice of His believers wherever they are, sees everything, and nothing is hidden before His eyes, Yet the temple, being His own dwelling place, had its honor in His sight. Like a simple child who trusts in his father’s love, wisdom, and ability, Hezekiah hastened to Him in His house, as though to the divine bosom, to be under His protection and mercy. Hezekiah put the messages that was delivered to him by his delegates, before the Lord Himself in His own holy temple; with complete confidence that, although the Lord was aware of what came I them, but by spreading them before Him, he proclaims his utter trust in the Lord, and puts the serious problem with all its details before the divine Helper, seeking salvation. So it is befitting of every believer to put his own problems with openness and faith before the Lord in His Holy Temple, to anticipate His response and help.. “ Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth” (15) When Hezekiah resorted to the Supreme King, who is greater than the king of Assyria (18-19); and prayed with faith; the King of kings responded to him. Hezekiah’s prayer is considered an example of the true prayer. For, together with his daring before God, He spoke with the language of reverence. “ Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God” (16) With bitterness, king Hezekiah cried out to the Lord who sits on the cherubim: “Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear, Open Your eyes, O Lord, and see” . An expression that the psalmist, as well, kept on saying (Psalm 17: 6; 31: 2; 45: 10); said by someone who feels like a child on his father’s chest, and whispers in his ears; by someone meek and humble, in whom the Lord finds pleasure to hear and see, He who says: “Learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Mathew 11: 29) By saying: “Incline Your ear, O Lord”, the believer intends to say to Him: I am unable to express what go on in me by my mouth and tongue; and no one can hear the moans of my heart, perceive what is in my depths, and partake of my feelings, except You. + He will incline His ears if you do not lift up your neck up high. He is close to the humble, and far from the haughty… Even though He is up high, and we are down below; yet we are not forsaken. “For when we were still (sinners), in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man, will one die; yet perhaps for a good man, someone would even dare to die” Romans 5: 7, 8); but out Lord died for the sake of the wicked. When we had no worthiness to offer “For I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86: 1), the Son of God revealed His great mercy, and died for our sake The Lord inclines His ear, not to the rich, but to the poor and the needy, namely to the humble who confesses that he is in need of His mercy, and not to the one who feels satisfied, who lifts himself up with pride, as though in need of nothing; he who says: “God, I thank You that I am not like this tax-collector” . The Pharisee boasted his worthiness, and the tax-collector confessed his sins. (Luke 18: 11-13). Do not take what I say, O brethren, that God does not incline His ears to those with gold, silver, and land. Abraham with his riches was poor in spirit and humble, honored and obeyed God’s commandments; counted his riches as nothing; and was even ready to offer his own son, for whom he kept all his riches, a sacrifice according to the command of God (Genesis 22: 10); for us to learn to be poor and needy; whether we are rich or poor. “Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands” (17) “and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them” (18). “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.” (19) 5- THE LORD SENDS THE PROPHET ISAIAH TO HEZEKIAH: “ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.’” (20) According to St. Augustine, Whoever calls God will never fall into fear, for there is actually nothing to cause fear.: [Is there fear in losing riches? Of course not!, Yet men fear it. … Man should rather fear to lose wisdom, which he does not. … You may fear to give back the riches, granted to you by God; and you do not mind to lose salvation]. + When Hezekiah was in affliction, to be saved, he covered himself with sackcloth; … But when he was in peace and comfort he fell into the haughtiness of heart (2 kings 19: 20) … When the children of Israel were in affliction, they enormously increased in number; and when God left them to themselves, they went down to their destruction. (St. John Chrysostom) “This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him:‘ The virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind your back!” (21) Whenever God addressed His people, He used to reveal to them their sins, to exhort them to return to Him with repentance, and to enjoy His graces. But whenever He spoke about His people to their oppressors, He spoke with joy. Now, addressing Sennacherib, the Lord says to him: “The virgin the daughter of Zion, has despised you, and laughed you to scorn, etc.”