Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:06.440
Let's continue our reading of chronicles.
Were coming very close to the end now,
2
00:00:07.870 --> 00:00:16.149
says second chronicles, Chapter Thirty two. This is the last of the
3
00:00:16.910 --> 00:00:24.899
accounts of good King Hezekiah. We
will see that, as good as he
4
00:00:25.019 --> 00:00:29.500
has been and continues to be in
this chapter, he is not without fault
5
00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:36.130
and not without sin. Let's give
our attention to God's word. Second Chronicles,
6
00:00:36.210 --> 00:00:43.250
Chapter Thirty two. After these things
and these acts of faithfulness, Senecarib,
7
00:00:43.490 --> 00:00:49.090
King of Assyria, came and invaded
Judah and encamped against the fortified cities,
8
00:00:49.409 --> 00:00:54.880
thinking to win them for himself.
And when Hezekiah saw that Senecorib had
9
00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:00.000
come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, he planned with his officers and his
10
00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:03.159
mighty men to stop the water of
the springs that were outside the city,
11
00:01:03.590 --> 00:01:07.950
and they helped him. A great
many people were gathered and they stopped all
12
00:01:08.030 --> 00:01:12.109
the springs and the brook that flowed
through their land, saying why should the
13
00:01:12.150 --> 00:01:18.510
kings of Assyria come and find much
water? He set to work resolutely and
14
00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:22.700
build up all the wall that was
broken down and raised towers upon it,
15
00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:26.659
and outside he built another wall and
he strengthened the Melo in the city of
16
00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:33.530
David he he also made weapons and
shields and abundance, and he set combat
17
00:01:33.609 --> 00:01:38.010
commanders over the people and gathered them
together to him in the square at the
18
00:01:38.090 --> 00:01:42.569
gate of the city and spoke encouragingly
to them, saying be strong and courageous,
19
00:01:44.290 --> 00:01:48.200
do not be afraid or dismayed before
the king of Assyria and all the
20
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:53.000
horde that is with him, for
there are more with us than with him.
21
00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.760
With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord
22
00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:04.349
our God to help us and to
fight our battles. And the people took
23
00:02:04.349 --> 00:02:10.789
confidence from the words of Hezekiah,
King of Judah. After this, Senecarab
24
00:02:10.870 --> 00:02:15.300
King of Assyria, who was besieging
Lakeish with all his forces, sent his
25
00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:20.860
servants to Jerusalem, to Hezekiah King
of Judah, and to all the people
26
00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:24.259
of Judah who were in Jerusalem,
saying thus, says Senecarib, King of
27
00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:30.370
Assyria, on what are you trusting
that you endure the siege in Jerusalem?
28
00:02:30.330 --> 00:02:36.210
Is Not Hezekiamis leading you that he
may give you over to die by famine
29
00:02:36.250 --> 00:02:39.409
and by thirst? When he tells
you the Lord our God will deliver us
30
00:02:39.449 --> 00:02:45.840
from the hand of the King of
Assyria has not this same Hezekiah taken away
31
00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:52.039
his high places and his altars and
commanded Judah and Jerusalem before one altar you
32
00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:55.719
shall worship and on it you shall
burn your sacrifices. Do you not know
33
00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:00.830
what I and my fathers have done
to all the peoples of the other lands?
34
00:03:00.669 --> 00:03:04.909
Were the gods of the nations of
those lands at all able to deliver
35
00:03:05.469 --> 00:03:08.629
their lands out of my hand?
WHO, among all the Gods of those
36
00:03:08.669 --> 00:03:14.900
nations that my father's devoted to destruction, was able to deliver his people from
37
00:03:14.979 --> 00:03:19.740
my hand? That your God should
be able to deliver you from my hand
38
00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:24.939
now, therefore, do not let
Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this
39
00:03:25.099 --> 00:03:30.770
fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or
40
00:03:30.810 --> 00:03:35.129
kingdom has been able to deliver his
people from my hand or from the hand
41
00:03:35.210 --> 00:03:38.770
of my father's. How much less
will your God deliver you out of my
42
00:03:38.930 --> 00:03:44.639
hand? And his servants said still
more against the Lord God and Against His
43
00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:47.879
servant, has a Kiah, and
he wrote letters to cast contempt on the
44
00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:52.560
Lord, the God of Israel,
and to speak against him, saying,
45
00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:57.030
like the gods of the nations of
the lands, who have not delivered their
46
00:03:57.110 --> 00:04:00.509
people from my hands. So the
God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people
47
00:04:00.629 --> 00:04:04.990
from my hand. And they shouted
it with a loud voice in the language
48
00:04:04.990 --> 00:04:10.300
of Judah to the people of Jerusalem
who were on the wall, to frighten
49
00:04:10.740 --> 00:04:15.500
and terrify them in order that they
might take the city. And they spoke
50
00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:17.860
of the God of Jerusalem, as
they spoke of the gods of the peoples
51
00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:24.290
of the Earth, which are the
work of men's hands. Then has a
52
00:04:24.290 --> 00:04:27.649
Kiah King, the king, and
Isaiah, the oft it, the son
53
00:04:27.689 --> 00:04:32.410
of almost prayed because of this and
cried to heaven, and the Lord sent
54
00:04:32.529 --> 00:04:40.319
an angel who cut off all the
mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the
55
00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:44.879
camp of the King of Assyria.
