2 Kings 19:1-13, Exalting the Name of the LORD

The Assyrians were arrogant in speaking of the God of Israel.  Their mistake was that they made God the issue.  “Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” (2 Ki. 18:32b-35).  The Rabshakeh was only concerned with making known the greatness of his king. 

King Hezekiah, on the other hand, was concerned with making known the greatness of his King, his God!  That put Hezekiah in the right place, because God, out of His love for mankind, wants to make His name known!

Jer. 32:20: You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, to this day, and in Israel and among other men; and You have made Yourself a name, as it is this day.

Isa. 64:1-2: Oh, that You would rend the heavens!  That You would come down!  That the mountains might shake at Your presence – as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil – to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence.

John 17:6,26: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world … And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

You might think that our God must be a bit egotistical.  But you would be wrong.  He does this because, Those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you (Ps. 9:10).  God is the Creator, and He is the only hope for sinners, those who live in rebellion against Him.  They need to know His name, who He is and what He requires of them, and how He loves them and has provided for their salvation.  There is great benefit for those who trust in His name:

Ps. 54:1: Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength.

Ps. 91:14: Because he has set his love upon Me, there I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

Ps. 124:8: Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Here’s what happened.  First, Hezekiah sent messengers to Isaiah, telling him the situation (2 Ki. 19:1-4).  Isaiah prophesied relief would come, and the Assyrians decided to leave Jerusalem.  But before leaving King Sennacherib sent Hezekiah a letter with more threats (19:5-13).  Hezekiah spread the letter out before the LORD, and prayed over it (19:14-19).  God responded in word (19:20-34), and His word was fulfilled (19:35-37).  We want to spend a little time on all this in future posts.  But the point now is that what Hezekiah did, after the Assyrians demeaned the LORD, was to exalt the name of the LORD.  Both made the LORD the issue.  The one who exalted the name of the LORD was the one who was helped!