When Sennacherib’s letter arrived demanding surrender, Hezekiah did not negotiate - he went to the temple and spread the threat before the LORD. Second Kings 19 is one of Scripture’s great prayer chapters - the story of a king under siege who brings his crisis directly to God, and watches God answer in a single night.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
When King Hezekiah heard it he tore his clothes Covered himself with sackcloth and went into the LORD’s house
He sent Eliakim who was over the household Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests Covered with sackcloth to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz They said to him Hezekiah says
Today is a day of trouble of rebuke and of rejection For the children have come to the point of birth And there is no strength to deliver them It may be the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh
Whom the king of Assyria his master has sent To defy the living God And will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left
Isaiah said Tell your master this The LORD says Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard With which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me Behold I will put a spirit in him
And he will hear news and will return to his own land I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers And read it Then Hezekiah went up to the LORD’s house And spread it before the LORD
Hezekiah prayed before the LORD LORD the God of Israel who are enthroned above the cherubim You are the God even you alone of all the kingdoms of the earth You have made heaven and earth
Incline your ear LORD and hear Open your eyes LORD and see Hear the words of Sennacherib Which he has sent to defy the living God
Listen
2 Kings 19 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.
Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press