2 Kings 19:1-37
Isaiah Reassures Hezekiah

The Bible describes Hezekiah as a godly king, a standout, a faithful servant of the Lord. Pastor Dave asked, wouldn’t we love to have a reputation like Hezekiah’s? For sure! Dave organized his teaching on this week’s passage around seven things we should do to follow Hezekiah’s stellar example.

Hezekiah’s godly character was forged during a time of “distress, rebuke, and disgrace” (v3). A large Assyrian army had assembled outside the walls of Jerusalem. A wily three-man negotiating team delivered a threatening message from “the great king, the king of Assyria”: We are unbeatable and undefeated. You cannot win, and your God cannot save you. Your only choice is to surrender. How will Hezekiah respond? We must not think we can become like Hezekiah just by sitting in church on Sundays. We must walk in his footsteps when we too are pressed hard by difficult circumstances. As we pray through Dave’s seven actions to take, let’s preface each statement with: When I face trouble, Lord, help me …

1. … Seek the Word of the Lord. (vv1-4)
As my first, not last, resort. And like Hezekiah, I must submit to God’s plan and purpose. God may rebuke the Assyrian king, but it’s also possible He is using the Assyrian king to discipline His people.

2. … Listen to and believe the Word of the Lord. (vv5-9a)
I am capable of seeking the Lord but then rejecting His answer. I am capable of saying, “God is all-powerful” out of one side of my mouth and saying, “But He can’t do this” out of the other side.

3. … Not listen to the voice of the enemy. (vv9b-13)
I am susceptible to listening to the lies of the enemy of my soul. The hypocrisy in #2, above, is evidence.

4. … Take my stand against the schemes of the enemy. (vv14-19)
Hezekiah took his stand in prayer. Dave helpfully identified several ingredients in his prayer that make “take a stand” concrete: focus on who God is; ask for the desires of your heart; seek the Lord’s glory, not your own glory or success or comfort.

5. … Rest in and be comforted by the sovereignty of the Lord. (vv20-28)
I will not panic! If I lack peace, if I cannot rest, I will devote more time to reminding myself of God’s sovereignty. I can talk about it with a fellow believer.

6. … Be ready to act on the Word of the Lord. (vv29-31)
Dave said, keep going, don’t give up! I would add, be patient. It’s true that God killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night, but it’s also true that regular sowing and harvesting didn’t occur for three years.

7. … Watch and observe the Lord’s faithfulness. (vv32-37)
And don’t forget to thank Him!

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

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