Josiah: The Devoted King

2 Kings 22 (1-2)

 

This morning we return to our study of Kings

And we once again find one of the true gems of the book.

 

We are talking about Josiah.

2 Kings 23:25 “Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.”

 

We recently studied Hezekiah and saw that in regard to trust,

There was never another king like him.

 

But if you want to talk about kings who are devoted to God,

Then for that list we must crown Josiah.

 

And this morning as we study the life of Josiah,

• I want to show you what devotion to God looks like,

• I also want you to see the benefits of such devotion.

 

We can break this chapter down into 4 points.

#1 JOSIAH’S DEVOTION

2 Kings 22:1-2

 

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king,”

 

You would assume that a boy as young as Josiah

Would be an absolute push over, but he was not.

 

Furthermore we read that “he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.”

 

That of course means that he died at the age of 39.

(You will see why later)

 

Then we see the appraisal of Josiah.

(2) “He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.”

 

The interesting thing is that he ALWAYS did right.

He never strayed.

He never backslid.

He never got off course.

 

“nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.”

 

We find that statement frequently used

Both in the book of Deuteronomy and in the book of Joshua.

 

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left. “You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”

 

Joshua 1:7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.”

 

And there are many others.

 

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

 

That statement was a sort of figure of speech used in those days.

 

Listen to this passage which does not refer to obedience.

2 Samuel 2:19 “Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.”

 

And there we learn what the statement means.

It speaks of one who is focused.

 

It speaks of one who is not distracted from his calling or purpose.

 

Ann Richards said that George Bush, “He never gets off course.”

 

And that is what is true of Josiah in regard to obedience.

 

He was the epitome of one who walked the narrow way.

He never strayed.

He never got off course.

He never lost focus.

 

“nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.”

 

Josiah’s Devotion

#2 JOSIAH’S DISCOVERY

2 Kings 22:3-10

 

“Now in the eighteenth year of King Josiah,”

 

That means that the writer decided to skip everything

That happened in his reign prior to that point.

 

The writer of Chronicles fills in the gap.

2 Chronicles 34:1-3 “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images.”

At 16 years old he started seeking God.

At 20 years old he started removing idolatry.

 

But the writer of kings does not mention that here,

Not because it isn’t important,

But because the writer of kings has an obvious agenda.

 

HE IS MAKING A THEOLOGICAL POINT

 

He wanted you to know what happened during “the eighteenth year” When he was 26 years old.

 

READ VERSES 3-7

 

It is obvious that the temple had again fallen into disrepair.

That is no surprise given the type of king that Manasseh was.

 

For 55 years Manasseh had neglected the temple and even desecrated it, And so it was obviously in need of repair.

 

And so Josiah sets out to restore the temple.

 

But it is during this venture to restore the temple

That a marvelous and unexpected thing occurred.

 

READ VERSES 8-10

 

While the temple cleaning and renovations are underway,

The high priest came across something that had been apparently missing

 

“I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.”

 

God’s word had disappeared.

(Many assume Manasseh had destroyed them)

 

And that helps us to understand the miserable state of Judah.

 

Here was a nation with no access to God’s written word.

 

Certainly the prophets were still available.

We know Isaiah had been preaching,

And presently Zephaniah, and Jeremiah were preaching.

 

But His written revelation had been lost

To the king, the priest, and to the people.

No wonder the nation was sliding so quickly into judgment.

 

But now the book of the Law has been discovered,

And the scribe has taken it and read it to the king.

IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY WHICH BOOK WAS FOUND.

(Based on the text, many have assumed it was the book of Deuteronomy)

 

Deuteronomy 28:15-20 “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. “Cursed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. “Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. “The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken Me.”

 

Deuteronomy 28:45-48 “So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. “They shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever. “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.”

 

• It was Deuteronomy that explicitly prohibited worship on the high places.

• It was Deuteronomy that explicitly prohibited worship of other gods.

• It was Deuteronomy that explicitly prohibited living like the pagan nations.

 

And it was Deuteronomy that outlined the specific judgments

One could expect to receive if any of those commands were violated.

 

In fact Deuteronomy even gave this pointed invitation.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

 

And it was this type of warning that had been read to Josiah.

 

And please realize that this was the first time

Josiah ever heard the written word of God.

 

Although he had sought God and even began to remove idolatry,

He had never had the privilege of reading God’s Word.

 

Josiah had discovered God’s Word.

 

Josiah’s Devotion, Josiah’s Discovery

#3 JOSIAH’S DECISION

2 Kings 22:11-13

(11) “When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.”

 

It was a sign of utter contempt.

(Men would tear their clothes when they thought God had been blasphemed)

 

Josiah is torn apart by what he is hearing.

It is obvious to him that Judah has neglected the warnings of God.

 

This was a man who heard God’s word and headed it.

 

And we are reminded of the type of heart we must have

When we read the Word of God.

 

So many of us read God’s Word with an eye to self-justification.

We apply all the good stuff to ourselves

And all the bad stuff to other people.

 

When God’s word condemns sin in someone else’s life we give a hearty “Thus saith the Lord!”

 

When God’s word condemns sin in our own lives we say, “I just don’t understand what God is trying to say.”

 

But Josiah reveals the way a heart should read God’s word.

He and all Israel were condemned by what the Law said,

And Josiah offered no excuses.

 

James 1:19-25 “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

 

2 Peter 1:19-21 “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

 

That was the heart of Josiah.

He decided to humble himself under God’s Word.

 

(12-13) “Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

 

Josiah knew that he and all Judah were in grave danger.

God’s word said that God was angry and Josiah believed it.

 

THAT IS WHAT DEVOTION TO GOD AND HIS WORD LOOKS LIKE

 

Josiah’s Devotion, Josiah’s Discovery, Josiah’s Decision

#4 JOSIAH’S DELIVERANCE

2 Kings 22:14-20

 

The first thing that most people immediately notice is that

These men when to a prophet and that the prophet was a woman.

 

It’s hardly significant to the story, but some will ask me about it later.

 

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN PREACHERS?

 

The fact that God spoke through this women

Has absolutely no bearing on the fact that in the New Testament

He forbids women to teach or have authority over men in the church.

 

Can God speak through women?

Obviously.

 

Does God speak through women?

Obviously.

 

But that doesn’t change the command as to leadership in the church.

 

Don’t let this be one of those incidents that allows you to

Dismantle one truth because you think you have found a different one.

 

The point here is that Josiah sought God and God answered.

 

And the immediate answer is expected.

VERSES 15-17

 

That answer is absolutely expected.

She reveals a coming judgment that cannot be undone.

 

WHY IS THAT EXPECTED?

Because that is what the book said would happen.

 

If she had stood up and negated the judgment that God had clearly said would happen in Deuteronomy then she would have been a false prophet.

Instead she confirmed God’s written word as true.

(16) “Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book”

 

God’s prophets don’t have a right to undo what God’s word says.

They enforce it.

If they don’t, then they are not true prophets.

 

Judah had worshiped other gods, followed the pattern of the nations,

And worshiped on the high places.

 

God’s word said that if you do those things you will perish

And be removed from the land.

 

And so, that is precisely what will happen.

 

It is a sobering reminder to us of the authority of God’s word

And that God always honors His word.

 

Isaiah 55:11 “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

 

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

 

When Jesus arrived He said:

Matthew 5:18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

 

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

 

If God’s word says it, don’t go looking for some

New fangled prophet that will tell you otherwise.

 

God’s word stands forever.

And therefore this woman’s message is not surprising.

 

“But” Her message is not finished.

 

VERSES 18-20

 

Because Judah had sinned against God, Judah had to be destroyed.

National judgment was coming.

 

However individuals could still be saved

If they would humble themselves under God’s mighty hand.

 

Josiah did not stop the judgment that God had promised,

But Josiah did deliver himself.

(20) “Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.”

