The northern kingdom of Israel has been taken away into captivity. They have been marginally worse than the southern kingdom of Judah. There will has been some good kings
1. King Hezekiah’s reign begins
Hezekiah’s father was King Ahaz. Ahaz was considered to be one of the worst kings of Israel to this point as he had sacrificed one of his sons to a pagan god.
Hezekiah takes down the “high places” where people were offering unauthorised sacrifices in an inappropriate way. They often descended into pagan worship and the LORD did not approve.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well this historical use of “high places” away from the central worship of the Temple in Jerusalem is highlighted.
The woman said, ‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you say that Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship. —John 4:19-20.
Jesus was clear that the worship of the LORD was to take place where the LORD wanted it to take place.
2. Hezekiah strengthens his kingdom
Hezekiah has military success and stops paying tribute to the king of Assyria. The northern kingdom has fallen to Assyria and Judah must have been nervous that they would be next! Hezekiah is a man of faith but it is being tested. We should expect our faith to be tested despite our obedience.
It is always sad to see Christians with large public ministries fall into some serious scandal.
3. Sennacherib attacks Judah
A new king takes over Assyria and comes against Judah. He takes some of the fortified border cities. The LORD allows them to fall. The worst fear is becoming a reality. It looks like Judah is doomed and will go the way of the northern kingdom.
Hezekiah tries to negotiate with Sennacherib. Sennacherib expects a bounty to be paid for him to go away. There is no mention of Hezekiah going to the LORD. Hezekiah strips away what is in the Temple to pay this bounty. He is doing it all in his strength.
The enemy takes the money but then camps outside Jerusalem to taunt Israel. Sennacherib was on his way to conquer Egypt so had stopped off at Judah on the way. The taunts remind us of Goliath before David stepped forward to defeat him. They then lie about the LORD sending them to defeat them. They want the people to surrender and be taken captive. The lie about things being better! No other gods had been able to stand against the Assyrians so how could the God of Israel? They overstep the mark and dig a hole for themselves!
4. Hezekiah comes to the Lord
Hezekiah goes into the house of the Lord in sackcloth and ashes. He should have done this from the start but he is at the point where he either surrenders or needs help from the LORD. The ransom was never going to work. Too often we come to the LORD when we have no other options. Hezekiah has come to the end of himself. We are to rely on the LORD. Paul can confirm this in 2 Corinthians 1:9 – “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.”
5. God fights for Judah
Isaiah prophesies against Sennacherib. Hezekiah spreads the letter from Sennacherib before the LORD. Isaiah gives a rebuke from the LORD. The LORD has allowed the Assyrians to be strong and He is the Lord of all the earth. He is God over all these fake small gods.
When Jesus would not answer Pilate’s questions he thought he had power over Jesus. Jesus reminds Pilate that he has no power unless God has given it to him.
One angel in one night takes out 185,000 soldiers. The unbeatable army is defeated after mocking the LORD. The people of Judah did not have to fire an arrow – just like Jericho. Sennacherib survives but goes back home and is assassinated by his sons. God will not be mocked!
Categories: 2 Kings
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