OVERVIEW: Israel is carried away; the glorious reign of Hezekiah.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS: Today’s reading records for us the judgment of Jeroboam’s sin in Israel. God has consistently warned, both through his prophets and through the display of His righteous judgment upon other nations, and yet, the warning has been to no avail. But now, the hammer of God’s judgment falls. Twenty kings over a period of 200 years have had countless opportunities to repent and obey the word of the Lord, but it has totally gone unheeded. Psalm 86:5 reminds us: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” The Lord had sent prophets to let them know just how “ready” He was “to forgive,” but 2 Kings 17:14 gives the heart of the matter: “They would not hear!” The next verse tells us that “… they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.” (17:15) The consistent pattern in scripture teaches us that God’s judgment comes upon our lives because of our persistence to continue to follow our own stubborn will and way. Proverbs 29:1 says: “He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Chapters 18 through 20 reveal the life of a king that was unlike any others in the land of Judah. Rather than trusting his own will and way, this king actually “trusted in the Lord God.” (18:5) Hezekiah accomplished great things in Judah! He destroyed the idolatry; he conquered the Philistines; he resisted the Assyrians; he fortified his city; and he built great water works. But his real legacy is found in the statement of 18:3 and 7: “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did…And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.”
Hezekiah’s life was not without troubles though! His faith and dependence on the Lord was severely tested. His trust in the Lord was specifically challenged and publicly ridiculed by the messengers from Assyria. The messengers spoke scornfully concerning his religious reforms. Notice, however, that Hezekiah’s immediate response to trouble was seeking God through His word and prayer. Oh, once again, may we learn from his incredible example! The answer returns: “Be not afraid…I will cause him to fall.” (19:6-7) When a threatening letter came from the king of Assyria, once again, Hezekiah immediately took it to the Lord in prayer. God lets him know that He had heard his prayer, and answers: “…the king of Assyria, he shall not come into this city!” (19: 32) Because of Hezekiah’s faithful walk and relationship with the Lord, He miraculously delivers him and the land of Judah.
In chapter 20, Hezekiah’s faith is tested once again, this time through his health. Verse 6 reveals that this time of trial comes during the conflicts with the king of Assyria. His public challenges were compounded by his private health issues. Hezekiah’s response was simple and consistent: “he… prayed!” (20:2)
Through the trials and life of Hezekiah, God is able to teach us what in looks like in “real life” to walk with the Lord, and to trust in Him. Note some of the Psalms that Hezekiah exemplified through his life:
Psalm 18:3 “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 25:2 “O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.”
Psalm 32:10 “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.”
Psalm 33:21 “For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”
Psalm 44:6 “For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.”
Psalm 56:11 “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
Psalm 118:8 “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Psalm 143:8 “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”
Like Hezekiah, may our lives reflect that same kind of bold trust in our trustworthy God!
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As TEACHER – 2 Kings 17:27 (Mark 4:1; John 3:2)
As the CLEANSER OF THE TEMPLE – 2 Kings 18:4 (Mat. 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:15)
As a MAN OF PRAYER – 2 Kings 19:15 (John 17; Mat. 26:39; Luke 5:16; 22:32)