Thanks.
Well, as a sign of the times, this morning as we're driving to church today, I'm riding with
! I'm riding with a couple of my kids, and I was talking about the challenge of the scripture
!
And both of my kids in the car were scratching their head and thinking, the text that you
got this morning is massive?
What does that have to do with the challenge of preaching?
Well, that has very little to do with the challenge of preaching.
But this morning as we look into the Word, there is always the weight of the text.
There's always the weight of being faithful to the Word.
What does the Word have to say?
How does it connect to our hearts?
What is the orientation that we're going to walk away with when we leave this place?
Because we understand that coming to church on a Sunday and hearing a message is more than
just getting information.
We recognize that coupled with information is responsibility.
That we walk away with a sense of responsibility.
What will we do with the text?
What will we do with the message from God that we hear today?
I appreciate what Pastor said earlier.
In the great things that we know about God will lead us to believe great things about God.
And I would add will also lead us to ask great things from God.
What you know about God will lead you to huge understanding of Him and confidence of who He is.
And the security of understanding that you can ask great things of your great God.
That's what we come to this morning.
And I pray this morning this is what we leave with.
A great understanding of who God is.
And a great desire to make Him known in our world.
But before we come to the text, let's come to Him in prayer.
God, we understand the significance of this moment.
And really the significance of our time together being more than just being spectators.
Being more than just participants in worship.
More than just observers in what is taking place.
But involved in the process of learning and worshiping and bowing down before our great God.
God, this morning as we come to the end of a section.
We pray that you would help us to learn from the example of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah who came to grips with the fact of the God who is not only the almighty God.
But He is the God who hears.
The God who answers.
The God who intervenes.
And the God who saves.
Lord, I pray this morning as we come to your word.
That you would nurture our hearts in greater affection for you.
Greater understanding of who you are.
And a greater commitment and zeal to make much of you in the world in which we live.
We understand that it's a great task before us today.
We pray that you would help us to be faithful.
Faithful to hear.
Faithful to participate in interacting with the scripture.
Faithful to incorporate these truths into our lives.
Lord, may we not just be hearers.
But help us to be doers of the word today.
We pray these things in Jesus' name.
Amen.
One of my heroes lived in a century before in the late 1800s.
George Mueller.
Many of you are probably familiar with George Mueller.
He was one who aimed his life with one mission statement.
One focus.
One anthem of his heart.
That oriented his actions and attitudes.
It oriented the whole perspective in which he brought to bear in the activities of his world.
His life.
And he says this.
He says,
I have joyfully dedicated my whole life to the objective of exemplifying how much may be accomplished by prayer and faith.
Now that's a different perspective.
I think our perspective is often the busier I am, the more active I might be.
The more I do for God, the more I can accomplish for him.
That was not George Mueller's perspective.
George Mueller's perspective was that much can be accomplished through prayer and faith.
And that is the perspective of Hezekiah, the one whom we'll look at this morning.
Now make no mistake, George Mueller was active.
He was effective.
He was fruitful in his life.
Just a summary statement of the things that he was able to accomplish, or should I say that God accomplished through his life,
include forming the Scripture Knowledge Institute for Home and Abroad.
Giving more than $5 million to those in need.
Throughout his life, he cared for more than 10,000 orphans.
In an orphanage that he started, managed, and funded by prayer loan.
Not by soliciting funds, but by asking at the throne of heaven for God to provide.
By giving away more than 2 million scriptures.
By sending more than $1 million to missionaries in personal support.
And sending about 3,000 letters a year.
This mass publication of what God was accomplishing in and through his ministry.
And documenting more than 50,000 answers to prayer.
So George Mueller was an effective and fruitful man.
But he ascribes that fruitfulness and effectiveness to prayer and faith.
And this morning, I wonder if we would ask ourselves,
can we ever be like George Mueller?
Could we ever accomplish as much as he accomplished?
And to that, George Mueller would respond,
have faith in God.
And God will show power in your life.
His life was oriented around the Almighty One.
Resting in confidence in the power of God.
To work in and through his life.
And to make him effective in ministry.