 

I told you when we got started that I wanted to show you

What devotion to God looked like.

 

I think we have seen that in Josiah.

He humbled himself under God’s word.

 

But I also wanted to show you the benefits of devotion to God

And here we see that as well.

 

You and I must understand that there is a judgment coming.

• God’s Word has promised that judgment is coming.

• God’s Word has promised that the elements will be destroyed.

• God’s Word has promised that during the battle of Armageddon the blood will run in the streets for a distance of 300 miles.

 

The judgment is coming.

And there is not a thing you can do to stop that from happening.

God’s Word spoke it and so it must be done.

 

BUT

You can personally be delivered from that coming judgment

If you will humble yourself under the Word of God like Josiah did.

 

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.”

 

Jesus taught us that those who not only heard His word

But who acted on it would be delivered through the coming judgment.

 

Consider what the Psalmist said.

Psalms 19:7-14 “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”

I love his question.

“Who can discern his errors?”

 

He is saying that it is not possible for me to know

All the areas that I may be displeasing to God.

 

And isn’t that true with Josiah.

He didn’t know just how much danger Judah was in

Until God’s word revealed it.

 

God’s Word is a great resource made available to us

That can be used in our life in all circumstances.

 

GOD’S WORD IS ALWAYS RELEVANT

 

Let me illustrate that for you this morning.

TURN TO: PSALMS 119

 

But when you read each section you also find that

Each section finds the writer in a different emotional state.

 

And in each and every state he finds himself in,

He still recognizes that seeking God’s word is the answer.

 

(25-32) – From a broken man in the midst of repentance

(33-40) – From a heart that seeks to be more committed to God

(57-64) – From a heart that recently recommitted to God

(65-72) – From a heart recently disciplined by God’s word

(73-80) – From a heart in agony waiting on God

(81-88) – From a discouraged heart

(97-104) – From a heart that has heard from God and experienced victory

(145-152) – From a heart desperate for God

(169-176) – From a heart longing to return to God

 

It doesn’t matter if you are sad, happy,

Discouraged, or on top of the world.

The thing to do when in any of those states is to seek God’s word.

 

There is ALWAYS blessing found in seeking God’s word

And in applying it to your life, and in obeying what it says.

 

Josiah did not stop the judgment, but he did deliver himself.

 

And so it is for you.

You will not stop the judgment, but you can deliver yourself.

 

God’s Word is clear.

Romans 10:8-13 “But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

 

Psalms 1 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”

 

God’s word gives the outline

For how you can be delivered from the coming judgment.

 

Josiah followed that outline.

• When God’s word said he was a sinner he humbled himself.

• When God’s word told him he was wrong he repented.

• And when he realized God was angry, he sought Him ought.

 

And God responded!

(19-20) “because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD. “Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.”

 

This morning I encourage you to devote yourself like Josiah did.

Be devoted to God and His word.

Do not stray to the right or to the left.

 

For there is blessing found in obeying God’s Word.

 

 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

 

Manasseh: The Influential King

2 Kings 21:1-26 (1-6)

 

This morning we move on to the study of a new king.

We actually see a couple of them in our text.

 

We have just left the reign of Hezekiah,

Who as far as faith was concerned, was second to none.

 

Hezekiah trusted God, and as a result of his faith saw the deliverance of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib and the Assyrian army.

 

But as you remember, during Hezekiah’s reign

He did make one massive mistake.

 

At a point of ease, and a point of security,

Hezekiah didn’t trust God as much as he should have,

And it opened him up to the sin of pride.

 

He had just been healed, and even promised 15 years of life.

He had just been promised deliverance from the Assyrian army.

He had just witnessed God work a miracle on his behalf.

And he was starting to experience world-wide recognition.

 

So when the Babylonian envoy arrived, the Chronicler said that

God left him alone to test him,

in order that He might know all that was in his heart.

 

And the sad reality is that while Hezekiah was a good king

On that day he was filled with pride and self-exaltation.

 

That sinful arrogance led to a promise

That one day Jerusalem and all Judah would be destroyed

And that even some of Hezekiah’s sons would be led into captivity.

 

We no sooner witnessed the deliverance from Assyria,

And the writer immediately introduced the coming judgment of Babylon.

 

(This was not only to reveal how the whole Babylon thing got started, but also to remind us to seek God during the good times as well as the bad.)

 

Today, the event God promised Hezekiah is officially set in motion

 

For just as Hezekiah was 180 degrees different from his day (Ahaz)

So Manasseh is 180 degrees different from Hezekiah.

 

And he is going to do everything he can

To make sure God hurries in His promise to wipe out Judah.

 

You could call Manasseh, “The Straw that broke the camel’s back”.

 

The total judgment of Judah would not be all his fault,

But if it was at all in doubt before his reign, it certainly was not afterwards.

He was a wicked king.

 

I have chosen to call him “The Influential King”

For as we study this text you will see that few people

Ever had the influence on others that Manasseh had.

 

And that is not necessarily a good thing.

 

But before we dive into our text,

I wonder if you have ever thought about

The role that influence plays in your life.

 

Scripture has much to say about it.

 

We are told to watch out for the influence of the wicked.

Mark 8:15 “And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

 

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

 

Galatians 5:7-9 “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.”

 

We are told to yield to the influence of the righteous.

Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”

 

1 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.”

 

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

 

And so we know that we are to be on guard

Against the various influences around us.

 

But what I want you to think about even more than that

Is the influence you have on the lives around you.

 

You may not realize it, but you are an influential person.

People watch you.

 

And Scripture is very clear

That you are to take this responsibility seriously.

 

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

 

Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”

 

1 Peter 2:11-12 “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

 

We could also talk about

How a godly woman influences her lost husband through her respectful behavior.

How a godly mother influences her children through her faith, love, and sanctity.

How a slave influences his master through his willing obedience.

 

Over and over we get the understanding

That we have a tremendous ability to influence the lives of others.

 

We can even stand judgment if we use our ability to influence wrongly.

 

Matthew 18:6-7 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

 

You must realize that how you live your life

Effects the way others live their lives.

 

And this morning I want you to see just how serious that can be

As we see an example of a man who influenced a whole nation.

 

We are talking about the king Manasseh.

#1 HIS INIQUITY

2 Kings 21:1-6

 

1) HIS INIQUITY DELCARED (1-2)

 

If you had any doubts as to where Manasseh stood before the Lord,

The writer of kings clarified it here.

 

(2) “He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel.”

 

Time and time again as Moses was preparing the Israelites to take the Promised Land, he spoke a word of warning.

Deuteronomy 12:1-4 “These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully observe in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth.”You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. “You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place. “You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God.”

 

Deuteronomy 12:29-30 “When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’

 

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 “When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. “For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you.”

 

If those nations has been pleasing to God,

He would not be destroying them.

 

God did not want His people imitating their lifestyle.

However we find here that this is exactly what Manasseh did.

 

“He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel.”

 

First you see His Iniquity Declared

2) HIS INIQUITY DESCRIBED (3-6)

 

It seems as though Manasseh was systematic and thorough.

One could argue that he systematically and thoroughly

Rejected the Law of God.

 

It’s almost like he purposely stuck his finger in God’s eye.

 

And so the writer of kings just says:

(6) “He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger.”

 

This was a wicked king.

 

That was his INIQUITY

#2 HIS INFLUENCE

2 Kings 21:7-26

 

For anyone who has ever thought that my sin only hurts me,

I am afraid to tell you that you are gravely mistaken.

For this man was indeed a sinner,

But allow me to show you just how far his influence spread.

 

In these verses we find three things that Manasseh influenced.

1) HE INFLUENCED THE WORSHIP OF THE PEOPLE (7-9)

 

We read up in verse 3 that he made an Asherah,

Now we read that he placed in the temple of God.

 

He was setting this idol up as something to be worshiped in Jerusalem,

So he placed it in the premier worship site.