So he returned with shame on his face
56
00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:47.639
to his own land, and when
he came into the house of his God,
57
00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:54.029
some of his own sons struck him
down there with the sword. So
58
00:04:54.149 --> 00:04:59.149
the Lord Saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem from the hand of Senecorab King
59
00:04:59.230 --> 00:05:02.509
of Assyria, and from the hand
of all his enemies, and he provided
60
00:05:02.589 --> 00:05:06.540
for them on every side, and
many brought gifts to the Lord of the
61
00:05:08.220 --> 00:05:13.060
many brought gifts to the Lord,
to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah,
62
00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:15.980
King of Judah, so that he
was exalted in the sight of all nations
63
00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:25.930
from that time onward. In those
days, Hezekiah became sick and was at
64
00:05:25.970 --> 00:05:29.370
the point of death and he prayed
to the Lord and he answered him and
65
00:05:29.610 --> 00:05:33.689
gave him a sign. But has
a Kaiah did not make return according to
66
00:05:33.769 --> 00:05:40.160
the benefit done to him, for
his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came
67
00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:45.480
upon him and Judah and Jerusalem,
but has a Kiah humbled himself for the
68
00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:48.959
pride in his heart, both he
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that
69
00:05:49.069 --> 00:05:51.670
the wrath of the Lord did not
come upon them. In the days of
70
00:05:51.709 --> 00:05:58.870
Hezekiah and has a Kai I had
very great riches and honor, and he
71
00:05:58.990 --> 00:06:02.990
made for himself treasuries of for silver, for gold, for precious stones,
72
00:06:03.149 --> 00:06:09.420
for spices, for shields and for
all kinds of costly vessels, store houses
73
00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:13.259
also for the yield of grain,
wine and oil, and stalls for all
74
00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:19.009
kinds of cattle and sheepfolds. He
likewise provided cities for himself and flocks and
75
00:06:19.170 --> 00:06:26.970
herds and abundance for God had given
him very great possessions. This same has
76
00:06:26.970 --> 00:06:30.689
a kiah closed the upper outlet of
the waters of Gihan and directed them down
77
00:06:30.730 --> 00:06:35.199
toward the west side of the city
of David. and has a Kaia prospered
78
00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:41.240
and all his works. And so
in the matter of the envoys of the
79
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:46.120
princes of Babylon who had been who
had been sent to him to inquire about
80
00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:48.870
the sign that had been done in
the land, God left him to himself
81
00:06:49.310 --> 00:06:53.310
in order to test him and to
know all that was in his heart.
82
00:06:54.670 --> 00:06:58.589
Now the rest of the acts of
Hezekiah and his good deeds behold. They
83
00:06:58.629 --> 00:07:00.740
are written in the vision of Isaiah, the Prophet, the son of Amos,
84
00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:05.100
and the K book of the Kings
of Judah and Israel. And Hezekiah
85
00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:09.339
slept with his father's and they buried
him in the upper part of the tombs
86
00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:14.540
of the sons of David, and
all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did
87
00:07:14.620 --> 00:07:17.610
him honor at his death, and
Manassa, his son, reigned in his
88
00:07:17.730 --> 00:07:26.209
place. God bless his word to
us. Well, as I said here,
89
00:07:26.329 --> 00:07:31.240
we have the end of the story
of Hezekiah, the chronicles of this
90
00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:40.480
account. I'm God has spoken and
clearly and wonderfully about the strength that he
91
00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:46.430
exercises through this king. As you
reflect on the Kings, as we've heard
92
00:07:46.589 --> 00:07:48.589
them back and forth, back and
forth, one of the things I hope
93
00:07:48.629 --> 00:07:56.350
you've begun to realize is how much
in control God is of these things.
94
00:07:57.389 --> 00:08:03.180
One of the over riding messages,
the most important things we are to learn
95
00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:07.740
from this book, is how God
is sovereign in this world, how things
96
00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:11.300
can appear either very weak and not
be or very strong and not be.
97
00:08:13.370 --> 00:08:18.569
Ultimately everything is in the hand of
the Lord. At this point in time
98
00:08:18.689 --> 00:08:24.329
we see Hezekiah with these vast riches
and vast power, but at other times
99
00:08:24.449 --> 00:08:28.879
in the book we've seen kings that
are very weak, struggling for their very
100
00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:33.759
existence. There isn't a kind of
inevitability about life that we often feel that
101
00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:39.480
there is. Feels like things will
go on and on and on, always
102
00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:43.230
the way that they are, and
we begin to trust ourselves, even as
103
00:08:43.269 --> 00:08:46.909
Hezekiah does here in this chapter.
But it's not always true. In fact
104
00:08:46.909 --> 00:08:52.269
it's never true. God is the
one is who is in control. God
105
00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:56.860
is the one who lifts up and
pulls down, who gives life and who
106
00:08:56.940 --> 00:09:07.980
gives death. Hezekiah is a story
of a good king, one who preceded
107
00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:13.809
our great king, who foreshadowed Jesus
Christ, and points to the many kinds
108
00:09:13.850 --> 00:09:18.730
of things that a good king is
we've seen his faithfulness to the Lord again
109
00:09:18.730 --> 00:09:22.649
and again. We've seen the ways
in which he's reinstituted the law, reinstituted
110
00:09:22.769 --> 00:09:28.399
worship, dealt and leaderly, good, good leaderly ways with his people.