What sets Mueller apart is not his gifts, or energy, or charisma.
But what sets him apart is that he was a man of faith and prayer.
A man of faith to the same God that you serve and I serve today.
A man of faith to the same God that we see all throughout the scriptures.
And we'll see come front and center in our passage this morning in Isaiah chapter 36.
This is the continuing message of Isaiah to the people of Israel.
This is what he's trying to communicate to them.
If you want to be a people who are experiencing the favor and the blessing of God,
you will be a people who are committed to faith in God.
Not in faith in your own programs, or faith in your own abilities.
But faith in God alone.
Don't worry about the nations.
Don't worry about the dangers you might experience.
Don't worry about the threats that are taking place all around you.
Settle your hearts in confidence.
And rest it on the foundation, the bedrock of faith in your Almighty God.
And things will begin to fall into place.
Hezekiah comes to us in Isaiah chapter 36.
As kind of the object lesson for the people of Israel.
The message that Isaiah was trying to communicate to the people of Israel.
Come to light in the person of Hezekiah.
Who lived out this object lesson in front of the people.
It was the life of Hezekiah.
Righteous in many ways and broken in some ways as well.
We'll look at that later this morning.
But the consistent pattern of his life was a pattern of faithfulness.
And prayer.
And security.
And resting in confidence.
In God Himself.
In a similar sense I think Hezekiah could say.
That he had dedicated his entire life.
To the object of exemplifying how much might be accomplished.
Through prayer.
And faith.
What if that were true of you this morning?
What might God accomplish in your life?
And in my life today.
If that was the expression and focus and priority of our hearts.
What might God do in the world around you?
What difference might you make?
If you rested in the power of God.
The program of God.
The priorities of God.
What might God accomplish in your life?
If there was a resting.
If there was an abiding.
If there was a settling into the power of God.
To work on your behalf.
I think we would all agree.
That there is a great deficiency.
In our faith today.
If we were to take an inventory of our lives.
And we were to look at the past couple days.
And couple weeks.
And couple of months.
And we were to evaluate the level of anxiety in our lives.
Maybe the level of frustration.
Over various circumstances that you're encountering.
Maybe the worry over the situations that you are looking at in the future.
Whether it's a health issue.
And wondering what this is going to mean for the future.
And what God might be trying to do in your life.
Or maybe if there's a desire in your life to escape.
I find myself there.
Quite often.
I just want to get away from this.
I want to check out.
I don't want to engage.
If that is true of your life this morning.
There is a defectiveness in faith.
There's a lesson for us to learn this morning.
About the challenge and the encouragement we can find from Hezekiah.
To be people who are grounded in faith.
Because people of faith will enjoy the benefits of faith.
To result in confidence in God.
And peace that flows from Him.
We are commanded from the New Testament.
The just shall live by faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him.
If you want to please God today.
You will be a person of faith.
And we'll pick up those questions again.
As we look at the life of Hezekiah.
Now I understand that this is kind of an epic amount of verses.
That I want to try to cover this morning.
Where the challenge is to look at four chapters.
36, 37, 38, and 39.
And then pick up some historical information from 2 Kings.
Which is three or four chapters.
And 2 Chronicles.
Which is also three or four chapters.
And this morning as I was talking to my daughter.
She asked me.
Okay dad it's a massive text.
Why do you have to finish this morning?
I didn't have a good answer for her.
So we don't have to cover it all today.
That's all in your notes.
We're not going to maybe cover it all today.
We may pick it up in a couple of weeks from now.
So then maybe we'll all get more out of this together.
If we go at a little slower pace.
But this is an epic passage.
For us to consider.
This is a close of a major section.
In the book of Isaiah.
This comes at the tail end.
Of the first 39 chapters.
And is working as the transition point.
To move us from the judgment of God.
In the almighty holy God.
That we find in the first 39 chapters.
And then moving us to the comfort of God.
In chapters 40 to 66.
It's no mistake that Isaiah puts.
Hezekiah's story.
Right in the center.
To help move us between the two parts.
Of the book.
He wants us to see that God means what he says.
He wants us to understand.
