2 Kings 19:29-37: a reflection

29“This will be the sign to you: This year, you will eat that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from that; and in the third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 30The remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 31For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go out, and out of Mount Zion those who shall escape. The LORD’s zeal will perform this. 32“Therefore the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there. He will not come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. 33He will return the same way that he came, and he will not come to this city,’ says the LORD. 34‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.’” 35That night, the LORD’s angel went out and struck one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 36So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went home, and lived at Nineveh. 37As he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.

When the boastful Assyrian army threatens Jerusalem, God promises to defend the city and destroy the invader, and he gives a striking reason: I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for my servant David's sake. And that night, the angel of the LORD strikes the vast Assyrian army, and Sennacherib returns home defeated, later to be killed. God defended his people and brought down the proud enemy, and the reason he gave was his own sake, his own name and glory, and his faithfulness to his promise to David.

Notice the ground of God's deliverance: for my own sake. God did not defend Jerusalem because its people had earned it by their righteousness, but for his own sake, his own name and glory, and for the sake of his promise. Their deliverance rested not on their worthiness but on God's commitment to his own name and his faithfulness to his word. He saved them for his own sake.

That is a deep and steadying ground for our own confidence. We might imagine that God's help and deliverance depend on our worthiness, that he will act for us only if we have earned it. But God acted for Jerusalem for his own sake, his own glory and faithfulness. And so with us: our security rests not on our worthiness, which is always insufficient, but on God's commitment to his own name and his faithfulness to his promises in Christ. When you doubt whether God will help you, feeling unworthy, remember that God acts for his own sake and his own glory, and is faithful to his word. Your security rests not on your worthiness but on his commitment to himself. He defends his own, for his own sake; rest in that.

Lord, when the Assyrian threatened Jerusalem, you promised to defend the city for your own sake and for your servant David's sake, and you struck down the proud enemy and delivered your people. Thank you that your deliverance rested not on their worthiness but on your own name and your faithfulness to your promise. Give me confidence grounded in that. I might imagine that your help depends on my worthiness, that you will act for me only if I have earned it. But you acted for Jerusalem for your own sake, your own glory and faithfulness. So my security rests not on my worthiness, which is always insufficient, but on your commitment to your own name and your faithfulness to your promises in Christ. When I doubt whether you will help me, feeling unworthy, remind me that you act for your own sake. You defend your own; help me rest in your faithfulness, not my worthiness.