 

And just to make sure you and I understand the problem

The writer here reminds us of God’s policy on the matter.

 

(7b-8) “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of the Israel, I will put My name forever. And I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.”

 

We are emphatically reminded that God was pleased to give the land,

So long as the people always remembered who was their God.

 

They were to love and serve Him only.

This was clear throughout the Law of God.

 

(9) “But they did not listen”

 

Despite the fact that God was extremely clear about things such as idolatry, and worship on the high places, and witchcraft, and passing your sons through the fire.

 

The people of Jerusalem didn’t listen.

 

That seems strange.

• It was their parents who (under the leadership of Hezekiah) tore down the high places.

• It was their parents who tore down the Asherah.

• It was their parents who tore down that bronze serpent.

• It was their parents who trusted God and saw Assyria defeated.

 

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THESE PEOPLE NOW BE SO NEGLIGENT OF GOD’S WORD?

 

(9) “But they did not listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel.”

They did evil because “Manasseh seduced them”

 

Just like Satan in the garden with Eve, Manasseh made his sin look fun.

He made worshiping the Asherah look like a good time.

He made witchcraft, and spiritists, and divination look like fun.

 

He influenced the people into sin.

 

And all of a sudden we are seeing that “SIN SPLATTERS”

 

There is no way for you to simply participate in sin

And it not affect the lives of others.

 

What a shame when it is something wicked and sinful

As in the case of Manasseh.

 

Let me read to you again:

Matthew 18:6-7 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!”

 

Manasseh didn’t just fall into sin, he led a nation into it.

 

He Influenced the Worship of the People

2) HE INFLUENCED THE WRATH OF GOD (10-18)

 

We already read in verse 6 “He did evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger.”

 

The writer brings clarity to that statement here.

Manasseh influenced the wrath of God.

 

(11-12) “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols; therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.”

 

Because of what Manasseh has done, I’m going to judge you so hard,

That just to hear about it will make your ears burn.

 

Of course you and I know he is talking about Babylon.

 

Habakkuk 1:5-6 “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days — You would not believe if you were told. “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.”

 

WHAT IS GOD GOING TO DO?

 

(13-14) “I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. ‘I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they will become as plunder and spoil to all their enemies;”

 

DID YOU CATCH THE 3 “I WILL’S” FROM GOD?

 

“I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab”

 

That means the plumb line I used to judge Israel, I will now use on you.

The judgment I poured out on Ahab, I will pour out on you.

 

“I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.”

That is a total and complete annihilation.

 

“I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies”

 

And in that day when you are being destroyed,

I will be nowhere to be found.

 

IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT MANASSEH ANGERED GOD?

 

(15-16) “because they have done evil in My sight, and have been provoking Me to anger since the day their fathers came from Egypt, even to this day.'” Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.”

 

And there again we see, it wasn’t all Manasseh,

But he was definitely the straw that broke the camel’s back.

 

God was on the edge of judgment,

And Manasseh influenced Him to go ahead and pour it out.

 

And just to make sure that you understand the severity of God’s decision, let me give you JUST A TAD BIT MORE INSIGHT.

 

After Manasseh there is coming another righteous king.

His name is Josiah.

 

Josiah will reinstitute God’s Law, and again reinstate the Passover,

And have a great revival in Judah.

And we would expect that because of the great revival that God would reverse His decision to completely wipe out Jerusalem.

 

However:

2 Kings 23:24-26 “Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. However, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.”

 

Even the revival of Josiah would not undo this.

 

If you want to see another picture.

During the reign of Josiah and after him,

There will be a prophet preaching his heart out in Jerusalem.

 

That prophet’s name is Jeremiah.

He is known as the weeping prophet because of the many tears he shed for God’s people as he interceded for them.

 

But on one occasion God let Jeremiah know

That his intercession would not work.

 

WHY?

Jeremiah 15:1-4 “Then the LORD said to me, “Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not be with this people; send them away from My presence and let them go! “And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those destined for death, to death; And those destined for the sword, to the sword; And those destined for famine, to famine; And those destined for captivity, to captivity.”‘ “I will appoint over them four kinds of doom,” declares the LORD: “the sword to slay, the dogs to drag off, and the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. “I will make them an object of horror among all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.”

 

And then, on that day when Nebuchadnezzar

Finally approached Jerusalem to destroy it.

 

God reminds them why.

2 Kings 24:1-4 “In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years; then he turned and rebelled against him. The LORD sent against him bands of Chaldeans, bands of Arameans, bands of Moabites, and bands of Ammonites. So He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken through His servants the prophets. Surely at the command of the LORD it came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; and the LORD would not forgive.”

Is it safe to say that Manasseh made God angry?

 

And you need to understand that about sin as well.

 

When we sin, it not only affects our lives and the lives of others, but don’t fail to recognize that sin influences the wrath of God.

 

So many people want to act like their sin

Either goes UNNOTICED or UNPUNISHED, but neither is the case.

 

Romans 2:5-6 “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:”

 

For those who have never been forgiven

Through the salvation of Jesus,

You need to understand that every sin you commit,

Is just pushing God that much further towards judgment.

 

Through your negligence, and defiance, and disobedience, and rejection,

You are taunting God.

 

You may not realize it, but you are an influential person.

 

Manasseh was as well.

He Influenced the worship of the people He Influenced the wrath of God

3) HE INFLUENCED THE WALK OF HIS SON (19-26)

 

It is evident in studying this next king Amon,

That the writer of kings has little to say about him.

 

However, the one thing he does mention over and over

Is how this boy was also influenced by his father.

 

(20) “He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done”

 

(21) “For he walked in all the way that his father had walked”

 

And the result of this was:

(22) “So he forsook the LORD, the God of his father, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.”

 

And God poured out wrath on him as well

By having him killed in the second year of his reign.

 

And there we learn of yet another area of our influence

And that is the influence we have over our children.

Do you find it strange that most of you worship the God of your parents?

Do you find it strange that many of you attend the church of your parents?

 

It certainly was in Amon’s life.

He did what his father did.

 

And because of that influence,

Manasseh’s influence continued even after his death.

 

Think about that for a moment.

Manasseh is dead and he is still bringing judgment upon Judah.

 

And by the way a good influence can have similar results.

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.”

 

YOUR INFLUENCE IS CONTINUAL

 

And this morning I hope you see

How important it is that you use it properly.

 

I would negligent if I didn’t tell you that in 2 Chronicles 33:10-17,

The writer reveals that God punishes Manasseh

And carries him to Babylon where he repents.

 

And therefore God sends him back to Jerusalem

Where he drastically tries to undo what he has done.

 

But to no avail:

2 Chronicles 33:16-17 “He set up the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it; and he ordered Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places, although only to the LORD their God.”

 

INFLUENCE IS A STRONG THING, AND AN ENDURING THING!

 

The main point to this story is still the same As in all the book of kings

And that is the importance of seeking and trusting God.

It matters in your life, and the in the lives of others.

 

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

 

“Introducing Babylon”

2 Kings 20:1-21

 

We just finished our study of one of

The greatest deliverances recorded in all of Scripture.

 

The Assyrian power had been making its way through the entire region, Conquering, Pillaging and Exporting people into a foreign land.

 

This conquest had even claimed the northern kingdom of Israel.

 

Such domination had even prompted the leaders of Assyria to say:

2 Kings 18:33-34 “Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? ‘Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?”

 

The king of Assyria was conquering

And thus far no one had been able to stop him.

 

So it was only a matter of time until this army set its sights

On Judah and Jerusalem.

 

Sennacherib swept into Judah, destroying their walled cities

And pillaging all the villages until he finally reached to “the neck”.

 

Sennacherib was ready to destroy Jerusalem

And lead her away into captivity as well.

 

But this set the stage for a great deliverance.

 

Hezekiah determined to trust God, and God did not fail him.

