1 Kings 19
2 Kings 19 describes the conflict between King Hezekiah and the Assyrian king Sennacherib, who invaded Judah during Hezekiah’s reign, and it shows how Hezekiah and the people of Judah face the crisis by relying on God. Externally, it was a hopeless situation, but Hezekiah tears his clothes, prays to God, and listens to the advice of the prophet Isaiah and acts on it. In this chapter, we see an attitude of faith and God’s sovereign intervention in a crisis that human strength could never handle.
1verseAhab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2verseThen Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don’t make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time!”
3verseWhen he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4verseBut he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
5verseHe lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!”
6verseHe looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.
7verseThe LORD’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
8verseHe arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain.
9verseHe came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, the LORD’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10verseHe said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
11verseHe said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” Behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12verseAfter the earthquake a fire passed; but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice.
13verseWhen Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14verseHe said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
15verseThe LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
16verseAnoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
17verseHe who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
18verseYet I reserved seven thousand in Israel, all the knees of which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
19verseSo he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and put his mantle on him.
20verseElisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
21verseHe returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, killed them, and boiled their meat with the oxen’s equipment, and gave to the people; and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.
The Structure and Flow of the Passage
- The threat from Assyria and Hezekiah’s response: When Sennacherib’s envoys threaten Jerusalem, Hezekiah comes wholly before God, grieving and fearing, and seeks counsel.
- Isaiah’s message: Isaiah delivers God’s comfort and promises, declaring that the Assyrian threat will not come to pass.
- Sennacherib’s further letter and Hezekiah’s prayer: When Sennacherib threatens again with a letter, Hezekiah brings the letter into the temple and lays it before God, praying earnestly.
- God’s response and deliverance: Isaiah conveys God’s word, and God directly intervenes, bringing deliverance by striking down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. In the end, Sennacherib returns to his own country and is assassinated.
The Meaning and Message of the Whole Chapter
In 2 Kings 19, the narrative presents an example of seeking help from God rather than relying on human methods when it is in crisis. In this chapter, God—sovereign over the history of the world—extends a hand of salvation to those who humbly seek Him. It also becomes clear how God’s will is conveyed to the people and brought to fulfillment through the role of the prophet Isaiah.
Points to Ponder
- When I am faced with a crisis, I can learn from Hezekiah the attitude of first going to God through prayer above all else.
- We should remember that God gives us comfort and direction through His Word, and that He works practically in our lives.
- No matter how difficult the environment or circumstances may be, we need to engrave in our hearts an attitude of faith that trusts God to the very end.
Try Applying It to Me
- Let’s think about whether I can take time to entrust fully to God the problems and fears I’m currently facing.
- Let’s make a decision to follow God’s Word and take action like Hezekiah, and to build a habit of moving toward a place of prayer.
- As you reflect on how God is working in my life, offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
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