111
00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:35.480
His prayers have been holy and good
and God has blessed him again and again
112
00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:39.509
and again. We have that here
in this chapter as well. But we
113
00:09:39.629 --> 00:09:48.070
also have reminders that Hezekiah was not
infinitely strong, that there were in him
114
00:09:48.870 --> 00:09:58.299
weaknesses too, in particular physical weakness
in a spiritual weakness, the same two
115
00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:03.620
weaknesses that are in all of us
except for our Savior. But let's begin
116
00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:11.090
by remembering his the strength that's exhibited
here on the part of God, this
117
00:10:11.370 --> 00:10:16.769
reminder that we have that he is
the one who rules and controls all things.
118
00:10:18.169 --> 00:10:22.039
This story, I think, is
fairly clear. It comes to us
119
00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:28.039
some very vividly and powerfully has a
Kia is strong over his kingdom. He
120
00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:33.360
has spent time building up these cities, but now he faces an enemy,
121
00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:39.950
a very strong enemy, Senecorab,
King of Assyria, and Senecarab wants something
122
00:10:39.070 --> 00:10:46.470
for himself. He wants Jerusalem,
he wants the fortified cities. He's going
123
00:10:46.029 --> 00:10:54.139
to expand. How does he do
this? Well, he takes a giant
124
00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:56.580
army, a horde, that is, it's described as a horde, and
125
00:10:56.659 --> 00:11:03.779
he comes against Jerusalem. We read
in verse two. How does haze kiah
126
00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:09.529
respond? Hez A KIAH start.
Responds by building up, by ramping up,
127
00:11:09.649 --> 00:11:13.490
by getting ready for war. He
fortifies the wall, he builds another
128
00:11:13.649 --> 00:11:18.399
wall, he built constructs weapons and
shields. We read in Verse Five.
129
00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:26.120
In abundance, he prepares the food, he gives strength to the soldiers and
130
00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:31.559
the commanders. He stands there in
the square and he gives them this motivational
131
00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:37.309
speech says get ready, boys,
we're going to battle. Be Strong,
132
00:11:37.029 --> 00:11:41.509
be courageous, do not be afraid
or dismayed before the king of Assyria and
133
00:11:41.549 --> 00:11:46.190
all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than
134
00:11:46.269 --> 00:11:50.019
with him. He continues in Verse
Eight. With him as an arm of
135
00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:54.419
flesh, but with us is the
Lord, our God, to help us
136
00:11:54.500 --> 00:12:00.820
and to fight our battles. If
there's any verse that you remember from Chapter
137
00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:05.330
Thirty two. Let it be this
one. With him is an arm of
138
00:12:05.450 --> 00:12:09.889
flesh, but with us is the
Lord, our God, to help us
139
00:12:09.409 --> 00:12:16.840
and to fight our battles. I
pray that as you hear those words tonight,
140
00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:20.519
you would do even as the people
did, which we read at the
141
00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:26.840
end in Verse Eight. They took
confidence from this sermon. They took confidence
142
00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:30.590
from the words of Hezekiah, the
King of Judah, as he pointed them
143
00:12:30.950 --> 00:12:39.110
to their infinitely strong God, and
with good reason. Now, senecorb is
144
00:12:39.509 --> 00:12:43.659
no weakling. He doesn't roll over, he doesn't but he's not bothered at
145
00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:52.259
all by the the ramp up and
protection that Hezekiah is seeking to do to
146
00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:58.090
protect his city. With no he
he fights hard. We read that he
147
00:12:58.330 --> 00:13:05.330
sends in Verse Nine He's besieging a
lakish with all of his forces as a
148
00:13:05.529 --> 00:13:11.850
threat. Jerusalem can see what's coming. And then he sends servants to Jerusalem,
149
00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:18.440
servants of these king and they come
and they have a sort of smear
150
00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:24.919
campaign against Hezekiah. Right, this
is propaganda of the highest order. Right,
151
00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.840
this is how to do it.
If you want to do this,
152
00:13:26.669 --> 00:13:30.990
you know, he sends his servants
into the city and later we read that
153
00:13:31.269 --> 00:13:35.269
they speak their language. Right,
they don't. They don't come and and
154
00:13:35.990 --> 00:13:39.429
they speak in the language of the
people. As what they do? Why?
155
00:13:39.629 --> 00:13:43.779
To frighten them, to terrify them. And what are the arguments that
156
00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:48.419
he uses? What are the ways
in which Senecora is trying to persuade these
157
00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:52.379
people to give up on the Lord? This is important because these are the
158
00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:56.210
same tools that are used by all
kinds of people, by Satan himself,
159
00:13:56.409 --> 00:14:01.889
to tell us to give up on
the Lord. Well, the first and
160
00:14:01.129 --> 00:14:07.450
one of the most powerful means of
persuasion is power. He is besieging the
161
00:14:07.649 --> 00:14:13.519
city. That's a scary situation to
be in. They are they? It
162
00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:18.840
seems as though they are at least
in danger of famine in thirst. This
163
00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:22.559
is what Senecab says in verse eleven. Is Hez a Kiah misleading you?
