In Isaiah, chapter thirty-seven, verse twenty, for all the kingdoms of the earth may know that the land under the protection of Yahweh would be saved, and all the nations would know that it could not be by the power of an idol. The desire of Hezekiah was not primarily that of his own personal safety or the safety of his kingdom. It was that Yahweh might vindicate His great and holy name from reproach, and that the world might know that He was the only true God. A supreme regard for the glory of God that influenced King Hezekiah in his prayers. It is primarily that the name of God may be honored, and eventually, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, strangers, our enemies, and ourselves will be saved.
Perhaps there could have been furnished no more striking proof that Yahweh was the true God than would be by the defeat of Sennacherib. No other nation had been able to resist the Assyrian arms. The great power of that empire was now concentrated in the single army of Sennacherib. He was coming with great confidence of success. He was approaching the city devoted to Yahweh – the city where the temple was, and the city and people that were everywhere understood to be under His protection.
The affairs of the world had arrived at a crisis, and the time had come when the great Yahweh could strike a blow which would be felt on all nations, and carry the terror of His name, and the report of His power throughout the earth. God intended that his power should be felt, that monarchs and people who arrayed themselves against Him, and blasphemed Him, should have a striking demonstration that came from God, and that none of the devices of His enemies could succeed.