That God is faithful.
Not only to honor his promises.
But to come.
To us.
Even in the midst of rebellion.
Even in the midst of sinfulness.
And to forgive.
And to rescue.
To show up.
And to demonstrate that he is the God of all.
And that's what we find this morning.
In our passage today.
So if you're not already there.
Please turn with me.
To Isaiah chapter 36.
Isaiah chapter 36.
And we'll begin just by looking at the first verse.
By way of background.
It says.
In the 14th year.
Of King Hezekiah.
Sennacherib.
King of Assyria.
Came up against.
All the fortified cities of Judah.
And took them.
First I want us to understand.
The desperate situation in Judah.
Judah's desperate situation.
And in order to really understand.
And appreciate.
Where we are in history.
We need to take a look at some of these characters.
First I want us to see.
The legacy of King Hezekiah.
So why don't you use those cards.
In front of you.
In the pew.
Put one of them in.
Isaiah chapter 36.
And turn back with me.
If you would.
To 2nd Kings.
Chapter 18.
I want us to really appreciate.
Who is Hezekiah.
What does he have to.
Do with this story.
Where is he.
In the flow.
Of the history.
Of Judah.
We've looked at some.
Good kings.
We've looked at a really bad king.
And where does Hezekiah stand.
In the flow.
Of history.
For Judah.
Notice with me.
As I read.
Just the first seven verses.
Of 2nd Kings.
Chapter 18.
If you're a guest with us.
This morning.
It's on page.
324.
Here's what it says.
In the third year.
Of Hosea.
Son of Elah.
King of Israel.
Hezekiah.
The son of Ahaz.
King of Judah.
Began to reign.
He was 25 years old.
When he began to reign.
And he reigned 29 years.
In Jerusalem.
His mother's name was.
Abby.
The daughter.
Of Zechariah.
And he did what was right.
In the eyes of the Lord.
According to all.
That David.
His father.
Had done.
He removed the high places.
And broke the pillars.
And cut down the Asherah.
And he broke in pieces.
The bronze serpent.
That Moses had made.
For until those days.
The people of Israel.
Had made offerings to it.
It was called Nehushtan.
And he trusted in the Lord.
God of Israel.
So there was none like him.
Among all the kings of Judah.
After him.
Nor among those.
Who were before him.
For he held fast.
To the Lord.
He did not depart.
From following him.
But kept the commandments.
Of the Lord.
That the Lord commanded Moses.
And the Lord was with him.
Wherever he went out.
He prospered.
He rebelled against the king.
Of Assyria.
And would not serve him.
Right here at the beginning.
Of our story.
We see.
A righteous king.
Compared to David.
Not just compared to his father.
But compared all the way back.
To the epic king.
Of all of Israel.
David.
A man after God's own heart.
That is the comparison.
That is used here.
And the writer to the kings.
And helps us understand.
That in comparison to David.
There was more consistency.
In the heart of Hezekiah.
Than even David had.
That.
Now if you're following this story.
And you're remembering.
Who Hezekiah's father was.
You remember that his.
His dad.
Was Ahaz.
Who was also king of Israel.
Or king of Judah.
And if you remember anything about.
King Ahaz.
You remember.
That King Ahaz.
Gave himself.
Over completely.
To idolatry.
And all of the people of Judah.
Followed.
Followed along with him.
And he imported.
The religion of Damascus.
And he replaced.
The bronze altar.
With this heathen.
Idolatrous altar.
In its own place.
Right in front of the temple.
In Jerusalem.
He desecrated.
The temple.
He pulled off.
The panels.
He redecorated.
According to his own design.
And then he offered.
Sacrifices.
To other gods.
On.
These.
Altars.
There at the temple.
There in Jerusalem.
He burned.
His kids.
As offerings.
He followed.
The wicked practices.
Of the nations.
That was.
Hezekiah's father.
You may be asking yourself.
The question.
How.
In the world.
If an entire nation.
Has given themselves.
Up.
To idolatry.
How in the world.
Did Hezekiah.
Escape.
How was he preserved.
In the answer.
Is here.
For us.
In verse 2.
