2 Kings 18:1 "Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign."

Judah was blessed with godly Hezekiah as king (2 Kings 18:1-8 ). His devoted relationship to God was the secret of his success. Putting God and His kingdom first, God is for you. In spite of being vulnerable with the northern kingdom being conquered and taken away captive,

2 Kings 18:7 "... and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. "

Hezekiah's defensive cities fell to Sennacharib's army. To halt the invasion he arranged to pay tribute (2 Kings 18:9-16 ). Not satisfied, Sennacharib sent a delegation to demand Judah's unconditional surrender (2 Kings 18:17-19 ). The plan was to send Judah away to captivity. As New Testament believers we need to know that our enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil will not be overcome by giving of tribute. Full resistance is required in the name of the Lord.

Sennacharib's representatives openly scorned any continued resistance, and ridiculed the Lord's ability to help them (2 Kings 18:20-37 ).

The name Hezekiah means "the strength of God." He knew that the Rabshakeh had overreached himself when he mocked the strength of God to deliver - God would answer. Hezekiah told his people to hold their peace. (2 Kings 18:36 ). We are to follow the Master who, when threatened, held His peace and committed His cause to God.

Hezekiah goes to the Lord's house and puts the Assyrian demands before Him (2 Kings 19:1 ). Here is the true wisdom of going to God who specialises in impossible situations. Assyria had not faced God until they came up against Jerusalem. Isaiah the prophet, when consulted, delivered the Lord's encouraging word. (2 Kings 19:2-9 ). The blasphemer is not to be feared - he will be influenced by a spirit - and a rumour. He will return to his own land and be assassinated. Jerusalem would be untouched.

2 Kings 19:14 "And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord."

Hezekiah is sent a threatening letter and spread it before the Lord (2 Kings 19:10-14 ). He let the Lord read it for Himself - much better than attempting to reply to it. God knows how to answer. Hezekiah's prayer was God-focused.

2 Kings 19:15,16 "Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: "O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.¹⁶ "Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God."

That was why deliverance was asked, not for his own need but for God's reputation as the living deliverer. God spoke to Isaiah while Hezekiah was praying,

2 Kings 19:20 "Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.'"

and is followed by what God would do:

Ryrie comments: "In His answer, God assured Hezekiah: That Sennacharib was but an instrument in God's hand (2 Kings 19:2-28 ; Comare v25 with Isaiah 10:5 ), That a remnant would survive (2 Kings 19:29-31 though they might lose two years harvest), That Jerusalem would not fall to the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:32-34 )."

God intervenes by striking dead the main part of the Assyrian forces (2 Kings 19:35 ). Prayer proves more powerful than Sennacharib's host. Prophecy is fulfilled in the return home of Sennacharib and his assassination (2 Kings 19:35-37 ). When God gives a word, deliverance is sure and what He says about blasphemers comes to pass.

An incident from Hezekiah's life demonstrates his trust in God. He is told by Isaiah, when ill, that he is about to die (2 Kings 20:1 ). The prophet who was used to bring Hezekiah good news twice in Chapter 19, now brings an unwelcome personal message of terminal illness. Like Isaiah, prophets today must be faithful to deliver God's message whether popular or not. Hezekiah took the prophecy to God in prayer (2 Kings 20:2 ). Turning to the wall may have been an action of shutting himself alone with God, or, as some think, turning to the wall of the temple in the light of

1 Kings 8:37,38,39 ""When there is famine in the land, ... whatever plague or whatever sickness ... 38 "whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, ... and spreads out his hands toward this temple: 39 "then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, ..."

His crying and tears remind us of Hebrews 5:7. Jesus, willing to die for us prayed for His resurrection. Hezekiah called upon God to remember his walk and work (2 Kings 20:3 ). It is to be remembered physical healing is an act of sovereign grace. God's answer to his prayer was immediate (2 Kings 20:4-5 ). Isaiah had hardly left the king when the Lord's answer was given. Hezekiah is to be restored to health - given another 15 years - deliverance and defence is assured. Isaiah ordered an ordinary treatment for boils (2 Kings 20:7 ), as an act of cooperating with God - it was God and not the figs that healed.

Exodus 15:26 " ... For I am the Lord who heals you."

Hezekiah was expectant of a sign in keeping with the prophetic practice that a prediction was confirmed by a miraculous sign. Note - he did not ask for a sign, he asked what the sign would be (2 Kings 20:8 ). To Hezekiah the sundial going backward was a greater miracle than going forward (2 Kings 20:9-11 ). God did it and that is all the explanation the godly need.

"Imprudently Hezekiah exposed his royal treasures, probably vast spoils taken from the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. Such thoughtless and vain ostentation merited the rebuke of Isaiah. What are people impressed with when they visit our homes - our prayers or our treasures?" Lockyer

To which I add:

	Our Christlike conduct or self-enrichment?
	Our compassionate consideration or self-interest?
	Our commendable control or self-coveting?
	Our charitable commitment or selfishness?
	Our Christ confession or self-dependance?

Hezekiah's death brought to the throne of Judah his young son Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1 ). His rule was to be the longest in Judah's history. But he proved to be the most evil of all the kings. His wickedness so great it was only matched by the old Canaanite inhabitants of the land (2 Kings 21:1-9 ).

Manasseh was born during the extended life period granted Hezekiah. He was 12 years when he began to rule - a child of blessing turned into a child of cursing. How disappointing privileged children can turn out to be. There was failure in training and discipline (Proverbs 22:6 ). He corrupted Judah for some 50 years so that her damage was beyond repair and her destruction inevitable (2 Kings 21:10-18 ). His shedding of innocent blood according to tradition, included that of the prophet Isaiah (2 Kings 21:16 ). Wrong leadership choices bring incredible harm to those who are being led. It is so important to test all leadership by the standards of God's word

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Why did Hezekiah feel vulnerable, and at first try to appease the enemy? (2 Kings 18:14-16 ).
2. In which way did the Rabshakeh overreach himself? (2 Kings 18:20-36 ).
3. Do you, like Hezekiah, know the right place to go when confronted with an impossible situation? (2 Kings 19:1 )
4. What gave Hezekiah hope of divine intervention and encouraged him to get the word of the Lord from the prophet Isaiah? (2 Kings 19:2-9 ).
5. Do you let the Lord read for himself any threatening letters you receive? (2 Kings 19:10-14 ).
6. What was the focus of Hezekiah's prayer? How did God quickly give the answer, and say what He would do? (2 Kings 19:5-6, 20-34 ). How did God intervene? (2 Kings 19:35-37 ).
7. Do God's messengers always bring good news? (2 Kings 20:1 ). In which way would your response be like that of Hezekiah's? (2 Kings 20:2-3 ).
8. What answer did Hezekiah receive and what miraculous sign confirmed the answer? (2 Kings 20:4-11 ). Is anything impossible for God?
9. How did Hezekiah act imprudently? (2 Kings 20:12-19 ). Should we care about the consequences of our actions on those who come after us? (2 Kings 20:19- 21 ).
10. What is the lesson to take to heart from the knowledge that the most corrupt king of Judah was born to Hezekiah during the extended period of his life? (2 Kings 21:1- 9 ).