2 Chronicles 32:20 Cross References - NSB

²⁰ King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, prayed about this and called to heaven.

² He sent Eliakim the official in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the senior priests to the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. They also were dressed in sackcloth. ³ They said to him: »This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day filled with misery, punishment, and disgrace. We are like a woman who is about to give birth but does not have the strength to do it. ⁴ »‘The Assyrian emperor sent his chief official to insult the living God. May Jehovah your God hear these insults and punish those who spoke them. So pray to God for those of our people who survive.’«

¹⁴ Hezekiah read the letters from the messengers. Then he went to Jehovah’s Temple and shared them with Jehovah. ¹⁵ He prayed: »Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, you are enthroned above the angels. You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. ¹⁶ »Turn your ear (listen) (pay attention) to me, O Jehovah, and listen. Open your eyes, Jehovah, and see. Listen to the message Sennacherib sent to defy the living God. ¹⁷ »It is true Jehovah. The kings of Assyria have devastated nations. ¹⁸ »They threw the gods from these countries into fires because these gods are not real gods. They are only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them. ¹⁹ »Rescue us from Assyria's control, O Jehovah our God, so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you alone are Jehovah God.«

¹¹ Asa prayed: »Jehovah, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. We depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name! We know that you will not be defeated. You are Jehovah our God. Do not let man prevail against you.«

⁶ He prayed aloud: »O Jehovah, God of our ancestors, you rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty. No one can oppose you. ⁷ »You are our God. When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, to be theirs from generation to generation. ⁸ »Our ancestors lived in this land and built a Temple to honor you. ⁹ »They believed that whenever this land is struck by war, judgement, disease, or famine, your people can pray to you at the Temple. You will hear their prayer and save them. ¹⁰ »You can see that the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Edom are attacking us! Those are the nations you would not let our ancestors invade on their way from Egypt. Consequently these nations were not destroyed. ¹¹ »They are now paying us back by coming to force us out of your land that you gave to us. ¹² »You are our God. Will you judge them? We do not have the strength to face this large crowd that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, so we are looking to you.«

¹⁵ »Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.«

¹⁴ Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name. ¹⁵ When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will deliver you and honor you.

¹ King Hezekiah heard it and he tore his clothes. He covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of Jehovah. ² Hezekiah sent Eliakim the palace administrator along with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. ³ They said to him: »Hezekiah says: ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke and rejection. Children have come to birth, and there is no strength to deliver. ⁴ »‘Perhaps Jehovah your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh. His master the king of Assyria has sent him to reproach the living God! He will rebuke the words Jehovah your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that survives.’«

¹⁴ Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. He went to the temple of Jehovah and spread it out before Jehovah. ¹⁵ Hezekiah prayed to Jehovah: ¹⁶ »O Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. ¹⁷ »Give ear, O Jehovah, and hear! Open your eyes, O Jehovah, and see! Listen to all the words Sennacherib said to insult the living God. ¹⁸ »It is true, Jehovah, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. ¹⁹ »They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them. But they were not gods! They were only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. ²⁰ »Now, O Jehovah our God, deliver us from his hand. That way all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Jehovah, are God.