He reigned.
29 years.
In Jerusalem.
His mother's name.
Was Abby.
The daughter.
Of Zachariah.
Now this is for another day.
And another message.
But.
Abby.
Or Abijah.
His mother.
Was the daughter.
Of Zachariah.
And if you can remember.
Zachariah.
Was the priest.
Who led.
King Uzziah.
Also king.
Of Judah.
Into.
Heartfelt.
Worship.
And devotion.
To God.
The legacy.
Of a grandfather.
Passed through.
The faithfulness.
Of a godly mother.
Took root.
In the heart.
Of a child.
A child.
Of faith.
Who not only helped.
To influence.
A nation.
But totally reform.
A nation.
For God.
To lead them.
Their hearts.
Into.
Divine worship.
Of the one.
True God.
Hezekiah.
Does not stand.
Apart.
From culture.
He.
He doesn't come to us.
As a man of faith.
By coincidence.
He doesn't come to us.
As a man of faith.
Out of isolation.
He comes to us.
As a man of faith.
Because.
Of a faithful.
Legacy.
But that's a story.
In a message.
For another time.
We look.
At the legacy.
Of his life.
A righteous.
King.
A man.
Who devoted.
Himself.
To the worship.
Of the one.
True God.
And at the pinnacle.
Of faith.
The example.
Of his life.
In being nurtured.
Into being developed.
Through the course.
Of his life.
To be a person.
Who loved God.
It all came.
To a head.
Here.
In verse 7.
Of 2 Kings.
18.
7.
This is the pinnacle.
Of faith.
In the life.
Of Hezekiah.
The Lord.
Was with him.
And wherever he went out.
He prospered.
He rebelled.
Against the king.
Of Assyria.
And would not.
Serve him.
This.
Is the moment.
Of.
Standout.
Faith.
In the life.
Of Hezekiah.
Whom Isaiah.
Devotes.
Several chapters to.
And we'll look at.
As we continue to move.
Through this passage.
Faith.
Is what.
Hezekiah.
Sought.
To display.
It was not.
That.
That Hezekiah.
Was putting himself.
On the pedestal.
But his faith.
In God.
Sought to put God.
In the place.
Of honor.
Faith.
Makes God.
Look glorious.
That was.
Hezekiah's objective.
Before we can appreciate.
The narrative.
We need to now.
Understand.
The people.
Of Assyria.
So.
Now keep your finger.
In.
Second Kings.
Use another one of those.
Flyers.
In front of you.
As a marker.
We'll go back.
And back to Isaiah.
Chapter 36.
Because the.
The second.
Group.
Of individuals.
Here.
Are the.
The people.
Of Assyria.
So we saw.
The legacy.
Of Hezekiah.
Now let's take a look.
At the reputation.
Of Assyria.
We see here.
That Sennacherib.
King of Assyria.
Came up against.
All the fortified.
Cities of Judah.
And took them.
Now.
Sennacherib.
Rose to power.
After.
Tiglath.
Plazer.
Now.
Tiglath.
Plazer.
Was the one.
Who.
Conquered.
Syria.
In the northern.
Ten.
Tribes.
This was about.
The fourth year.
Of Sennacherib's reign.
About.
Ten years.
After that conquest.
And now.
We find.
That Sennacherib.
Is in power.
And he's moving.
His way down.
Through.
The.
The country.
And taking.
All of the.
Surrounding cities.
And now.
He's at the front door.
Of Jerusalem.
Having already.
Conquered.
The fortified cities.
Of Judah.
Having already.
Decimated.
The land.
Conquering it.
In.
Unhindered.
Success.
Assyria.
Begins.
To reign.
Assyria.
Is gaining.
Control.
Of Israel.
And all.
Of the.
Surrounding.
Nations.
The situation.
Was darkening.
With the northern.
Ten tribes.
Now experiencing.
Captivity.
The painful.
Discipline.
Of God.
On their life.
Because of.
Their own.
Rebellion.
We see.
This.
Assyrian.
Threat.
And then.
Now moving.
To verse 2.
It says.
And the king.
Of Assyria.
