Today's first reading tells the story of King Hezekiah of Judah, who is facing a severe threat from the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. Sennacherib is confident that Jerusalem will fall to him, and he taunts Hezekiah, saying that the gods of Israel are just like the idols of other nations that his people have conquered. But Hezekiah turns to God, praying in the Temple, and asking for protection and salvation. God sends one, just one angel, to vanquish an army of close to two hundred thousand men.