164
00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:28.029
Is he not misleading you that he
may give you over to die by famine
165
00:14:28.070 --> 00:14:31.070
and thirst? They're cut off,
the army is around them, besieging,
166
00:14:31.190 --> 00:14:35.710
besieging, besieging. Now we read
that there are people up on the wall,
167
00:14:37.070 --> 00:14:39.740
these towers that has a kiah built
in preparation for this, and they're
168
00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:45.860
watching all of this. Can you
imagine being up watching the tower, watching
169
00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:52.019
who knows what, things attacking the
walls, people liking tunnels of food supplies
170
00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:56.450
being cut off, arrows coming over
day and night, day and night,
171
00:14:56.610 --> 00:15:01.330
and not only the power of it, but the words, watching all of
172
00:15:01.409 --> 00:15:07.399
this, wondering how long are we
going to survive this? Where is God?
173
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:11.399
Because at this point in time,
when Heze Kai is making these or
174
00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:16.799
sorry, when Senecorb is making these
claims, he seems strong. He seems
175
00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:22.750
as though he would win. Why
wouldn't he? Aside from this just bare
176
00:15:24.789 --> 00:15:31.629
strong power, physical force, threat
of danger and death as a or sorry,
177
00:15:31.669 --> 00:15:37.460
Senecorb also tries to persuade by impugning
the motives of Hezekiah. He does
178
00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:43.139
it in different ways. At first
he says, is he not misleading you?
179
00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:48.860
In Verse Eleven, he's tricking you. It doesn't exactly say why,
180
00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:52.889
but maybe he implies it in certain
places, like when he says has not
181
00:15:52.090 --> 00:15:56.929
this same has a Ki, in
other words, this one who's misleading you,
182
00:15:56.529 --> 00:16:02.490
taken away his high places and his
altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem before
183
00:16:02.690 --> 00:16:06.200
one altar you shall worship, and
on it you shall burn your sacrifices.
184
00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:11.919
I don't think it's reading into it
too much that he's accusing has a Kia,
185
00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.120
of not only misleading them but also
of abusing them. Look at these
186
00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:22.830
difficult things he's commit ended you.
He's taken away your worship, he's taken
187
00:16:22.830 --> 00:16:26.710
away the gods that you used to
serve, and now there's all these rules
188
00:16:26.750 --> 00:16:33.179
about worshiping on one altar. I
don't know how persuasive this was to the
189
00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:37.139
people, but I can imagine that
at least to some it would have been
190
00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:42.379
persuasive, despite the fact that not
that long before they themselves were worshiping and
191
00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:47.769
celebrating out the altar, not seeing
it as a burden but as a joy.
192
00:16:48.690 --> 00:16:52.409
But this is the way Satan works. He takes things and he tricks
193
00:16:52.450 --> 00:16:56.090
us. He makes us think that
things are that are joyful and lovely and
194
00:16:56.210 --> 00:17:02.759
wonderful are in fact burdensome and troublesome. He goes on. He not only
195
00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:07.160
persuades with forest and that you,
not only undermines and impunes the motives of
196
00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:14.720
their king, he also impunes of
the motives of God and the ability of
197
00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:19.549
God. He says, do you
not know? This is in verse thirteen?
198
00:17:19.670 --> 00:17:22.750
Do you not know what I and
my fathers have done to all the
199
00:17:22.910 --> 00:17:29.069
peoples of other lands. I have
a track record here. What makes the
200
00:17:29.109 --> 00:17:33.660
youth think that you will survive this? And you can imagine that in their
201
00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:37.779
minds they would be able to think
about cities that they had passed by,
202
00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:41.700
that were once independent and one strong, but now everyone knows they had fallen
203
00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:47.890
into the hands of the king of
Assyria and his father's before him. The
204
00:17:47.930 --> 00:17:51.730
fact that he points to his father's
is a way of establishing his strength.
205
00:17:51.890 --> 00:17:56.650
Or, even more, he's sang
for generations we have conquered and conquered and
206
00:17:56.849 --> 00:18:03.440
conquered, and indeed that's true.
Assyria was expanding and expanding fast. They
207
00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:07.000
were becoming more and more powerful.
What reason did Israel have to believe that
208
00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:12.150
they would be any different, that
there God would not fall as all the
209
00:18:12.230 --> 00:18:18.710
other gods would? This is what
Hezekiah said, or I'm sorry, Senecreb
210
00:18:18.869 --> 00:18:22.750
was saying in Verse Fifteen. He
says now, therefore, do not let
211
00:18:22.829 --> 00:18:26.980
Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in
this fashion. Do not believe him,
212
00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:33.460
for no god of any nation or
kingdom has been able to deliver his people
213
00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:37.740
from my hand or from the hand
of my father's. How much less will
214
00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:42.609
that your God deliver you out of
my hand. Then the letters start coming,
215
00:18:42.650 --> 00:18:45.650
in their own language. Similar kinds
of things are saying. They're doing
216
00:18:45.849 --> 00:18:52.049
everything that they can to attack them, to persuade them, to tell them
217
00:18:52.609 --> 00:18:57.359
to give up. It's over already. What makes you think you will win?