Sent.
Reb Sheikah.
From Lachish.
To King Hezekiah.
Jerusalem.
With a great army.
And he stood.
By the conduit.
Of the upper pool.
On the highway.
To the washer's field.
Assyrians.
Were.
Were known.
For their.
Their.
Fear tactics.
They were great.
At terrorizing.
The.
The threats.
That they faced.
They bring.
This great army.
As.
As many.
As 185.
Thousand.
Soldiers.
Perhaps more.
Elite soldiers.
With horses.
And chariots.
And the latest.
Technology.
Their reputation.
Of ruthlessness.
Preceded them.
And.
Looking.
At the.
Atrocities.
Of the.
Nation.
Of Assyria.
They're.
They're so.
Terrible.
I can't even.
Mention them here.
But they make.
ISIS.
Look like.
Preschoolers.
I can just say.
They.
They won.
Wars.
Not just.
Based upon.
Military prowess.
But on.
Psychological.
Warfare.
In terrorizing.
The nations.
That they conquered.
Tyre.
And Sidon.
Had already fallen.
Damascus.
Had already fallen.
To Assyria.
The northern.
Ten tribes.
In Philistia.
Had fallen.
In.
722.
BC.
Egypt.
Was a minor.
Annoyance.
And as we see.
In verse 1.
They've already taken.
All of the fortified.
Cities.
Of Judah.
Enlisted.
Later on.
In chapter 37.
Reb Sheikah.
Helps.
Hezekiah.
Understand.
That all of these.
Other ten nations.
That were.
Well known.
To Jerusalem.
Were also.
Conquered.
By this.
Massive army.
The Assyrian.
Army.
Was masters.
Of war.
They set a new.
Paradigm.
For military.
Tactics.
They were the world's.
First.
Great army.
And world's.
First.
Great.
Empire.
With superior.
Abilities.
Reliance.
On sheer.
Unadulterated.
Terror.
Up to that point.
The.
The military.
Was made up.
Of men.
Who were conscripted.
To service.
Most of whom.
Were farmers.
And so.
When it came.
Time to battle.
They always.
Had to happen.
Between planting.
And harvest.
These men.
Would come.
And they would.
Occupy.
The army.
And then they would.
Go out to war.
Well.
For the first time.
The Assyrian.
Army.
Decided.
That they were going.
To have.
Not.
Not volunteers.
To service.
But they were going.
To have full-time.
Military.
Warriors.
Full-time.
For all year.
Round fighting.
So they could be trained.
They were hired.
And trained.
For war.
It was also.
The first army.
To systematically.
Combine engineering.
And fighting techniques.
They developed.
A siege engine.
They built bridges.
Dug tunnels.
And supply.
And communication.
Systems.
They used.
Iron weapons.
They were the first.
To be considered.
The iron army.
They had.
Iron swords.
And iron shields.
And iron helmets.
Iron.
That was laced.
Into their armor.
And the accessibility.
Of iron.
And the superiority.
Over bronze.
Meant that it could be used.
To conquer.
Their enemies.
With very little resistance.
weapons.
And the accessibility.
Of iron.
Meant that everybody.
Who was part of the troop.
Would have.
All of the latest.
Weaponry.
Their iron weapons.
Could be mass produced.
They had a larger.
Fighting force.
They were stronger.
And lasted longer.
They could be.
Sharpened.
More than a bronze.
Weapon could.
Their spearmen.
Were mobile.
Rather than using.
Sandals of the day.
They were.
The first to use.
A modified boot.
A boot that had.
Spikes on the bottom.
This all terrain.
Vehicle.
That they wore.
They could fight.
Whether it was.
Wet.
Or dry.
Whether it was.
Snowy.
Or whether it was.
Regular.
Terrain.
This is what.
Helped them to be.
Effective.
In war.
It.
Helped them to stand.
Out above.
The rest of the.
The fray.
Their archers.
Used.
Were the first.
To use.
Composite bows.
Bows that could.
Sling arrows.
Further.
Than their enemies.
And then they excelled.
At siege warfare.
The first force.
To carry.
A separate core.