2 Kings 19:32-37 “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it. “By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city,”‘ declares the LORD. ‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.'” Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh. It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.”

 

It was truly one of the most unlikely and spectacular

Moments of deliverance that we see in all the Bible.

 

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

 

But this week we move on to a new story.

 

And it is one that can certainly cause a person

To scratch their head and wonder what the point is.

For when you read this text, you quickly realize that

The writer is backing up in time to pull this story from the past.

 

(Vs. 6) “I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

 

So obviously this story occurred before the retreat and ruin of Assyria.

 

(Vs. 13) “Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and the house of his armor and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.”

 

Also occurred before Hezekiah sent all the gold to Sennacherib.

 

And so we quickly realize that this is not a story

That follows the chronological order of things.

 

Rather this is an account that the writer previously skipped over.

But now one that he determines to go back and revisit for us.

 

That means that while this story

Had no bearing on the point of the writer to trust God,

It is a story that was too significant for us to completely overlook.

 

And what we have here is one main point,

And the events that lead up to it.

 

Lets first look at our text, and then we will discover the point.

#1 IT STARTED WITH A SICKNESS

2 Kings 20:1-7

 

First of all we learn that Hezekiah had developed a serious sickness,

And it was one that was about to take his life.

 

Isaiah comes not to deliver a prophecy, but a warning

That since he is about to die, he needs to get his house in order.

 

Hezekiah responded in expected fashion.

 

(Vs. 2-3) “Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.”

 

There is no need to see his prayer as Phariseeistic or self-righteous.

Hezekiah was simply relating to God

That he had lived his life as a devoted servant.

(That is certainly true if this is before even his bad decision to send wealth to Assyria).

 

He realizes that he is about to face death and judgment

And so at this point it is important to him to bring to light

That he has been devoted to God.

 

When any man sets his mind to prepare himself for death,

He would do well to examine if his walk has been

One of truth, commitment, and obedience.

 

You also should not let it bother you that Hezekiah wept bitterly.

 

The concept of the afterlife

Was much more foreign to the saints of old than it is to you and me.

 

Many saw Sheol as a less than pleasant place to be.

 

Isaiah reveals Hezekiah’s theology on the subject.

Isaiah 38:9-20 “A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery: I said, “In the middle of my life I am to enter the gates of Sheol; I am to be deprived of the rest of my years.” I said, “I will not see the LORD, The LORD in the land of the living; I will look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world. “Like a shepherd’s tent my dwelling is pulled up and removed from me; As a weaver I rolled up my life. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me. “I composed my soul until morning. Like a lion — so He breaks all my bones, From day until night You make an end of me. “Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security. “What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. “O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live! “Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. “For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. “It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today; A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness. “The LORD will surely save me; So we will play my songs on stringed instruments All the days of our life at the house of the LORD.”

 

It appeared to him that death was the end,

And that once it occurred then the opportunity to serve and praise God

Was over.

 

Hezekiah wanted to live, and he took this burden to God.

 

We then see that God immediately answered him.

(VERSES 4-7)

 

And the response gives and great indication

Of the compassionate heart of God.

“I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you.”

He then lets Hezekiah know that in three days

He will be well enough to return to the temple to worship,

And God also throws in another interesting tid-bit.

 

“I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;”

 

And so it certainly proved to be a compassionate

And gracious response from God on Judah’s behalf.

 

Hezekiah would be healed and Assyria would be defeated.

 

And then Isaiah gave the prescription.

(7) “Take a cake of figs.” And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.”

 

Many commentators have pointed out that God healed Hezekiah,

And that he used medicine to do it.

 

And there are certainly many interesting things

That could be said about that wonderful miracle,

But the writer only uses it, because it was that incident

That set this very important chain of events in motion.

 

It all Started with a Sickness

#2 THE SICKNESS RESULTED IN A SIGN

2 Kings 20:8-11

 

And of course there in verse 8 we see the link.

 

God had promised to heal Hezekiah, which He eventually did,

But apparently before that healing had actually occurred,

Hezekiah asked for a sign.

 

Think whatever you will about Hezekiah for doing this,

The writer doesn’t indicate whether it was a good or bad decision.

 

Certainly Jesus condemned those in the New Testament for doing so:

“A wicked and evil generation seeks after a sign”

 

But many in the Old Testament did seek them without reproach.

In fact Hezekiah’s father (Ahaz) was rebuked for not seeking one.

 

So it doesn’t appear that Hezekiah is necessarily in the wrong.

Furthermore we see that God didn’t seem to mind.

 

(VERSES 9-11)

 

Some have supposed that God actually temporarily reversed the rotation of the earth. Some have supposed that God just altered the reflection of the sun.

This is a certified miracle.

(It altered the course of nature)

 

And so you see the progression of the story.

 

It Started with a Sickness

The Sickness resulted in a Sign

#3 THE SIGN LED TO A SIN

2 Kings 20:12-13

 

You will notice that the occurrence of this sign

Was news that spread far and wide.

 

(12) “At that time Berodach-baladan a son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick.”

 

And that is true, but it is only part of the reason.

2 Chronicles 32:31 “Even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.”

 

The Chronicler revealed the true motive of the king of Babylon.

He had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

He also heard that he was miraculously healed.

And no doubt he heard about the sign that accompanied his healing.

 

Sent messengers to “inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land,”

 

This sign was a big deal, it actually made Hezekiah world famous.

 

And that is the start of the problem.

Many good men have been corrupted with just a little fame.

You may remember that even Solomon had a difficult time handling it.

 

But none the less, Hezekiah is now famous

And the king of Babylon has sent an envoy to check it out.

 

(13) “Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house…”

 

Isaiah says:

Isaiah 39:2a “Hezekiah was pleased, and showed them all his treasure house…”

 

That indicates to us that when the envoys came

They had exercised a certain amount of flattery on Hezekiah.

 

And the problem was that all of their flattery went to Hezekiah’s head.

 

And that gave him an opportunity to show off a little bit.

(VS 13) “Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and the house of his armor and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.”

And so Hezekiah soaked up the flattery

And decided to bask in his own glow for a little while.

 

SO WHAT WAS THE SIN?

 

Well certainly you see the pride, but in case it is unclear,

Listen to what the Chronicler had to say.

 

2 Chronicles 32:24-25 “In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the LORD, and the LORD spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.”

 

We learn now that God did not have a problem with an envoy

Nor did God have a problem with Hezekiah showing them the treasure.

 

But it is apparent that instead of giving all the credit to God

Hezekiah accepted all the praise and glory for himself.

 

He walked in pride.

He walked in arrogance.

 

They told him he was great, and he believed them,

And forgot to mention that it was God who made him great.

“therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.”

 

And that is not inconsistent with God.

 

When Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself:

Daniel 4:30-33 “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’ “Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.”

 

When Herod exalted himself:

Acts 12:21-23 “On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.”

When Pharaoh exalted himself:

Ezekiel 29:8-9 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will bring upon you a sword and I will cut off from you man and beast. “The land of Egypt will become a desolation and waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine, and I have made it,’”

 

When Sennacherib exalted himself:

Isaiah 10:15-19 “Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood. Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors; And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame. And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, And it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day. And He will destroy the glory of his forest and of his fruitful garden, both soul and body, And it will be as when a sick man wastes away. And the rest of the trees of his forest will be so small in number That a child could write them down.”

 

Time and time again we are reminded

That God shares His glory with no one.

 

And so it is no surprise to us that when Hezekiah exalted himself

That he was promised the same fate.

Jerusalem and Judah would be destroyed.

 

The Chronicler did go on however to mention:

2 Chronicles 32:26 “However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.”

 

So at least Hezekiah did humble himself,

But the damage had already been done.

 

It Started with a Sickness

The Sickness Resulted in a Sign

The Sign led to a Sin

#4 THE SIN RESULTED IN A SENTENCE

2 King 20:14-21

 

We already read the account of the Chronicler,

But here is the account of the writer of Kings.