218
00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:03.279
This is what Satan does. He
it isn't it? He persuades us
219
00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:08.400
with his force. He attacks us, perhaps even in physical ways. He
220
00:19:10.430 --> 00:19:17.150
he makes us feel weak and poor
and sick. He attacks the motives of
221
00:19:17.230 --> 00:19:22.549
those who preach to us and teach
to us the things of God. Are
222
00:19:22.630 --> 00:19:26.380
They not misleading you? Aren't there
better things out there? Has God really
223
00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:32.500
said? He attacks these things,
he tries to be persuade. He points
224
00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:37.859
to the track record that he has. Satan points to the things that he's
225
00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:40.529
done, the powers that he has. He says, look around you,
226
00:19:40.609 --> 00:19:45.930
you are weak, you are small, you are insignificant, you are dying,
227
00:19:47.529 --> 00:19:55.480
and I am strong. How do
we respond to these things? How
228
00:19:55.559 --> 00:20:00.559
do we be strong and courageous when
we feel weak, maybe even cowardly,
229
00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:06.160
when we begin to wonder, will
God keep his word? Is he like
230
00:20:07.190 --> 00:20:11.069
all the other gods? Well,
there are a lot of good answers to
231
00:20:11.150 --> 00:20:18.509
that question. What can be done? One of them, one great response,
232
00:20:18.589 --> 00:20:23.619
is the response that has a Kaiah
gives in verse twenty. The way
233
00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:26.819
has a kiah responds to all of
this is he and he said when we
234
00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:30.140
read has a Kaia, the king
and Isaiah, the Prophet, the son
235
00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:41.529
of Almos, prayed because of this
and cried to heaven. They prayed saints
236
00:20:41.609 --> 00:20:45.930
of the Lord. Prayer is one
of the greatest tactical maneuvers, one of
237
00:20:45.970 --> 00:20:51.559
the greatest strategic options that we have. It's what has a Kiah does,
238
00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:57.440
and it brought about success, not
because of the just the May bear act
239
00:20:57.559 --> 00:21:02.960
of praying, as though some kind
of mystical religious thing would be able to
240
00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:07.990
accomplish this or control God, but
prayer is significant because the one to whom
241
00:21:08.029 --> 00:21:14.829
he praises significant. He goes to
God, as you would know, other
242
00:21:14.990 --> 00:21:18.700
God. He goes to God because
he knows that this is not that God,
243
00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:22.539
that Yahwagh is not a god of
his own making, God is not
244
00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:30.180
like the Gods of the other people's
Seneca Eb's a arguments are invalid. He
245
00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:34.450
assumes that God has like the other
Gods, and so that won't be defeated
246
00:21:34.569 --> 00:21:40.890
like the other gods, but has
a Kiah and Isaiah no different. And
247
00:21:41.009 --> 00:21:47.640
so what do they do? They
pray. They pray in faith. And
248
00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:52.160
how does God respond? We read
it in Verse Twenty One that Ya always
249
00:21:52.240 --> 00:22:00.279
sent an angel who cut off all
the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in
250
00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:03.109
the camp of the King of Assyria. I just want to point out that
251
00:22:03.710 --> 00:22:08.990
this is something I've observed in reading
the historical books. I don't think I
252
00:22:10.869 --> 00:22:12.549
haven't tested this. I don't.
It's probably not true in every place,
253
00:22:12.670 --> 00:22:18.420
but in many, many places we
have the stories to have this kind of
254
00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:23.819
massive build up, attacking and and
drama and all of this, and then
255
00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:26.980
the end, the great victory,
is sort of like a on the radar
256
00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:30.890
and that and then the story is
over. This happens over and over again.
257
00:22:30.970 --> 00:22:38.049
One of my favorite examples is Saul
Son Jonathan and his armor Bearon for
258
00:22:38.170 --> 00:22:44.960
Samuel Fourteen. All this drama about
they only have one sword between them and
259
00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:48.240
they're going to fight this Philistine garrison. They're crawling hand and foot up these
260
00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:55.039
rocky cliffs and the Philistines are calling
down at them and and and mocking them,
261
00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:57.119
and then it simply says and when
they reach the top. They all
262
00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:03.430
fell over dead. This is like
these very simple things. It's like that
263
00:23:03.589 --> 00:23:08.349
here we have page almost in this
Bible, almost a full page of build
264
00:23:08.349 --> 00:23:11.900
up, and then in a simple
sentence, we read the Lord sent an
265
00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:17.140
angel who cut off all the mighty
warriors, commanders and officers of the camp
266
00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:22.460
of the King of Assyria and done. This is the thing about God,
267
00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:26.380
this is the thing he wants us
to remember. For us, it would
268
00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:30.049
seem there would be so difficult,
that the battle would be so hard to
269
00:23:30.210 --> 00:23:37.369
win, and God can do things
in a moment. They don't leave the
270
00:23:37.490 --> 00:23:41.079
city, they don't rush out,
they don't fight a big battle. God
271
00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:48.319
simply sends an angel and takes care
of business. Judgment of the Lord is
272
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:55.200
mighty and powerful. Remember that.
You who fear the Lord, you who
273
00:23:55.359 --> 00:24:02.750
trust in him and are waiting on
him. God is powerful to save and
274
00:24:02.910 --> 00:24:06.710
for those of you who do not
fear him, who, like Senec Arab,
275
00:24:06.829 --> 00:24:10.380
think of him is nothing more,
is like any of the other gods.