Of engineers.
Their principal tactics.
Were.
To.
To go against.
Heavily fortified cities.
And.
And to take.
Multi storied.
Siege warfare.
Into.
Against.
The gates.
This.
Mobile.
Unit.
That they could push.
Right up to.
The gates.
In terms of superiority.
There was no match.
For the Assyrian.
Army.
So the pride.
Of.
Assyrians.
Began to grow.
And their domination.
Of the known world.
Was.
Extensive.
From a human standpoint.
No one could stand.
In their way.
They dominated.
With.
Almost.
No resistance.
And that's the force.
That now comes against.
Hezekiah.
He's already dealt.
With the threat.
The Judean cities.
Have already been taken.
With the exception.
Of Jerusalem.
And here.
This force.
Stands.
At the gates.
Interestingly.
As we find here.
In verse two.
They stand.
At the.
Conduit.
Of the upper pool.
On the highway.
To the washer's field.
Now that may seem like a.
Fringe detail.
But this is the exact.
Location.
Where Isaiah.
Spoke.
To King Ahaz.
Years before.
And gave him.
The encouragement.
Be careful.
Be quiet.
Do.
Not.
Fear.
Ahaz.
And gives him.
The prophecy.
Of Emmanuel.
Who will come.
To rescue.
This is.
The location.
Where they stood.
And certainly.
The confidence.
In Hezekiah's heart.
Begins to grow.
As he sees.
That God is arranging.
The details.
Of all the events.
That are unfolding.
In front of him.
Now.
Leads us.
To the crisis.
In Jerusalem.
The crisis.
In Jerusalem.
Sennacherib.
Who is.
This successor.
To Tiglath.
Plazer.
Has been chewing up.
Judean territory.
Setting himself.
Against all the fortified cities.
He has just conquered.
Lachish.
Which is about 20 miles away.
From.
From Jerusalem.
Lachish.
Would have been.
The second greatest city.
In Judah.
And by the.
The historical records.
It was.
And from looking.
At the archaeology.
It appears as though.
Lachish.
Was defeated.
In just a matter.
Of days.
The second.
Greatest.
City.
In Judah.
Fell.
In just a matter.
Of days.
At the.
Unsurpassing.
Force.
Of the Assyrian army.
Now.
They're in Libna.
Which is only 10 miles.
Away.
From Jerusalem.
Moving closer.
expressing.
A threat.
And a portion.
Of this massive army.
Now stands.
At the gate.
Of Jerusalem.
And on that day.
Sennacherib.
Sends.
Three men.
As representatives.
Of the Assyrian army.
And sends.
This message.
That we find.
In Isaiah.
Chapter 36.
Beginning in verse 5.
Beginning in verse 4.
He says this.
And the Reb Sheikah.
Said to them.
Say to Hezekiah.
Thus says.
The great king.
The king.
Of Assyria.
On what do you rest.
This trust of yours.
Do you think.
That mere words.
Are our strategy.
And power.
For war.
In whom.
Do you now trust.
That you have rebelled.
Against me.
Behold.
You are trusting.
In Egypt.
That broken reed.
Of a staff.
Which will pierce.
The hand.
Of any man.
Who leans on it.
Such is Pharaoh.
King of Egypt.
To all who trust in him.
But if you say to me.
We trust in the Lord.
Our God.
Is it not he.
Whose high places.
And altars.
Hezekiah has removed.
Saying to Judah.
And Jerusalem.
You shall worship.
Before this altar.
Come now.
Make a wager.
With my master.
The king of Assyria.
I will give you.
Two thousand horses.
If you're able.
To.
On your part.
To set riders on them.
How then can you.
Repulse a single captain.
Among the latest.
Of my master's servants.
When you trust in Egypt.
For chariots.
And for horsemen.
Moreover.
It is without.
The Lord.
That I have come up.
Against this land.
To destroy it.
Or.
Actually.
I'm sorry.
That's a question.
Is it without.
The Lord.
That I have come up.
Against.
This land.
To destroy it.
The Lord.
Said to me.
Go up.
Against.
This land.
And destroy it.
Now.