. He calls His people “the daughter of Zion” (the daughter of Jerusalem); namely the daughter of God who dwells in His city, and enjoys His holy temple; whom God guards and protects, being a beloved daughter of a loving Father. She despises and mocks the king of Assyria, who thinks of himself as greater and stronger than God.. “Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, And lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel” (22). Sennecharib and his men saw Judah as a pure and beautiful virgin whom they could easily rape; saw her helpless, if compared to the mighty kingdoms that were shaken and terrified, and even surrendered to Assyria, to spare themselves the destruction of their temples, and strongholds. … Yet the Lord’s response came through Isaiah, that Judah is the daughter of Zion, pure and beautiful, in the bosom of her heavenly Father, who grants her strength, joy, and conquest over anyone who dares to stretch a hand to her or to threatens her’ in the shadow of the Mighty One, she sits in peace. Isaiah calls the Lord “the Holy One of Israel”, he called the Lord “holy” 26 times in his book (see Isaiah 6: 3). By your messengers you have reproached the Lord, And said: “By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; I will cut down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I will enter the extremity of its borders, To its fruitful forest” (23) Assyria and its leaders boasted that they entered Lebanon, and cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypress trees. They did not say that they defeated its army, because it surrendered without entering into battle against Assyria. Like many other countries, it welcomed his coming, and accepted his bondage; with apparent exultation, for fear of his anger and his revenge; having destroyed even the trees. The author gives a terrifying portrait of Sennacherib, forcing his way into any country by his many chariots, ascending mountains; and no natural obstacle could stand in his way. According to St. Augustine, those who do not confess their sins, and in haughtiness enter as though into a battle against God, will have all their weapons on which they depend, broken down. “”I have dug and drunk strange water, And with the soles of my feet I have dried up.all the brooks of defense” (24) If Egypt cherishes its great river, Assyria boasts that he will not leave a drop of water for it; he will rob even its drinking water. He probably means that the multitude of foot soldiers of his army, entering any country, even Egypt, dig so many wells to get water, that the underground water will dry up underneath their feet., “Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, that you should be for crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins” (25) By saying: “Did you not hear?, he means: Assyria should read history to perceive the long arm of the Living God, whom he dared to reproach; how He has done miracles with His people.. “Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grown” (26). “But I know your dwelling place, Your going out and your coming in, And your rage against Me” (27). It is befitting of Assyria to perceive that he had little knowledge of the truth of the living Holy One; … that this God knows his dwelling place, his going out, and his coming in, and his hidden feelings; … that he is actually too little to stand before Him in battle; …. that his possibilities are counted as nothing; … and that Assyria is as grass of the field, as green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blighted before it is grown. …. How then can he enter into a battle against the Lord of hosts? “Because your rage against Me and your tumult Have come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back by the way which you came” (28) God will put His hook in his nose, and His bridle in his lips, the way Assyria used to humiliate the captives, particularly kings, nobles, and elites; to deal ferociously with them like animals; to find pleasure in torturing them, plucking their eyes, tearing their skin off, a piece by piece, until they die. … And, what they used to do with the captive, whom they considered as a slave, putting a hook in his nose., it will come back on them; “For by the same measure they used with the captives, it will be measured back to them, and even more”.