276
00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:15.700
If you consider yourself above the Lord, the God of Israel, then
277
00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:19.900
be afraid, for the Lord can
bring down the mightiest of men, the
278
00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:26.450
greatest of empires, in a moment
and here, the great king, coming
279
00:24:26.529 --> 00:24:33.690
after all of his father's now goes
back to his own country, a failure.
280
00:24:33.890 --> 00:24:41.839
Having come to de Besiege all of
these little cities, this nothing place,
281
00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:48.640
he goes back to his own land
with shame on his face, and
282
00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:52.359
we read that when he comes into
the house of his God, some of
283
00:24:52.480 --> 00:25:00.789
his own sons struck him down there
with the sword. It's not long after
284
00:25:00.910 --> 00:25:08.819
this that the entire empire of Assyria
falls all over, all done, as
285
00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:15.339
the Babylonians rush in and take everything
over. Of course, the Babylonians will
286
00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:19.660
come to make all the same foolish
mistakes as the Assyrians dead, and every
287
00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:25.490
empire after them will do it again
and again and again. Even to this
288
00:25:25.609 --> 00:25:30.130
day, there are Kingdoms and powers
in this world, even our own country,
289
00:25:30.809 --> 00:25:36.240
the claims strength beyond what it really
has, that promises things that can
290
00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:42.960
never be realized. We must trust
only and always in King Jesus and in
291
00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:48.640
the kingdom that he promises us,
because the kingdoms of this world will go
292
00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.710
and we'll pass away. God will
lift them up for a time and then
293
00:25:52.750 --> 00:25:59.869
he will put them asunder. We
read about the Babylonians, in fact,
294
00:26:00.869 --> 00:26:07.220
and the next in part of the
end of this chapter. There's a description
295
00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:12.140
there in verse thirty one. And
so, in the matters of the envoys,
296
00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:18.259
of the princes of Babylon, who
had been sent to him to inquire
297
00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:21.529
about the sign that had been done
in the land, God left to himself,
298
00:26:21.569 --> 00:26:25.690
left him, that is, a
Hezekiah, to himself in order to
299
00:26:25.849 --> 00:26:29.650
test him and to know all that
was in his heart. I want to
300
00:26:29.690 --> 00:26:33.599
use this verse as a transition.
They see that I need to finish up
301
00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:38.079
here, but as a transition to
talk about some of the weaknesses of Hezekiah
302
00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:45.400
too. Two weaknesses. First,
his physical weakness. Hezekiah was a man
303
00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:52.509
just like all of us, capable
of death and fearful of death. Hezekiah's
304
00:26:52.549 --> 00:26:55.269
cities and the things that he had
built, the work that he has done,
305
00:26:55.549 --> 00:27:00.269
was not infinitely strong. His kingdom, his walls, were capable of
306
00:27:00.430 --> 00:27:04.900
falling, and indeed they had.
We read that before the military build up,
307
00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:10.819
before this invasion, that he's repairing
the wall, the wall that had
308
00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:14.460
been there during the time that he
was king, a wall that falls down
309
00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:18.569
and breaks. That's what walls do. You build him up and they fall
310
00:27:18.769 --> 00:27:23.529
down, and you build them up
and they fall down. Hezekiah was no
311
00:27:23.730 --> 00:27:32.680
god. Neither was Senecorib. Both
were limited, both were finite. Both
312
00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:38.599
had physical weaknesses and we're not infinitely
strong. They also had spiritual weaknesses.
313
00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:45.710
We know Senec ribs very well,
but we are also told of Hezekiah's despite
314
00:27:45.829 --> 00:27:49.230
his goodness, and we realized and
we were are reminded of this fact at
315
00:27:49.230 --> 00:27:53.910
the end of the chapter when it
says that the rest of the acts of
316
00:27:53.990 --> 00:28:00.779
Hezekiah and his good deeds behold.
They are written even at the very end.
317
00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:07.940
This formula that's been given at the
very end of these various chronicles of
318
00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:12.410
these kings I'm here is heightened.
And not only is he buried in the
319
00:28:14.130 --> 00:28:18.170
buried with David, but he's buried
in the upper part of the tombs of
320
00:28:18.250 --> 00:28:22.289
the sons of David. And it's
also adds, as is not happen with
321
00:28:22.410 --> 00:28:27.079
all the other kings, the Judah
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did honor him
322
00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:33.079
at his death. So Hez a
kio is a good king, but he
323
00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:37.880
was a man, a sinful man, and was not perfect. There's two
324
00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:42.670
things that are mentioned. The first
is his pride at well, it's his
325
00:28:42.789 --> 00:28:48.670
pride in both instances, a one
at the first example comes in verse Twenty
326
00:28:48.789 --> 00:28:52.029
Five. We read that Hez a
Kai in verse twenty four, became sick
327
00:28:52.150 --> 00:28:56.059
and was about to die, but
then the Lord lifted him up. But
328
00:28:56.420 --> 00:29:00.339
because of his pride, because his
heart was proud, has a Kaiah did
329
00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:04.339
not return. In other words,
he did not worship God or give God
330
00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:11.210
thanks, as was do. Therefore
wrath came upon him, and rightly he
331
00:29:11.369 --> 00:29:14.809
repented, and that's good. But
this wasn't the end of his pride.