 

Isaiah came and questioned Hezekiah as to what the messengers wanted,

And Hezekiah told Isaiah everything.

 

This brought about God’s announcement of judgment.

(VERSES 17-18)

 

God promised to give all this great wealth into the hands of Babylon.

 

And of course we just learned that the only reason it happened later

And not immediately is because Hezekiah humbled himself.

That humility can still be seen in response to this judgment.

 

(19) “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”

 

Some see this as an arrogant statement from a complacent man.

I think that is misreading this.

 

This is indicated by four little words.

 

Hezekiah first says that it is good.

Then he says, “Is it not so..?”

 

When he responded that the news was good I imagine every court official

Looked at him like he had lost his mind.

 

So he responds, “Is it not so..?”

 

• For that at least meant that Assyria would not conquer them.

• That at least meant that they had a few more years in the land.

• That at least meant that they could enjoy a little more peace.

 

It was indeed bad news, but Hezekiah found the silver lining.

He was taking his thoughts captive.

 

He was finding reason to rejoice.

He was submitting under the hand of God.

 

And then the text concludes with some of the other noteworthy events of Hezekiah’s reign.

 

But what we have here is the writer revealing to us

What events led up to the coming judgment through Babylon.

That is why I called this sermon “Introducing Babylon”

 

The reason the writer went back and mentioned this incident

Is because it explains to us how and why Babylon came into the picture.

 

AND SO WHAT IS THE POINT?

 

We must remember that the book of Kings

Was written sometime during the last half of the Babylonian exile.

 

The last event recorded in the book of Kings occurs during the 37th year of the exile (which lasted 70 years) but does not include the return to Jerusalem.

 

This indicates the date of the book

To be sometime during the last half of the exile.

It further indicates to us that the writer most likely was among the exiles since he is certainly aware of events that occurred while in Babylon.

 

That alone helps us to understand the writer’s passion.

 

Here is a man who is living in exile in Babylon.

• He was either ripped out of Jerusalem and dragged to exile.

• Or he was born in Babylon, having never seen the promised land.

 

And now he writes this historical account

To reveal how such a horrific thing can occur.

 

Furthermore he writes to future generations

To warn them not to make the same mistakes of their forefathers.

 

Now you know why the writer puts such an emphasis on

“The Importance of Seeking and Trusting God”.

 

It was Israel’s failure to do these things

That landed him and his brothers in Babylon.

 

And in order to continue his point, after we see Assyria destroyed,

The writer immediately introduces the real foe of Judah; Babylon.

AND HE PURPOSELY INTRODUCES BABYLON AT A TIME WHEN THE READERS ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEIR SECURITY.

 

He wants his readers to know that it was not enough

That Judah cried out to God during moments of peril,

But that one of her main problems was

A failure to remain devoted to God when things were going well.

 

This was clearly seen in our text this morning.

 

Here we have Hezekiah, who is without a doubt on top of the world.

He has been miraculously healed from a disease which took his life.

He has been financially blessed by God beyond measure.

 

But it was during this “easy” time that he lost focus and thought himself to be too secure.

 

When the Babylonians came he strutted his wealth and power.

And because of this pride and arrogance, God announced judgment.

 

Despite having been delivered from Assyria,

Judah still hadn’t learned her lesson.

 

She needed God, all the time, and in every way.

She must seek Him at all times and trust Him in all things.

Hezekiah needed to seek and trust God all the time,

Not just when his life was in peril.

 

It serves as a great warning and reminder to us

That seeking and trusting God

Is not a reaction only to be used in times of necessity.

 

Our entire lives are meant to be lived in total dependence upon Him.

 

John 15:4-5 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

We have talked quite a bit about trusting God over these past few weeks.

And the temptation when we hear sermons like this

Is to get a copy and to give it to people who are in the midst of trials.

 

But this text is meant to be a reminder

To all those who are not presently in the midst of a trial.

 

And that reminder is this.

Sometimes Satan dresses up like Babylon

And he sends his spies to scout out your land.

If you aren’t seeking God when he comes,

You are likely to fail to recognize him,

And before you know it he could cause great peril to your life.

 

1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

 

The call to seek and trust God is not just for those in times of trial.

It is also for those who feel like they have a good grip on life.

 

 

This morning I want you to evaluate your life

And ask yourself how dependant you are on God right now.

 

If things are going so good that you’ve taken the reigns for a little while,

Let me encourage you this morning to give them back to God.

 

Seek His face and trust Him with everything you’ve got.

For you need Him, even when you don’t realize it.

 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

 

If God Be For Us…

2 Kings 19:20-37

 

We pick up this morning really in the middle of the story.

If you have been with us the past couple of weeks you are familiar,

But in case you weren’t allow me to give you a quick recap

To bring you up to speed.

 

We begin with a new king in Judah named Hezekiah.

 

He was the son of Ahaz, who was a very wicked king.

 

Ahaz closed the temple, replaced God’s altar, worshiped on the high places, passed his sons through the fire, and struck up an alliance with Assyria.

 

When he died his son Hezekiah became king

And did a complete 180 from the actions of his father.

 

Hezekiah reopened the temple, tore down the high places,

And did his best to remove idolatry from Judah.

 

And we saw in Hezekiah a king that started out hot,

And one that seemed to be ready to take the world for God.

 

But Hezekiah’s faith was tested.

• But in the sixth year of his reign Hezekiah witnessed the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel into the hands of Assyria and it rattled him.

 

This concern was only deepened when in his 10th year

As the king of Assyria began to attack his nation of Judah.

 

Motivated by fear, Hezekiah responded by offering a ransom of

Gold to the king of Assyria in hopes that he would leave.

 

He did not.

He still threatened to destroy Jerusalem.

 

But the king of Assyria made a poor calculation.

He assumed that by continuing to pressure Hezekiah,

Having already robbed him, that Hezekiah would eventually

Give in an surrender to Assyria.

 

That was a poor assumption.

 

Instead Hezekiah ran to his God and determined to trust Him.

 

And so Hezekiah did just the opposite of what was expected

And revolted against the king of Assyria.

 

In response to his revolt,

The king of Assyria sent 3 high ranking officials with a large army

To Jerusalem in order to intimidate them and demand them to surrender.

 

Rabshekah taunted the Jews, threatening them with starvation

And certain defeat, and offering the relief of exile.

 

Hezekiah refused to answer and instead he ran to God.

 

He pleaded with God and begged for deliverance

And God responded with a promise to deliver.

 

2 Kings 19:6-7 “Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because 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 so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”‘”

 

Last week we saw this to begin to take place.

 

The king of Cush (Ethiopia) came out to fight against the king of Assyria,

And upon this threat he retreated from Jerusalem to deal with Cush.

 

However while leaving (as God said he would)

He sent a letter to Hezekiah to tell him not to bet to excited,

For he would be back.

 

But this time Hezekiah didn’t panic.

God had already promised deliverance and Hezekiah believed Him.

 

2 Kings 19:15-19 “Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. “Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. “Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, OLORD, are God.”

 

This was not a prayer of a terrified man…

This was not a prayer of a desperate man…

This was a prayer of a confident man.

 

Hezekiah took the letter to God,

Because he believed this was God’s problem to deal with,

And Hezekiah was confident that were other gods failed,

His God would certainly prevail.

 

He stood upon his faith in God.

And this morning we get to see God’s response.

I’ve titled this sermon, “If God Be For Us…”

 

And you know the answer.

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

 

And so as week after week we have been saying

How beneficial it is to trust in God,

This morning we get to see why.

 

There are three main things I want you to see from the text this morning.

#1 A STATEMENT

2 Kings 19:20-28

 

And what we have here is the spoken response of God to Hezekiah

In regard to the threat that Hezekiah passed along to Him.

 

(20) “Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.’”

 

That alone is somewhat fascinating.

 

Hezekiah didn’t tell Isaiah about it.

