Paul R. House: "Don't Mess With the Virgin's Protector"

I just recently finished Paul R. House's commentary on 1 and 2 Kings. Aside from being appropriately technical (actually citing relevant source material, a rarity in the commentary world) House is wonderfully warm and applicative.

As Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem, bent on destroying Hezekiah for his anti-Assyrian policy, Rabshekah, a messenger of Sennacherib, states to the listening mass of Jerusalem on behalf of Sennacherib,

Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, 'The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'...Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sephavarim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand? (2 Kgs. 18:28-35)

What is the problem with this? Indeed, Samaria fell with supposed trust in YHWH so why would not Jerusalem fall to Sennacherib? Had Hezekiah not turned to YHWH it seems likely that they would have fallen, but Hezekiah did turn to YHWH and the result is both miraculous and incredible: Assyria loses 185,000 men and fails in its attempt to make Hezekiah pay for his anti-Assyrian policies. God's response is clear enough through Isaiah the prophet,

This is the word that the Lord has spoken against [Sennacherib]: "The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you. The Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee. Who is it that you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!" (2 Kgs. 19:21-22)

Sennacherib wasn't messing with non-existent gods. Sennacherib was messing with YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, the Almighty Sovereign of the universe. House well notes,

God's response begins with the promise of a reversal of fortunes. Assyria has been oppressing Judah, and certainly expects to continue doing so. Their king has mocked Judah's king and Judah's God. But everything will soon change. Jerusalem is personified as a virgin daughter who tosses her head in disdain at the proud, once-powerful Assyrians, who believe they have made themselves great. Indeed they have been great, but their repuatation will not be "enhanced" by the rape of this virgin. Why? Because in insulting the virgin they have insulted the virgin's protector, who happens to rule the universe. (House 369-370)

Lesson? Don't mess with YHWH. Worship YHWH. Turn to YHWH in times of trouble because only YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, can deliver in the face of incredible opposition.

Loving the Sovereign with you friends,

R. D. Thompson