332
00:29:15.730 --> 00:29:19.450
In the next verses, in twenty
seven through thirty, we read of the
333
00:29:19.529 --> 00:29:25.920
ways in which God richly, richly
breast has a Kia, the god,
334
00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:30.759
and enriched him. Should be obvious
from all kinds of things, but it
335
00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:34.759
says it's specifically here, in Verse
Twenty Nine, that God had given him
336
00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:42.430
very great possessions. The trouble,
however, with possessions and with power is
337
00:29:42.549 --> 00:29:47.670
that we come to trust in them
and we come to trust in ourselves as
338
00:29:47.710 --> 00:29:51.470
the originators of them. This,
of course, was what'Senec orb did,
339
00:29:52.029 --> 00:29:56.619
but it's what has a Kaiah did
to it's a reminder that, as we
340
00:29:56.900 --> 00:30:00.380
desire the things of this world,
we ought to remember that they often come
341
00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:08.890
with them challenges real spiritual challenges.
And that's what happened to Hezekiah here.
342
00:30:11.130 --> 00:30:14.690
The first place, we read that
God gave him back his life and he
343
00:30:14.849 --> 00:30:18.769
wasn't thankful, sort of took it
for granted. Of course, this is
344
00:30:18.890 --> 00:30:22.039
Oh to me. He felt and
he thought he repented of this and that
345
00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:26.759
was good. But in these last
verses, which are a little bit cryptic,
346
00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:33.640
and something else happens, something that's
quite sad. What happens is that
347
00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:41.430
this envoy from Babylon comes. This
is described in Second Kings, Chapter Twenty.
348
00:30:41.710 --> 00:30:49.259
This Babylon envoy comes and has a
KIA, gives them the grand tour.
349
00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:59.700
He takes some everywhere, every every
room. He's not merely being hospitable.
350
00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:03.289
Imagine if you went to go visit
somebody's house and was a friend or
351
00:31:03.890 --> 00:31:07.289
maybe somebody had moved in. They
say hey, can show me the place
352
00:31:07.329 --> 00:31:10.890
and you say no problem. But
asay of just walking them around and showing
353
00:31:11.009 --> 00:31:14.329
them and sort of being happy together
for the things that you've given, you
354
00:31:14.450 --> 00:31:18.480
sort of start opening up every drawer
and every knick knack and you talk about
355
00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:25.480
every trophy and every accomplishment and you
try to show your wealth, you show
356
00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:30.839
it off, you have pride in
it. Well, that's what Hezekiah does
357
00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:36.230
in this account. That's described more
fully. And Second Kings Chapter Twenty.
358
00:31:37.029 --> 00:31:40.789
We read in Verse Thirteen of that
chapter that he welcomed them and showed them
359
00:31:40.829 --> 00:31:44.750
all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the
360
00:31:44.829 --> 00:31:48.019
precious oil, his armory, all
that was found in his storehouses. There
361
00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:52.299
was nothing in his house or in
all his realm that has a Kaiah did
362
00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:56.420
not show them. Isaiah, the
Prophet, came to King Hez Aki and
363
00:31:56.500 --> 00:32:00.980
said to him, what did these
men say and from where did they come
364
00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:04.450
to you and haze? Kaiah said
they have come from a far country,
365
00:32:04.490 --> 00:32:08.809
from Babylon. Isaiah says to him, what have they seen in your house
366
00:32:09.329 --> 00:32:13.130
and has a Kaiah said they have
seen all that is in my house.
367
00:32:13.210 --> 00:32:17.319
There is nothing in my storehouses that
I did not show them. Isaiah responds,
368
00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:21.240
hear the word of the Lord behole. Days are coming when all that
369
00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:24.240
is in your house and that which
your fathers have stored up to this day
370
00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:31.230
shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing
shall be left, says the Lord,
371
00:32:31.269 --> 00:32:36.789
and some of your own sons who
shall be born to you shall be taken
372
00:32:36.869 --> 00:32:44.940
away and shall be eunuchs in the
Palace of the King of Babylon. Then
373
00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:50.420
get this. Then has a Kiah
says to Isaiah, the word of the
374
00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:58.690
Lord that you have spoken is good. When I first read that I thought,
375
00:32:59.569 --> 00:33:05.809
well, good, he's accepting his
punishment. But then we read on
376
00:33:06.089 --> 00:33:09.170
and it says for he thought,
why not, if there will be peace
377
00:33:09.210 --> 00:33:20.119
and security in my days. Has
A ky after all that he'd been given,
378
00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:23.200
here at the end of his life, he's ending up just likes an
379
00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:29.069
ECARIB. After all the good things, after all the blessing, after everything
380
00:33:29.190 --> 00:33:35.390
that God had done for him,
even in his mercies, in sparing him
381
00:33:35.509 --> 00:33:42.420
from his pride during his reign,
he is going to lose his kingdom,
382
00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:49.740
even in relationship to his sons,
in a way. And Hezekiah's attitude is
383
00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:58.329
now not repentance, but well,
we saw. I'm okay, pride is
384
00:33:58.769 --> 00:34:08.570
often about selfishness. These are the
weaknesses of men. They are are weaknesses.
385
00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:15.239
How many times has God blessed you
and you failed to return thanks?