The only person he consulted with was God.

And yet here we have Isaiah sent with a message.

 

This is a tremendous proof

That God both hears and answers prayer.

 

And I also like what God has to say.

“Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib…”

 

As we said last week, the power of prayer is not in prayer itself.

It is not the beauty of our words, or the length of our request,

Or the manner in which we ask that makes prayer powerful.

 

Prayer is powerful because we pray to a powerful God

Who responds to the faith in which we pray.

 

God doesn’t say that He answered Hezekiah

Because of his moving argument, or his emotional brokenness.

 

God answers simply “Because you have prayed to Me”

 

Hezekiah took the problem to God and God responded to his faith.

It wasn’t about what he said, it was that he said it to God.

 

God has been moved by the faith of Hezekiah.

God has a message for the king of Assyria.

(We don’t know if the Assyrian king ever heard it, it was given for Hezekiah’s sake)

 

But God’s message to Sennacherib is three-fold.

1) YOU ARE A FOOL (21-22)

 

God starts out by pointing out how Assyria

Has belittled and maligned Jerusalem.

 

(21)”This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin daughter of Zion; She has shaken her head behind you, The daughter of Jerusalem!”

 

They called them weak, powerless, and destined for captivity.

 

But what Assyria was too foolish to realize

Is that an attack on God’s people is an attack on God Himself.

 

(22) “Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice, And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!”

 

Even in the first line of verse 23

He says, “Through your messengers you have reproached the Lord,”

 

Sennacherib may have thought he was mocking Jerusalem,

But he was also mocking God.

 

Zechariah 2:8 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”

 

Remember when Jesus confronted Saul on the Damascus road?

Acts 9:3-5 “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,”

 

An attack on God’s people is an attack on God.

And this is what Assyria was doing.

 

(While Sennacherib repeatedly called Hezekiah a fool)

The point is that Sennacherib was reckless and foolish.

 

You are a fool

2) YOU ARE A FRAUD (23-26)

 

When you read verses 23 and 24 you see the arrogance of Assyria.

He was swelling with pride and confidence.

 

He knew how powerful he was, and that no one could stand in his way.

Notice how many times the word “my” or “I” is used.

 

He was confident in his own strength.

 

Rabshekah asked:

2 Kings 18:33-35 “Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? ‘Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? ‘Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their land from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?'”

 

It is clear that the king of Assyria saw himself as omnipotent.

 

Isaiah 10:12-14 “So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness.” For he has said, “By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this, For I have understanding; And I removed the boundaries of the peoples And plundered their treasures, And like a mighty man I brought down their inhabitants, And my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a nest, And as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth; And there was not one that flapped its wing or opened its beak or chirped.”

 

Sennacherib really thought he was somebody special.

But God reveals that he is a fraud.

 

(25-26) “Have you not heard? Long ago I did it; From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps. ‘Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength, They were dismayed and put to shame; They were as the vegetation of the field and as the green herb, As grass on the housetops is scorched before it is grown up.”

 

The only reason you gained victories is because I allowed you to.

 

Those of you who have been studying Isaiah with us on Wednesday

Know why Assyria has been allowed to have victory.

 

God has been using her to punish the sins of Israel and Judah.

God purposed this.

God planned this.

God allowed this.

 

And furthermore when the battle raged,

God stacked the deck to make sure Assyria won.

 

“Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength, they were dismayed and put to shame.”

 

As we have studied in Isaiah, God actually promised this:

Isaiah 30:15-17 “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill.”

 

God is the one that made it where Assyria could win.

Their strength was not from themselves.

 

The point is that Assyria was a fraud.

They didn’t do this, God did it.

 

Isaiah 10:15 “Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood.”

 

You are a fool You are a fraud

3) YOU ARE FINISHED (27-28)

 

God lets him know that his victorious days are over.

 

“I will put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came.”

 

There is no doubt that God is angry,

And He is about to take out His anger on this arrogant Assyrian.

 

Isaiah had previously prophesied of the same thing:

Isaiah 30:27-28, 31-33 “Behold, the name of the LORD comes from a remote place; Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke; His lips are filled with indignation And His tongue is like a consuming fire; His breath is like an overflowing torrent, Which reaches to the neck, To shake the nations back and forth in a sieve, And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads to ruin…For at the voice of the LORD Assyria will be terrified, When He strikes with the rod. And every blow of the rod of punishment, Which the LORD will lay on him, Will be with the music of tambourines and lyres; And in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight them. For Topheth has long been ready, Indeed, it has been prepared for the king. He has made it deep and large, A pyre of fire with plenty of wood; The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire.”

 

God has seen enough…

God has heard enough…

God has decided that his siege is over.

 

Furthermore God also saw in Judah what He desired to see.

• Judah removed the high places…

• Judah reinstated the Passover…

• Judah reopened the temple…

• Judah’s king was walking by faith…

 

These are the things God wanted to see,

And their absence is why He sent Assyria in the first place.

But now, Judah has repented, and the need for Assyria is no more.

God is sending them away.

 

And there you have the statement from God.

• Hezekiah prayed that God would hear and He did.

• Hezekiah prayed that God would see and He did.

 

And God looked directly at the mocker of Assyria and declared to him:

You are a Fool

You are a Fraud

You are Finished

 

That is the Statement

#2 A SIGN

2 Kings 19:29-34

 

God just made a promise that Assyria was leaving.

Now God determines to pass out a little confirmation to Hezekiah.

 

God promises to give him a sign.

 

You may remember from studying Isaiah

That Hezekiah’s father refused to trust God or any sign He would give.

 

Isaiah 7:10-13 “Then the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?”

 

Syria was attacking Ahaz and God promised to deliver,

Even saying ask for a sign so that you will know that I will do it.

 

Ahaz refused to trust God even upon a sign, instead running to Assyria.

 

But Hezekiah is not like his Father.

Hezekiah trusts God.

 

And here God offers Hezekiah a sign.

(VERSES 29-31)

 

Now I hope you recognized what type of sign this was.

It is one of God’s favorites to give.

 

“you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.”

 

You and I know that isn’t much of a sign.

(At least not an immediate one)

BUT HOW SWEET THE WORSHIP WOULD BE IN THAT THIRD YEAR WHEN YOU ARE EATING THE FRUIT OF YOUR VINEYARD.

 

We have said it many times before, that

God is not a God of proof, but a God of confirmation.

 

When Moses needed a sign from God to prove that God would indeed deliver from Egypt, God said:

 

Exodus 3:12 “And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”

 

And that is the same type of sign here.

 

To a man walking by sight, it is of no help at all,

But to a man walking by faith

It is the greatest confirmation possible.

 

God had just promised 3 more years of absolute security in the land.

Assyria would not be a threat.

 

(VERSES 32-34)

 

And please recognize here the power of God.

 

All that had to happen to prove God wrong, was one displaced soldier had to shoot one stray arrow over the wall and this prophecy is false.

 

But God was in complete control.

 

It is commonly difficult to trust God in the present.

 

Often times circumstances are so bleak

And trials are so real and hope is so faded

That trusting God is a tremendously difficult thing to do.

 

But for those who trust God in the midst of those difficult moments

There is coming a day of tremendous rejoicing.

 

For we don’t often see God’s hand at work now,

But someday we will stand on the mountain with Moses

Or we will eat in the vineyard with Hezekiah

And at once fall to our knees and realize that God really did deliver.

 

And at that moment all the faith and all the trust

Will seem extremely worth it, and we will worship God

In a way that we never worshiped before.

 

• How great do you think the worship was for Moses on Mt. Sinai?

• How great do you think the worship for Hezekiah was 3 years later in the vineyard?

• How great do you think the worship was for Noah when he got off of the boat?

• How great do you think the worship was for Abraham after his son was spared?

• How great do you think the worship was for Daniel when got out of the lion’s den?

