The Assyrians Get a Taste of the Messenger of Yahweh (#16 in Yahweh and the Angel of Yahweh)
As the Messenger of Yahweh can inflict destruction on Israel when they sin, He can also inflict destruction on the enemies of Israel.
When Assyria came to Jerusalem on a rampage of destruction, having subdued all of Israel to the north, Jerusalem’s defeat seemed imminent. But Hezekiah, the king of Judah, prayed to Yahweh and Yahweh prevented Assyria from besieging Jerusalem.
35 That night the Messenger of Yahweh went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh. (2 Kings 19:35,36)
20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven, 21 and Yahweh sent a messenger who annihilated every valiant warrior, leader, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria returned in disgrace to his land. He went to the temple of his god, and there some of his own children struck him down with the sword. (2 Chronicles 32:20,21)
36 Then the Messenger of Yahweh went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! 37 So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh. (Isaiah 37:36,37)
The psalmist tells us in Psalm 34:
4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him and saved him from all his troubles. 7 The Messenger of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.
And in Psalm 35:
4 Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and humiliated; let those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed. 5 Let them be like chaff in the wind, with the Messenger of Yahweh driving them away. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the Messenger of Yahweh pursuing them.
Will the Messenger of Yahweh protect us from our enemies today? Do you mean Jesus?
About the Author
Randall Johnson
A full-time pastor since 1979, Randall originally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) in 1979 and from Reformed Theological Seminary (DMin) in 1998. He is married with four grown children and a pile of epic grandchildren.