(See Luke 6: 38). In haughtiness, Sennacherib assumed that what he reached of achievements were because of his might and power; and did not perceive that it was by an allowance of God. If Assyria has humiliated nations and kings, it is befitting of him to perceive his own weakness before the living God, whom he dared to reproach and blaspheme. + As for me, Nebuchadnezzar brought me forth in chains to Babylon, namely to the confusion of the mind; he put on me the yoke of bondage; put a hook in my nose; and when he commanded me to sing one of the praises of Zion, I said to him: “The Lord proclaims liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the Lord” (See Luke 4: 18). “This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And in the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them” (29) As a sign to His people that He will always care for them, in spite of the Assyrian campaigns, that had harmful effect on their crops; God promised that in three years time, they will saw and reap, plant vineyards and eat the full of them; because they will be living in peace from the threats of their enemies (Joel 2: 12- 14’ Micah 2: 12-13; Zephaniah 3: 8-20). “And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward” (30) The greatest promise is the increasing fruit with the coming of the Messiah; to a holy remnant that believes in Him, and testifies to Him, for the sake of the salvation of all mankind. That is a divine promise; “For the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” “ For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (31) In every generation, God cares for the faithful remnant, to the account of His kingdom; He uses them as a spark of fire; which He blows to ignite many by the divine love; and to take away from them the coolness of the lack of faith. God would never disregard a little spark in any people or in any person; For He works with the few as He does with the plenty; to save men anyway.. The prophecy said by Isaiah concerning the “remnant” was fulfilled by the incarnation of the Word of God, and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost (Acts 2). ““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” (32). The Lord gives a promise that Sennacherib will never enter into Jerusalem, and will never use weapons against her. In spite of Sennacherib’s boasting that he has taken over 46 cities of the kingdom of Judah; and that he made Hezekiah a prisoner in Jerusalem, like a bird in a cage; Yet God in His care, did not allow him to take over Jerusalem, nor to attack her with weapons; for the sake of His promise and covenant with David, despite the unfaithfulness and blasphemies of the people (22, 23, 27, 28; 18: 34-35). God gives assurances that the king of Assyria, will, not only fail to take the city by force, but will never enter into her, will not even come at a distance that would allow his army to throw an arrow on her; to come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound against her. Where is the dwelling place of God? In Jerusalem and in Zion. … In Jerusalem where peace dwells; and in Zion where there is a watchtower. …. I wish the human soul would have the peace of God, would enjoy meditating in Him; and be bound in the church to the Holy Books. Surely, in it, there will be peace; and it will be the dwelling place of God and His capital. There, God would destroy the glittering arrows of the bows, aimed by the devil. (St. Jerome) “By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,’ Says the LORD” (33). If Rabshakeh has threatened Hezekiah that he will come back to put Jerusalem under siege, he will not return to Jerusalem, but will return with his army to Assyria in disgrace and reproach. “ ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake” (34) “For My own sake”, That promise of not delivering the city to Sennacherib, was not for the sake of the worthiness of its people, but rather for God’s faithfulness, and forHis covenant with His servant David. The peace of Jerusalem concerns God Himself; which He never entrusts to anyone else. The prayers of the saints may support the striving soul that wishes for repentance. But in case she persists on her stubbornness, there will be no benefit for her from their prayers. God says to the prophet Jeremiah: “Do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you” (Jeremiah 7: 16; 11: 14). God who said: “I will defend this city to save it for my own sake, and for My servant David’s sake” (34), in the days of the righteous Hezekiah, did not utter those words in the days of increasing evil, when He delivered the city to Nebuchadnezzar. … The formalities of worship appears in the dependence of men upon the prayers of the departed and the striving saints, with no intention for repentance nor remorse on their part. God did not forbid Jeremiah to pray for the sake of the people; for He would be pleased to find hearts open wide with love; that pray for the others with no selfishness. But He confirms to him that his prayers would be of no benefit for a people, unless they, themselves, present repentance. The striving Jacob benefited from the prayers of his father Isaac; when he said to Laban: “Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear (the prayers) of Isaac, had been with me, surely now, you would have sent me away empty-handed” (Genesis 31: 42). The intercession for the people has been a living part of the work of the prophets, and the priests. The prophet Samuel says: “As for me, far be it from me, that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12: 23). And in Mitzpah, when the Philistines were stirred up against them, the