Micah 1:8-16; Nahum 1:14-15, Prophecy Fulfilled!

What a terrifying thing it should have been for Sennacherib to know that the LORD had heard how he belittled the God of Israel (19:28).  Verses 29-34 give God’s specific response in this situation.  First, outside of Jerusalem, in the Judean countryside, which had been devastated by the Assyrians, there will be a return to normal life (planting and harvesting).  Those of Judea who escaped will again “take root.”  This “remnant” for the most part was sheltered in Jerusalem (v31) and so would “escape from Mount Zion.”  The certainty of this is bound up in one fact: The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. 

Second, the LORD prophecies concerning Sennacherib himself.  The LORD says that the king of Assyria will not enter Jerusalem nor even build a siege mound.  Remember that when Isaiah utters these words for the LORD a massive Assyrian army is camped outside of Jerusalem.  But the prophecy is that Sennacherib will return home the way he came.  And the certainty of this prophecy is that God will do it for His own glory AND for the glory of David.  God had promised an everlasting King on the thrown of David; if Sennacherib were to take the city certainly the line of David would be obliterated.

Before we move on to the fulfillment of these prophecies I want to make reference to two other prophets.  Micah also prophesied during this time.  He spoke of this Assyrian situation in Mic. 1:8-16.  He refers to several cities that were taken by the Assyrians, including Gath (Philistine city), Lachish and Moresheth Gath.  The cities he mentions were in the Judean hill country and the lowland, although the exact locations do not exist for several of them. The key part of the prophesy is that Micah says twice that trouble and disaster have come “to the gate of Jerusalem” (v9,12).  This would be a good time to return to “Sennacherib’s Prism” where the king detailed his successes in the invasion of Israel (we posted pictures of this in our 12/16/22 post).  He talked about taking many captives and destroying fortified cities.  And then he said concerning Jerusalem, “He (Hezekiah) himself I locked up in Jerusalem his royal city, like a bird in a cage.”  Every time I read that I want to laugh out loud!  Sennacherib spoke accurately but twisted the truth.  He never did enter the city.

The other prophet is Nahum.  He predicted the fall of Assyria.  In Nah. 1:14 he says of Assyria, The LORD has given command concerning you: ‘Your name shall be perpetuated no longer.  Out of the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the molded image.  I will dig your grave, for you are vile.’  God will always glorify Himself and He will not share His glory with any other so-called ‘god’ because they are not gods.  I see this fulfilled in the death of Sennacherib.

·       2 Ki. 19:35-37: God’s word fulfilled.

First, the LORD devastated the army of the Assyrians, 185,000 in one night.  Then Sennacherib went home, having never entered Jerusalem.  And then two of his sons killed him while he was worshiping in the temple of his gods.  That is what Nahum said.  The LORD would be glorified by the weakness of Assyria’s gods.  How weak these gods who cannot even protect their man in their own house.