The Watchful Soldier
The following is a retelling of the account of the siege on Jerusalem by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib found in 2 Kings 18 - 19 & 2 Chronicles 29 – 32:23. At the time, Hezekiah was king of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians because of a treaty made by Hezekiah’s wicked father, King Ahaz. We are told that Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of God and walked, not as his father Ahaz but rather, as his “father” David. King Hezekiah encouraged Judah to turn back to the Lord and therefore against the sinful nation, Assyria. As a result, Sennacherib attacked and conquered many Judean cities and marched towards Jerusalem with intend of total annihilation. This is where we begin.
As Christian soldiers, it is hard to read the account without seeing our own Messiah King, Jesus. For further connection, find parallel passages within the article on asharedinheritance.com.
In the early morning, they stand watching. They are armed with weapons and shields recently made in abundance anticipating the coming army. They stand at the ready on a reinforced wall, made in haste (Ephesians 6:10-18). Though they are afraid, they stand with courage – the words of their commander and king still ringing in their ears, “Be strong and courageous!” (1Corinthians 16:13) They are faithful to their king for he has proven faithful both to them and their mighty God. Their king has torn down every high place, sacred stone, and wall of separation. He renewed the priesthood, cleansed the temple, and reclaimed a once hopeless remnant of a people. The king has reformed the Passover and united his kingdom through its celebration (Ephesians 2:13-18). He has reminded them of their heritage, history, and covenant with God the creator. After years of spiritual darkness, they are now standing with a new understanding, in truth (John 8:12). After generations of neglect, they celebrate deliverance through the sacrificial Passover lamb (Hebrews 10:12-14). They defied their enemy – the enemy of God – and there will be consequences. Once, they paid tribute – enslaved to a godless nation, but no more! (Hebrews 2:14-15) They will stand for what is good and right. Yes – they now know to whom they belong, and so the soldiers stand watching, waiting.
The adversary approaches the city with a great army (Ephesians 6:11-12). They are armed with iron daggers, flaming arrows, and curved jagged swords. Trained in war and wickedness, skilled in dismantling civilizations, they follow the self-proclaimed “king of the world.” (Luke 4:5-6) This is an army who has recently seen battle and brutality. An army who flayed, impaled, and decapitated men, women, and children. An army that lined the walls of sistering cities with the skins of their inhabitants. Lips that once sang praises to God during times of celebration are separated from the worshiper and disregarded in a heap. Eyes that had seen the cleansed temple are plucked out and scatter the ground of a once great city. Hands recently stained with blood from sacrifices to an almighty God, are now stained with the blood of their own children. This was the wicked army approaching – the army of chaos and confusion. And yet, in the heat of midday, the soldiers stand watching, faithful.
The enemy draws near and cries out to the holy city! But he cries not to the king – who cannot be won (Luke 4:1-12). Instead, his focus is on the newly reformed soldiers that line the wall of Zion. The enemy calls to them in a language they understand. He offers lies disguised as rewards, riches, and life (John 8:44). “You shall not surely die!” he spits as he mocks God and makes light of their covenant with their creator and savior. Like the lion symbolizing his nation, the wicked commander paces as he speaks, seeking whom he might devour (1 Peter 5:8). He questions their king and makes an effort to refute the loyalty and love they know to be true and constant. He threatens, retelling the accounts of those who have fallen to fiery darts and powers of death! Powers so wicked and vile, nothing like them has ever been seen in the world before. It is a convincing and enticing argument– but what is life without the priesthood? What purpose has man without God? The soldiers trust their king and remember the command, “Do not answer him.” And so, in the late afternoon, the soldiers stand watching, silent.
All the while, far from the city wall where the soldiers bear the threats of the enemy, within the great city, in the newly cleansed temple - their king communes with God. In the quiet sanctuary of the house where atonement is paid with the blood of the innocent, the king is petitioning for his people’s safety and souls (Hebrews 4:14-16). Unlike the soldiers, the king’s love for God has never faltered. This king, who has constantly walked in the way of his father David, not only gathered the sojourners and exiled to be a united people but has also connected them once more with the God who keeps His promises. The soldiers, who had once turned to the prince of darkness for a false salvation, are now faced with the consequence deserving of those who turn from God - the punishment that befell so many nations now gone. But the one and only God, because He is love, has sent a Messiah to be their King even when it is not deserved (Romans 8:1-4). It is this righteous king, the king who restored the priesthood, now prays fervently to the Creator in petition for life (Hebrews 7:23-26). And so, as their messiah king speaks with God at evening, the soldiers stand watching, ready.
Suddenly, out of the mouth of a prophet comes word of salvation, “He shall not come into this city!” The battle would not be won by any man - how could it possibly be against such mighty warriors? No – this victory is irrefutably a result of heavenly forces. (Romans 8:31-39) In the dead of night, while the wall is trimmed with watchful soldiers and the city full of those who sleep in sorrow, the angel of the Lord strikes down the wicked adversary. The armies, both good and evil, only need to wake to find the battle already over. It is the only loss this terrifying army has seen in their conquest of destruction. God had allowed the enemy its previous advances but now, in all His Power and Glory, God saves His holy city - for Himself and the line of David! The adversary retreats shamefully into gloomy darkness, understanding their foe! (2 Peter 2:4-10) They are beaten and driven away from the presence of the Lord.
Now, Mount Zion, the city on its high hill, is and will be forever a sign to all - both righteous and wicked. (Matthew 5:14-16) Once used as pawns by the enemy to show hatred for the king, the soldiers are now lights to the world! Once slaves to fear and death, the inhabitance of Zion share in the King’s glory! (Romans 8:15-17) They are proof of the living King and His victory! (1 Corinthians 15:54-58) And so, as a new day dawns, we soldiers stand watching, waiting and redeemed. (Hebrews 12:22-24)