people said to Samuel: “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7: 8). So did the prophet Moses, who kept interceding for his people, that the Lord said to him: “Now, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation” (Exodus 32: 10). And St. John Chrysostom, being a knowledgeable evangelic man, lest the people would understand the prayers of the saints as laziness and slothfulness in the spiritual strife, we find him confirm: How great are the prayers of the saints, if we, as well, work;.. Yes indeed, the prayers of the saints may have great power, on condition that we repent and reform our life. In case we are slothful, we shall have no salvation, not even with the help of the prayers of others. On the contrary, if we are alert and watchful, we can do that even on our own…. Saying this I do not annul the value of the supplications of the saints, but to keep you from slothfully being satisfied with the trust in others, while lying on your backs asleep. + You may say: Why should I need the prayers of the saints, if I, myself, am alert? If we truly think, we shall perceive that we are perpetually in need for their prayers. Paul did not say: Why should I need the prayers of others; although those who prayed for him were unworthy to pray for him, nor were t on an equal level with him; and yet you still say: Why should I need prayers?! You are more in need for prayers, if you feel you are not in need of it. Yes indeed! Even if you come to be like Paul, you are in need of prayers…. Do not be haughty, lest you fall. Do you wish to know the benefits of prayer? Listen to Jacob say to Laban: “Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me empty-handed” (Genesis 31: 42) … Also listen to God say: “I will defend this city to save it for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David” (34)..He so said in the days of the righteous Hezekiah. For if prayers benefit the wicked who persist on their evil, why did He not say it in the days of Nebudchadnezar, but delivered the city?…. Samuel, as well, prayed for the Israelites and was listened to by God. …. But when? … When they, on their part pleased God, and fought the enemies. … You may say: [Why should we need the prayers of others, if we, ourselves, please God? ……….Do not say so, O man! …. Yes, there is then, more need for prayer…… Listen to God say to the friends of the righteous ‘Job’: ”My servant Job shall pray for you”; (Job 42: 8), for your sins to be forgiven … Listen to God say by the prophet: “Even if these three men: Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they will deliver only themselves by their righteousness; they would deliver neither sons nor daughters” (Ezekiel 14: 14, 16), for evil prevailed again. That was said concerning those three righteous men who prayed and their prayers were not received … It is befitting of us to ask them to pray for us, to lift their hands up for our sake; but, at the same time, we, on our part, should hold fast to virtue. + Behold, While He is known to us, He is also known to the others; He is known to our enemies, reveall His might to them………. Remember how they attacked Hezekiah and put him under siege and made him a prisoner in the city, like a bird in the net; …………Remember how they, all of a sudden, departed, leaving 185,000 dead bodies behind them. + Huge is the goodness of God, and most probably He grants salvation to the majority for the sake of a few remnants of righteous men. Why should I say: For the sake of a few remnants of righteous men?... For even if there is no righteous in the present life, He would have compassion on the living for the sake of the virtues of those departed; and He would cry out loud: “I will defend this city, and save it, for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David” (2 Kings 19: 34)…. Good deeds have their activity even to raise the dead. When the widows stood around their departed ‘Tabitha’, showing Peter what she did when she was with them (Acts 9: 39). … The best kind of funerals for the departed, that would be of benefit both for the living and the departed, is when his friends give a part of his possessions to the poor; for by this they would make Christ his Heir together with the children of the departed. (St. John Chrysostom) + For the sake of David, the sins of his descendants were forgiven; and for the sake of Jesus, the sins of the world were forgiven. 6- THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STRIKES THE ASSYRIAN ARMY: “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.” (35) In the same day Hezekiah got the message sent to him by Rabeshakeh by night, 185,000 of the Assyrian army were killed by one angel of the Lord, while they were asleep in peace and security. St. Jacob El-Serougi imagines how St. Mary previously encountered Gabriel, the archangel of the Lord, when he was sent by God to deliver to her the good news of the incarnation of the divine Word in her womb (Luke 1: 26-39). It came to her knowledge, then, how the same angel has delivered to the prophet Daniel the good news of the events that will be fulfilled on the hands of her beloved Son. His joy, gladness, and features would never go away from her mind. And how the archangel Michael, the high commander of the hosts of the Lord saved the people by killing 185,000 men of the enemy in one night. But what astonished her the most was, how in the moments of the trial and crucifixion of the Lord, no one of the two archangels moved to testify or to defend Him. According to some, by “the angel of the Lord” who killed 185,000 in one night, is meant the Word of God before the incarnation Sennacherib, was utterly defeated this time, even though he previously put Hezekiah under siege, and humiliated him; as it came in one of the excavations in the ruins of the city of Nineveh; that Sennacherib attacked Hezekiah, took over 46 strongholds and little towns, captivated a multitude of young and old, males and females; and how he made Hezekiah a prisoner in his capital Jerusalem, like a bird in a cage; and put on him a double tribute. Commenting on how, at sunset, the Assyrian army were still putting Jerusalem under siege; then, by night, the angel of the Lord came and killed 185,000 of their men; and how, when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses – all dead; In the evening the people were crying, and in the morning they were rejoicing in the salvation of God; Some say that it was a prophecy about the salvation work of the Lord, when He was crucified and died at sunset, and was risen in the early morning of Sunday. At sunset there was weeping when the Lord proclaimed by His cross, the bitterness of sin that He carried on our behalf; and in the early morning He was risen from the dead, to grant us His joyful righteousness and His resurrected life. According to Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem: [Rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Righteousness, the Jews became as though in the evening, denied of the divine light and joy; Whereas the Christians who believed in Christ, became as though in the morning, filled with joy].. + In the evening, crying sets its tent, when the light of wisdom was put off in the sinful man, and he fell under the verdict of death; Since that evening , the people were committed to shed tears in the midst of labor and temptations, in anticipation of the dwelling of the daylight of the Lord. It is befitting of man to wait until the morning, to testify to the joy of His resurrection, whose light emerged by the resurrection of our Lord by dawn.. (St. Augustine) + Concerning our Lord, the time of the evening was that of His burial; and the morning of the third day was that of His resurrection. ………..You, as well, were buried by evening in paradise, and resurrected, as well, on the third day. … How did that happen on the third day? ………….. Let us portray the whole time as follows: There was one day before the law; Then a second day under the law; And a third day under grace; the day that our Head revealed by His resurrection. To apply this to you; the morning is the time for hope and joy; whereas the present time is that of endurance and tribulations. (St. Augustine) + Weeping, and in tears, Mary whispered to the heavenly hosts: Come, O Gabriel, see How your Lord is mocked, and how the wicked nail Him on the cross! And you, O Michael, man of fire, why are you silent? Where is your sword that killed thousands of Assyrians? … why has your spear of fire cooled down? If the disciples fled and left the Lord alone; Why have you also left Him, o hosts of fire? If the earthlies feared death and fled away; How would the immortal keep silent? When two of you were insulted in the land of Sodom, they set it on fire by their wings. How then, you did not avenge those who dared to insult your Lord? The king is reproached, and the heaveny hosts stood silent; the Lord of the fire is hanged on the cross, and the fire is quiet; Behold, the earthlies spat on His face, and the heavenlies are silent, while their Lord is “numbered with the transgressors” (Mark 15: 28).. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) The morning probably refers to the intervention of the angel of the Lord against Sennacherib; and probably to the resurrection; when the psalmist talks about awakening in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 3: 5; 17: 15). Rising up to pray in the early morning, is the persistent and consistent seeking of the Lord, before asking help of others. Whoever presents the firstfruit of his morning thoughts to God, will not refrain from dedicating the rest of the day to Him. + The prayers are recited in the early morning, to dedicate the first movements of the soul and mind to the Lord; so as not to care the least for anything but to dedicate our rejoice, exultation, and our hearts’ satisfaction and gladness to thinking of God; before the body come to be burdened during the day by any other work; as it is written: “To You I