• How great do you think the worship was for Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego when they got out of the furnace?

 

If God were to just take the trial away, or never permit it at all, there is certainly a comfort to enjoy.

 

But it doesn’t equal THE FUTURE REJOICING

Of those who trusted God through trials and

Eventually stand on the mountain remembering His deliverance.

 

God was giving Hezekiah a sign.

He would certainly deliver and some day the worship would be amazing!

 

A Statement A Sign

#3 A SLAUGHTER

2 Kings 19:35-37

 

Don’t you like those first three words?

“Then it happened”

 

Everyone who walks by faith

Is waiting for their own personal “Then it happened”

 

That is what Horatio Spafford meant in his great hymn:

“And Lord haste the day when thy faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul!”

 

He was waiting for his own personal “Then it happened”

 

Well Hezekiah got his here.

His faith was about to become sight.

 

“that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.”

 

The angel that broke the power of Egypt

Is not at work to break the power of Assyria.

 

Isaiah 10:16-19 “Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors; And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame. And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, And it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day. And He will destroy the glory of his forest and of his fruitful garden, both soul and body, And it will be as when a sick man wastes away. And the rest of the trees of his forest will be so small in number That a child could write them down.”

 

The Assyrians were wiped out.

And Sennacherib was forced to retreat.

 

(VERSES 36-37)

 

What an ironic ending.

 

For days and days Sennacherib had confidently told Hezekiah

Not to trust in the LORD, for God did not have the power to protect him.

 

How ironic that Sennacherib would die

In the house of a god who could not protect him.

 

And all of a sudden the great threat of Hezekiah’s life

Was behind him.

 

Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

 

And now at the completion of this story

The application is extremely easy to understand.

 

TRUSTING GOD IS A GOOD IDEA

 

There is an enemy.

He is a roaring lion that seeks to destroy.

He delights in attacking God’s people.

 

But there is also a Savior

Who can and will deliver if we put our trust in Him.

 

And this is not just the theme of Hezekiah’s story.

This is the theme of Scripture.

 

Isaiah 40:27-31 “Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

 

Psalms 25:1-3 “To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.”

 

Psalms 27:11-14 “Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a level path Because of my foes. Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.”

 

Psalms 34:19-22 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”

 

Psalms 62:5-8 “My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

 

It is clear what the call of Scripture is.

God desires you and I to trust Him.

 

And therefore it is no surprise

That when God became flesh and dwelt among us,

His appeal was still the same.

 

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

In fact this great book ends with that very invitation:

Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

 

The call is for you and I to trust God and His Son Jesus Christ.

 

Sinners trust Him for salvation.

Believers continue to trust Him for everything else.

 

TRUSTING GOD IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

 

Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

 

The Faith of Hezekiah

2 Kings 19:8-19

 

This is now the fourth time we have turned to the Scriptures

And found Hezekiah as our subject.

 

The writer of Kings purposely spends a great deal of time on him,

Because Hezekiah makes the point of the value of trusting God.

 

2 Kings 18:5 “He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.”

 

There was never another king like Hezekiah.

He trusted God.

 

And this morning we get what the writer of kings chooses as

The pinnacle example of Hezekiah’s faith.

 

One could have easily titled this sermon “The Prayer of Hezekiah”, but if you do that, you miss the point of the text.

 

The writer is not giving us an example of how to pray,

He is giving us an example of how to trust.

 

And the best way to see Hezekiah’s faith is to examine one of his prayers.

 

Commonly we hear talked about “The Power of Prayer”

And I certainly do not wish to refute that title.

 

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

 

And so I in no way wish to tarnish at all the power of prayer,

But I do want to clarify a few misconceptions about it.

 

We must make sure not to put too much emphasis on prayer

And not enough on the faith in which it is offered,

Or the God to whom it is offered.

 

In other words, Prayer is powerful, but only because it is given to a great God who responds to the faith of His children.

 

To simply say that prayer is powerful can be very misleading.

For prayer to Muhammad is not powerful, nor is prayer to Buddha,

Nor is prayer to the trees, or to any other created thing.

 

And so you understand that prayer only works

Because of the power of the God to whom we pray.

Furthermore the power of prayer is not in the actual prayer,

But in the faith in which it is offered.

 

In other words, what you say is not nearly as important as why you say it.

 

Remember Jesus teaching?

Matthew 6:7-8 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

 

The point there is that prayer has no great power in and of itself.

Prayer does not force God to do anything.

 

There is no group of words so convicting, or so moving, or so eloquent, or so nagging even, that they would force God to move on our behalf.

The power is not in the words.

 

In fact at times Jesus even rebuked people for this type of nonsense.

 

Mark 12:38-40 “In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

 

Just because a prayer is long, or eloquent, or even emotionally moving

Doesn’t mean it is more effective.

 

Prayer in that sense has no power at all.

 

THAT’S WHY I’VE NEVER LIKED “THE SINNER’S PRAYER”

Jesus accepts a person based upon their faith,

Not because they said the right words.

 

The point is that prayer apart from faith is nothing.

I don’t care how eloquent or persistent or emotionally moving.

 

Some would argue then about the midnight caller.

Luke 11:5-8 “Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.”

 

Or the widow.

Luke 18:1-8 “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘ Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

 

And it appears that the only reason either was answered

Is because they were a nag.

 

But to only see that is to miss the point in both cases.

 

The point of Jesus is not that they were persistent,

But that they believed this was the only hope,

And so they would not leave.

 

That is why Jesus ends with the question, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

 

He didn’t ask if He would find “persistence”.

 

Both were exhibiting the kind of faith in their request

That is necessary if prayer is to be effective.

 

Consider the Sidonian woman:

Matthew 15:21-28 “Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.”

 

And so I hope you understand the point.

That prayer in and of itself has no power at all.

However faith offered to God in prayer is extremely powerful.

 

WHY DO I TELL YOU THIS?

 

Because I don’t want you thinking

That there is some magic in what Hezekiah said.

(As though you can repeat it in a fix and God will have to deliver you)

 

The writer did not include this prayer to teach you what to pray. The writer included this prayer to teach you how to trust.

 

So this morning we are not studying “The Prayer of Hezekiah”,

We are studying “The Faith of Hezekiah”.

And the hope is that as we study you will also see the faith he had

Which made his prayer effective before God.

 

There are two main divisions in our text this morning.

#1 SENNACHERIB’S TAUNT

2 Kings 19:8-13

 

You will notice now that our story has progressed.

 

Last time we met, the king of Assyria (Sennacherib) had brought his army to Lachish, and from there he sent his chief commander, his chief eunuch, and his chief cupbearer to Jerusalem with a large army to call of her surrender.

 

Rabshakeh spoke a taunting message to the citizens of Jerusalem

• He Mocked their Strength

• He Confirmed their Fears

• He Appealed to their Lusts

• He Encouraged their Doubt

 

His aim was to get Jerusalem to surrender without a fight.

 

Hezekiah then took this dilemma to the LORD,

And the LORD promised that the king of Assyria would not conquer Jerusalem.

 

2 Kings 19:7 “Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”‘”

 

And that is actually beginning to unfold.

 

For while the three spokesmen are at Jerusalem,

They get word that the King of Assyria is no longer at Lachish,

But that he has moved on.

 

(8) “Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.”

 

It is apparent that this left Rabshakeh shocked, for this was not the plan.

 

The question then becomes, why did Sennacherib move from Lachish without coming to attack Jerusalem?

 

(9) “When he heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you,”

 

Sennacherib had actually heard that Cush (Ethiopia) had come out to fight

So he pulled his forces from Jerusalem and focused on fighting that battle.

 

This was the rumor that God spoke of.

But you will notice that as Sennacherib is leaving to fight Cush,

He sends a letter to Hezekiah in order to assure him that he will be back.

 

And his threat is two-fold.

1) GOD WILL NOT DELIVER (10)

 

He actually calls God a liar.