Laced within.
This message.
From Rabshakeh.
Is.
Is an amazing.
Amount.
Of information.
Information.
That had been gathered.
By various sources.
And he uses.
To play.
On the emotions.
Of the people.
Of Jerusalem.
Him.
He looks.
To his.
Previous successes.
He looks.
At the human evidence.
And.
Looks over.
The landscape.
Of the.
Scorched earth.
Policy.
That the Assyrians.
Had.
All of the nations.
That have fallen.
All of the gods.
That have been represented.
And he.
Expresses.
His heart.
To say.
No one has stopped.
This yet.
Certainly.
Your God.
Will be no different.
Than the others.
And don't put your.
Hope or trust.
In Egypt.
Don't.
Lean on.
On another.
Country.
To.
To provide support.
They're.
They're not going to help you either.
Their help is.
Is worthless.
To you.
Don't let.
Any of these.
Other.
Confidences.
In your life.
Raise your hope.
That.
That your plight.
Will be any different.
From any of the other nations.
That we have conquered.
Trust.
Trust in the Lord.
Is nothing.
Trust in.
Chariots.
And trust in.
Horses.
And trust in.
Military tactics.
Won't save you.
At this point.
And so much.
Of what the.
Reb Sheikah.
Was true.
Hezekiah.
Had put.
Some trust.
In Assyria.
Or in Egypt.
He had given.
Some of his.
Hope.
To his own.
Ingenuity.
We find.
That.
Early on.
In Hezekiah's reign.
He had even given tribute.
To the king.
Of Assyria.
In hopes.
That that would repel.
Them as a nation.
And protect.
Protect.
The land of Judah.
But here they are.
Treachery.
Is.
Has been played out.
They're standing at the gates.
Hope in Egypt hadn't worked.
Hope in tribute hadn't worked.
Hope in military tactics.
Hadn't worked.
but now Hezekiah begins to understand where true hope is found and even before this announcement
had been made even as the Assyrian forces were were making their way to Judah it's clear that
Hezekiah begins to have a change of heart it's clear that God is already beginning to work in
his life and lead him to be a person of faith but these are the real obstacles that Hezekiah
had to deal with this is the real threat that stood at his door and as a man who was responsible for a
nation who oversaw the the lives of individuals what would he do the best case scenario from a
human perspective was that they could maybe hold out in Jerusalem but there was no way a few thousand
we're going to be able to overcome this massive military force and that's where we turn to to what
Hezekiah does next that's what we see in in in chapter 36
beginning in
excuse me chapter 37 verse 1
as soon as King has a Hezekiah heard it he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord
and he sent Eliakim
who was over the household of Shebna the secretary and the senior priests covered with sackcloths
to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amos
they said to him thus says Hezekiah
this is a day of distress
of rebuke and disgrace
children have come up to the point of birth
and there is no strength to bring them forth
Hezekiah
no longer
confident in his own power
now begins to turn his hope his hope and his heart towards the only one who could rescue
we see Hezekiah's determined faith
Hezekiah's determined faith
now let me accelerate this story and we'll pick it up in a couple of weeks
Hezekiah
with a company of of other individuals including Isaiah the prophet
petition the Lord and ask for help from him
notice in in the beginning of this chapter there is a rending of clothes
there is a heart of repentance a desire for forgiveness
Hezekiah has come to the point where he realizes that that that what he has done in the past has been been
against and dishonoring to the Lord
comes to the place where he recognizes that that that his only hope can be found in God alone
and there is mercy
and there is forgiveness
and we'll find as we continue to look at this narrative that there is rescue
that God does come and intervene
God does come and overthrows this massive force
as Hezekiah had had comforted his his people the people in Jerusalem he says with him as an arm of flesh but with us is the arm of the Lord
we'll see how the arm of the Lord plays out in this real situation
I believe that Hezekiah
sought to make much of God
he sought by faith
to demonstrate that he could be trusted
and that much could be accomplished
through prayer
and faith
we see that beginning to work out in this
the heart of this righteous man
who started so well
but had a couple of times
of departure
and wondering whether or not God could be trusted
but then doubling back and realizing
God is faithful