will pray,, my voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord” (Psalm 5: 2-3) (ST. Basil the Great) Our conquest is sure as long as we are in a fellowship with the Lord of hosts, who dwells in us by His Holy Spirit; commands the stars to partake of the battle, and sends legions of angels wherever He wants; He is the Lord of hosts to whom the whole nature submit., He commands to be obeyed. + The attack of the Assyrians failed; and the mighty Sennacherib utterly collapsed, by the tears, sackcloth of Hezekiah; humility and fasting of Hezekieh.. (St. Jerome) + Prayer sometimes brings the dead back to life; and some other times brings the living to death; like when St. Peter, by his prayer, brought the dead Tabitha back to life (Acts 9: 40); But his prayer caused the death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5: 3-10)…. Elisha, the spiritual man, brought the dead son of the Shunammite woman to life (2 kings 4: 32-36); but, by his curse two bears came out of the jungle to devour the young men who scoffed him (2 kings 23=24); … Hezekiah, likewise, for by his prayer, God added days to his life; and by the power of the Spirit he destroyed the Assyrian army (2 kings 19: 35). (Martyrus, or Sahdona) St Luke, in his gospel, mentions the episode of healing the ear of the servant of the high priest, saying: “And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, ‘Permit even this’. And He touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22: 50-51); to which St Matthew adds: “But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword, will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26: 52, 53). Here we have two comments: The first is that, If God the Father intended to save Jesus from death, as the Lord of glory Himself says, He would have provided Him with more than twelve legions of angels. If one angel killed 185,000 in one night, what would twelve legions of angels do to those who came to arrest the Lord? … According to St. John Chrysostom, the Lord said that to His disciples because He saw them terrified to death by the situation.. The angel of the Lord sent to destroy the Assyrians was not in need of outer tricks, nor show business; but, using his authority, he killed 185,000 of them. The demons, on the contrary, being without authority, try to bring terror by their tricks on their victims. (St. (Abba) Anthony the Great) 8- SENNACHERIB’S RETREAT AND DEATH: “ So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh” (36). Sennacherib retreated without fighting against Judah; when God sent one angel who struck 185,000 men of the Assyrian army in one night. What happened here, happens in one way or another, hidden or manifest, in the life of the church in every generation; as well as in the life of the children of God as members in His church. “Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place” (37) Nisroch, the traditional god of the province of ‘Mespotamia (Massisa)’. Its image was found in Assyrian excavations, with the head of an eagle, and the winged body of man. What happened here, took place after twenty years of the salvation of Jerusalem; when Sennacherib was assassinated, and his son ‘Esarhaddon’ sat on the throne in his father’s place (681- 668 BC) According to some, the book of Judith recites the events that took place after the defeat of Sennacherib king of Assyria in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah (2 kings 19: 35-37; 2 Chronicles 32), when he departed and went away defeated to Ninevah, where his own sons killed him; and was succeeded by his son Esarhaddon, who invaded many nations, including the Mades, as a revenge against their king, who was beloved by the Jews. ---------------------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 2 KINGS 19 UNTIL WHEN WILL THE ENEMY REPROACH YOU, AND HUMILIATE ME? + Sennacherib and Rabshakeh reproached You; Assuming that You, like the gods of the nations, are helpless to save; You set Assyria a tool to chastise; but he assumed that He is greater than You; You sent Your angel who killed 185,000 of his men in one night, + You are mightier than all the mighty; You are my stronghold and my salvation; Therefore whom shall I fear? Today is a day of good news of the eternal victory. + Until when, will the enemy put me under siege? And make me lose the glorious liberty of the children of God? Until whe, will he assume that You are like any of the vain gods of the Gentiles? Until when will he reproach You, and humiliate me? Until when shall I die of hunger in the siege? Let me approach You, and You approach me. For You are my Satisfaction, my Treasure, and my Conquest; Let me rejoice and exult in my salvation by You; Let me hasten and preach You, to let all enjoy it together with me; Let me cry out: [Today is a day of good news]; How can I be slothful, when all my being is shaken? How can I keep silent, when my life turned into an unceasing feast? Fill my mouth with Your divine promises, to make me preach them.
Welcome