386
00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:19.719
How many times have you been in
a position where God has poured richly out
387
00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:24.789
you on you, blessing after blessing
after blessing, and yet you selfishly use
388
00:34:24.869 --> 00:34:30.309
your resources, you use them as
a point of pride, to show off
389
00:34:30.469 --> 00:34:34.070
who you are, instead of what, who God is and what he has
390
00:34:34.110 --> 00:34:40.539
done. These weaknesses remind us of
our need for a savior. They remind
391
00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:45.460
us of our need for a King
even greater than Haz a Kiah, as
392
00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:50.980
amazing as he was, as good
as he was, ultimately, in a
393
00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:55.530
way, his kingdom would end in
failure. His kingship would end and failure.
394
00:34:58.010 --> 00:35:01.050
There are still more left in second
chronicles and there's more left in God's
395
00:35:01.050 --> 00:35:07.679
word, and that's important because though
has a Kiah fails, even after all
396
00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:15.599
of this, these good acts,
these good these true faith and true repentance,
397
00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:24.469
God does not fail. God never
fails. As we read, with
398
00:35:24.630 --> 00:35:28.909
the Gods of this world and the
powers of this world, their arm is
399
00:35:28.909 --> 00:35:30.989
an arm of flesh. But with
us is the Lord, our God,
400
00:35:31.070 --> 00:35:36.260
to help us and to fight our
battles, this in hoods, the battles
401
00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:42.139
in our own hearts, the battle
against sin. And when Jesus came into
402
00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:46.579
the world, is the son of
David as the one to fulfill the promise
403
00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:51.690
that God had made to David that
a son would sit on his throne and
404
00:35:51.769 --> 00:35:59.809
rule and reign forever and would establish
a people, an empire, even of
405
00:36:00.010 --> 00:36:06.960
nation that would last forever and it
would expand the entire Globe and be consummated
406
00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:12.960
in the ages to come for all
eternity. This king, being God,
407
00:36:14.280 --> 00:36:22.750
did not have any weakness, no
physical weaknesses, no spiritual weaknesses. Jesus,
408
00:36:22.829 --> 00:36:27.630
however, dead, take on human
flesh. He humbled himself, he
409
00:36:27.829 --> 00:36:32.940
became weak, he took on weakness
and even death, not so that he
410
00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:38.059
could be defeated, but so that
he could be the defeater, so that
411
00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:46.289
he could conquer. Jesus is the
Almighty God who strikes down these mighty warriors,
412
00:36:46.769 --> 00:36:52.610
these commanders, these officers. Jesus
is the Almighty God who takes the
413
00:36:52.769 --> 00:36:59.010
Syria and puts her on her knees. Jesus is the mighty king. By
414
00:36:59.130 --> 00:37:04.320
his power nation's rise and fall.
By his power, life is given and
415
00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:09.719
life is taken away. This is
our king. He is not like as
416
00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:14.960
a Coda, he is not likes
an Necareb, he is not like anyone
417
00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:22.349
that we know in this world.
Do you view Jesus like that? If
418
00:37:22.389 --> 00:37:28.630
you don't, then you must.
History of the world proves this point.
419
00:37:29.469 --> 00:37:35.699
In particular, the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead. Jesus was buried
420
00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:40.219
in the tomb, but he did
not stay in that he rose on the
421
00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:46.050
third day, victorious over all things. Jesus comes as the son of David.
422
00:37:46.369 --> 00:37:52.130
Not only took accomplish this victory,
however, but to accomplish it for
423
00:37:52.409 --> 00:38:01.039
us. Has A chaiad has this
remarkable and incredibly pathetic self selfishness right here
424
00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:06.920
at the end of his life.
Jesus, however, does not. When
425
00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:12.280
Jesus lays down his life and earns
the glory of God, the inheritance,
426
00:38:13.110 --> 00:38:17.469
when he ascends to the the the
right hand of the Father Almighty, he
427
00:38:17.590 --> 00:38:22.230
does so for you and for me. He doesn't say, well, I
428
00:38:22.309 --> 00:38:30.099
got what I want and I'm good. So No, he lifts us up
429
00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:36.579
with him. He raises is up
from the grave, he establishes US and
430
00:38:36.699 --> 00:38:42.650
makes us strong over death itself.
This is who Jesus is, this is
431
00:38:42.730 --> 00:38:47.730
the king that he hears. Unlike
the kings of this world, Jesus always
432
00:38:47.889 --> 00:38:55.239
uses his power according to truth,
according to humility or holiness and according to
433
00:38:55.440 --> 00:39:02.320
love. There's no selfishness in it, only selflessness. But he didn't,
434
00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:07.280
and he didn't just conquer for himself, he conquered for all of us.
435
00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:13.230
So, when we think about the
things that we face in this life,
436
00:39:14.150 --> 00:39:20.190
the attacks of the evil one,
be they tiny and small in the corners
437
00:39:20.230 --> 00:39:24.139
of our minds and of our hearts
and of our homes, or whether they
438
00:39:24.219 --> 00:39:31.300
come on a grand scale, somebody
trying to hurt the church, take lives
439
00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:37.019
from the people that are in it, to her to harm us, to
440
00:39:37.179 --> 00:39:43.329
persecute us, to tempt us,
to take us away, be strong and
441
00:39:43.610 --> 00:39:50.489
courageous, for the Lord, your
God, is mighty to save and he's
442
00:39:50.530 --> 00:39:57.400
already saved through the work of Jesus, the king. Let us pray to
443
00:39:57.480 --> 00:40:00.920
him and put all of our faith
and trust in him