God is deceiving you by making you think He will deliver you.

 

(Not much different from Satan saying the same to Eve)

 

2) GOD CAN NOT DELIVER (11-13)

 

Here he states that even if God desired to deliver

He would not be able to do so, for no god thus far has been able to do so.

 

And his taunt is again filled with the fingerprints of Satan.

• He attacks God’s mercy (God won’t)

• He attacks God’s power (God can’t)

 

Satan longs to get us to quit trusting God and to pull away from Him,

For then we are extremely vulnerable.

 

And that is precisely what Sennacherib is doing.

He has had to pull away from Jerusalem,

But doesn’t want them to think this means he is leaving.

He promises to get them later if they don’t decide to surrender.

 

And that is so Satan.

He’s already defeated, it’s already over.

 

But he can’t seem to see it and he is still offering up idle threats.

 

It is a call for Christians to take up the shield of faith

And to defuse all those flaming arrows.

And that is precisely what we see happen with Hezekiah.

 

First – Sennacherib’s Taunt

#2 HEZEKIAH’S TRUST

2 Kings 19:14-19

 

Notice the first thing Hezekiah does with this letter.

 

(14) “Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.”

 

I love the imagery there.

 

Hezekiah didn’t reopen that house for nothing.

He did not intend it to be looked at, He intended it to be used.

 

He takes this letter directly to God and spreads it out before Him.

 

WAS IT BECAUSE GOD WAS UNAWARE?

No, God knew what the letter said before Hezekiah did.

 

This was done by Hezekiah as a symbolic act of faith.

 

Hezekiah had already determined to trust God.

He had given his throne and this city to God.

 

This letter was intended to be read by the one

Who was in charge of the city.

 

And just as Hezekiah’s messengers delivered the letter to him,

He now delivers it to God.

 

Sennacherib was not attacking him, Sennacherib was attacking God.

And therefore it was not Hezekiah who had to decide what to do,

It was God.

 

That is the beauty of trusting God.

When we give everything to God,

We no longer have to worry about what to do with it.

We just pass our problems on to the One who said He could handle it.

 

This city belonged to God.

So Hezekiah takes the letter to Him.

 

AND THEN COMES HIS PRAYER.

 

This prayer is much more of a DECLARATION

Than it is a cry for help.

 

It is almost as though Hezekiah is having the victory party

Before the battle has even been fought.

 

Hezekiah is not TRYING to trust God, he IS trusting God.

 

God had already told him that Assyria would leave,

And that was good enough for him.

 

 

Look at the difference between the two encounters.

 

Last week Rabshakeh taunted Jerusalem

And look at how Hezekiah responded.

2 Kings 19:1-4 “And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD. Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth and there is no strength to deliver. ‘Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that is left.'”

 

Now that was a man in despair wasn’t it?

He was in agony.

 

But look at him after this threat.

• He didn’t tear his clothes

• He didn’t cover himself with sackcloth

• There are no words of despair or distress

 

The point is, Hezekiah is not in a panic.

Hezekiah is not overcome with fear.

 

This prayer is not about a desperate man hoping God will deliver.

This is the prayer of a man of faith who is no longer worried

Because God already promised to deliver.

 

DO YOU SEE THE FAITH HERE?

 

Now let’s look at what he actually prays.

 

3 ways to summarize it.

1) HE DECLARED THE GREATNESS OF GOD (15)

 

Those are not the words of a man in doubt.

 

“the God of Israel”

“who are enthroned”

“You are the God”

“You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth”

“You have made heaven and earth”

 

This is not a king who HOPES his God is great.

This is a king who KNOWS his God is great.

 

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

 

Furthermore that is the type of faith that makes prayer effective.

 

James said:

James 5:16b “…The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

 

We are not just looking for prayer, but “effective” prayer.

That is the type of prayer Hezekiah gives,

Because it is a prayer offered in faith.

 

One could almost deduce that Hezekiah has come

To tell God why he is not worried.

 

Such is a necessary element of effective prayer.

Matthew 21:20-22 “Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

 

James 1:5-8 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

 

Hezekiah had no such problem.

He was certain who his God was.

 

Hezekiah declared the greatness of God.

2) HE DEFENDED THE GENUINENESS OF GOD (16-18)

 

Here again, we don’t find a man in despair and agony

Over whether or not God will deliver.

 

Here we find a man of confidence and certainty.

 

Just look at the confidence.

(16) ”Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.”

 

A declaration that while other gods are dead, his God is alive.

His God can hear, his God can see.

 

Psalms 115:4-7 “Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat.”

 

But that wasn’t Hezekiah’s God.

He was supremely confident that his God could both hear and see.

 

And that is important because his God

Needed to hear and see what Sennacherib said about Him.

 

Notice Hezekiah isn’t complaining that Sennacherib reproached him.

He was just telling God that Sennacherib has reproached You.

 

There is that element of faith again.

 

He has given this city to God.

“God, I just thought you should know that there is a problem

You are going to have to deal with.”

 

It almost carries a “passive” or “nonchalant” tone.

 

REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST TALKED OF HEZEKIAH

AND SAID THAT HE TRUSTED GOD?

 

And we said that the word “trusted” translated BATACH

 

And we said the meaning was: “to attach oneself, to trust, confide in, feel safe, be confident, secure; to be careless…”

 

Remember the word was even translated “COMPLACENT” at times.

 

I would say that is exactly where we find Hezekiah.

 

It’s almost like a man who has come to God with his golf clubs on his arm and says, “Oh God, by the way, there is a tyrant out there who says You aren’t God and he’s about to destroy the city. I guess you’ll have to handle it, I’m going to play golf.”

That was Hezekiah.

He was certain that his God was both great and genuine.

 

And notice, he even gives explanation for why Sennacherib has had so much success against tall those other gods.

 

(VERSES 17-18)

 

His God is GENUINE and so he isn’t concerned.

 

What faith to bring to God in prayer!

He is taking his burden to God,

But he most certainly is not trying to help God carry it.

 

Peter said:

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

 

That is what Hezekiah has done, and it is a key to effective prayer.

 

He Declared the Greatness of God He Defended the Genuineness of God

3) HE DESIRED THE GLORY OF GOD (19)

 

And again, I love his wording.

 

In verse 15, he referred to God as “the God”

But here he calls Him “our God”

 

Hezekiah has more than conviction, he has allegiance.

And he has come to ask his God to deliver.

 

But please notice why he wants God to deliver.

“deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

 

It’s not about comfort or deliverance,

It is all about the glory of God.

 

It reminds of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego who declare to Nebuchadnezzar,

“Our God will deliver, but even if He doesn’t, we will not bow.”

 

This is faith at a whole new level.

 

This is faith that says I am in Your hands to such an extent

That I am not concerned about what You choose to do.

 

Deliver me if You desire.

Destroy us if You desire.

 

ALL I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT WHATEVER YOU DO,

THAT IT BRINGS YOU GLORY.

 

It takes an enormous amount of faith

To put yourself in God’s hands to that extent.

 

• Hezekiah wasn’t here pleading with God…

• Hezekiah wasn’t here wrestling with God…

• Hezekiah wasn’t here trying to wear God out by nagging Him…

HEZEKIAH WAS HERE TRUSTING GOD

 

And it was his faith, not the words he spoke, that spoke volumes to God.

 

This was God’s city and so Hezekiah gave the problems to Him.

And God WILL deliver.

 

That is the type of faith God wants from you.

 

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

 

The aim is not to teach you what to say, or how often to say it.

 

The aim is that you see the type of faith

That must accompany your prayers to God.

 

That is what Hezekiah had.

• No great literary skills…

• No great poetry…

• No great emotion…

Just great faith

And God responded.

 

The call is for you and I to trust God like Hezekiah did.

To know that He is “the God” and to know that He is “our God”

 

And to give Him your burdens and let Him bear them.

Just like He said He would.

 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.”