hope can be found in Him
rescue and salvation belong to our God
and so they come before Him and ask for help
and God delivers
we'll see that in a couple of weeks when we come back to this passage
I wonder this morning for you
is the expression of your heart
is the desire of your life
to exemplify that kind of commitment
have you given yourself
to the joy of demonstrating that much can be accomplished
through prayer and faith
it's a continuing journey for me
I think I told you a story
a couple of
last year about
something that happened a long time ago
in our home
we had just come back
from a trip
and my kids were young at this point
and one of my daughters
was tying her shoe
so that we could go
and have some dinner
and she's complaining a little bit
about the fact that her shoes have holes in them
and they're not the right color
and the biggest issue happens to be
that they have laces
and not Velcro
and she said
Daddy I really want some Velcro
shoes
and in that moment
was the golden opportunity
for me to demonstrate
that much can be accomplished
through prayer and faith
and yet
I missed
the opportunity
because wouldn't you know
that my wife goes
next door
and picks up
our mail
the mail that had been collecting
for the last week and a half
and in that collection
of mail
was a box
a box
addressed
to my daughter
a box
handed to my daughter
we didn't know
that the box was coming
box was opened
and what came out
what came out
come on
shoes right
and what kind of shoes
Velcro shoes
much can be accomplished
through prayer
and faith
will we set
the legacy
of faith
for our children
I was reminded
of another incident
it's almost embarrassing
to share
we got in the car
to go watch a movie
together as a family
and we have
eight seats in our car
and we have
eight people
in our family
so every seat
should be occupied
but for some reason
we got down
to the movie theater
and one of those seats
was vacant
and we realized
oh my goodness
we left
Karis at home
who was
pretty young
at the time
and she had been
upstairs changing
and getting ready
and she realized
that the house
was quiet
and she ran out
the front door
to see
where we were
and looked down
the street
and there was
no car
she realized
oh man
mommy and daddy
are gone
what am I going
to do
so she prays
and she asks
the Lord
Lord
please help me
not to be afraid
so she
gained her composure
she realized
that okay
this isn't so bad
I can make myself
a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich
for dinner
and I'll put myself
to bed on time
pretty amazing
that she's thinking
that way
God kind of gave her
some help
but she was still
a little anxious
about being home alone
so she prayed again
and said
Lord please
I just want
my mommy and daddy
and no sooner
did she say
amen
than the phone rang
because we had
finally gotten
to the theater
and like
ah
where is she
somehow
Karis had
caught
a vision
of what we're
seeking to
instill
in the hearts
of our children
that God
can be trusted
that God
is faithful
and she
by God's grace
understood
picked it up
embraced it
and carried it home
and the legacy
of faith
continues
as we seek
to instill
those same truths
in our kids
there can be
a Hezekiah
in your home
there could be
a Hezekiah
as one of your
grandkids
maybe
a Hezekiah
who's in your
Sunday school
class
that you can
impact
through your
life
of being a
person
who is a
legacy
who gives
and instills
a legacy
of faith
will that be
your mission
that much
can be
accomplished
through prayer
and through
faith
may that be
true of us
let's pray
oh Lord
we want
that to be
true
we see
the life
and example
of Hezekiah
and although
we couldn't
look at the
whole story
this morning
we understand
and we remember
because this
story is familiar
how you showed
up in Hezekiah's
life
and certainly
it's easy for us
as we look back
on the situation
to say of course
that's what we
would have done
but in the flow
of life
in the here
and now
we realize
that there is
much anxiety
there is much
worry
there is much
frustration
confusion
there is much
confusion
about direction
that we have
there is very
little peace
but we understand
God
that you came
to give peace
and that as we
seek to
align our hearts
in faith
to you
that you will
certainly give
peace
and more than
that
you will put
yourself
on display
you will make
your glory
known through
our lives
as we seek
to make much
of you
that is our
desire
help us
God
to be people
of faith
people who rest
in the understanding
of a God
who answers
a God
who hears
a God
who shows up
we praise you
for that
in Jesus name
Amen