Video Sessions: 1
Study Length: 90 minutes
Focal Text:
2 Kings 18-20
Biblical Figures:
King Hezekiah
Objective:
To develop a deeper understanding about the importance of a relationship with God. To gain knowledge of the spiritual warfare strategy and tactics against our relationship with God. Identify the critical elements necessary to build an authentic relationship with God.
Key Words
- Kindness: From the Greek word, chréstotés, which means a Spirit-produced goodness which meets the need of and avoids human harshness (cruelty).
- Faithfulness: From the Greek word, pistis, which means faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity. For the believer is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers
- Humility: From the Greek word, tapeinophrosune, which is produced by comparing ourselves to the Lord (rather than other). This brings behavior into alignment with an inner revelation to keep one from being self-exalting. For the believer humility means living in complete dependence on the Lord.
- Recourse: A turning to someone or something for help or protection
Text Background (2 Kings 18-20)
The book of Kings was written to provide a historical account of the kingdom of Israel for the ancient Israelites. The author of Kings is unknown. There is an ancient rabbinic contention that Jeremiah was the author of Kings, citing connections between Jeremiah 52 and 2 Kings 24-25, however there has not been any concrete evidence to support this theory. The book chronicles the reign of King Solomon and his successors, the divide of the tribes of Israel into rival kingdoms, and the cyclical rise and demise of leaders preceding the exile of the children of Israel to Babylon. Each leader was examined regarding their commitment to the Davidic Covenant made between Israel and God. The author provides detailed critiques of each king’s exclusive worship to God, their tolerance and promotion of idolatry in the land, and their faithfulness to their covenant with God.
Authenticity is important because authenticity leads to true transformation. Transformative faith is a byproduct of an authentic relationship with God. ~ Dr. Sharla Walker
Barriers To Authentic Relationship w/ God
Mistrust: Lack of faith based on discomfort or intuition. This is typically because God goes against everything our logic tells us. The requirement to walk by faith and not by sight goes against our innate nature of survival based on our senses.
Distrust: Lack of faith based on historical accounts of abuse or mistreatment of others in parental or authority figures. This can include parents, grandparents, and even pastors. We have to understand the impact that this has on our unwillingness to trust God. We also must not try to establish our relationship with a perfect God based on the past hurts of imperfect creatures.
Performance Based Value: Mistrust and distrust often lead to us feeling like we have to somehow work our way into God’s love. This is false! We are not saved by our works, but our love for God results in the good works that He anoints us to carry out. Please know and understand that God loves you more than you can imagine. He loved you before you even acknowledged Him, and there is nothing that you have to do to prove your worth to Him. He knows you’re valuable. He formed you fearfully and wonderfully, knew you before you touched your mother’s womb, made plans for you, set you apart, and calls you His daughter. Even when our mothers and fathers forsake us, He would never. Stop trying to work your way into heaven and start building your relationship with your Father whom you love.
Annihilation seeks to reduce an adversary’s physical capacity to fight, usually in a single battle or “lightning” campaign. Dislocation endeavors to reduce an opponent’s willingness to fight by causing confusion or disorientation through unexpected maneuvers or the use of surprise. - Antulio J. Echevarria
Penetration of the Center
A penetration is a form of maneuver in which an attacking force seeks to rupture enemy defenses on a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system. This involves exploiting a gap in the enemy line to drive directly to the enemy's command or base. Two ways of accomplishing this are separating enemy forces then using a reserve to exploit the gap or having fast, elite forces smash at a weak spot.
Because God is the source of our power, strength, and is our defense against the enemy through the armor of God; it only makes sense that the enemy would seek to disrupt our relationship with God to leave us defenseless and ready to be devoured.
The Reign of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20)
Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, successfully led the kingdom of Judah for 29 years. The success of his reign is rooted in his reverence and obedience to God (v.3). He trusted God and there were no other kings like him in Judah (v.5). Most notably, Hezekiah opposed idolatry and removed false idols erected in high places (v.4). The continual pursuit of God and His righteousness will result in His continued protection and provision (including successfully not paying taxes to Assyria for 8 years).
Assyria seized the distant cities of Judah and demanded a payment of three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold in exchange to withdraw from Judah (v. 13-14). Hezekiah not only emptied the Judean treasury, but also destroyed the temple of God to pay the tribute (v.15-16). This looks so much different from the description that we read about Hezekiah and his faithful relationship with God.
It is clear that he simply reacted out of fear from the threat of Assyria invading, instead of seeking and trusting God with the kingdom that he had been called to steward over.
In the attempt to coerce Hezekiah, Sennachrib sent messengers to Jerusalem with a threatening message. The messengers attempted to plant seeds of doubt about God’s ability to protect Judah (v.22). This is followed up with a wager of sorts for Assyria to provide horses to Judah (v.23) and attempt to strike hysteria in the hearts of community members by delivering the message in Hebrew instead of the customary delivery in Aramaic (v.26-36).
The message to Judah is evident of the tactic of placing doubt reflective of the serpent in Genesis 3. Offering 2000 horses is in fact a temptation to directly disobey God’s law (Deuteronomy 17:16). We see this employed again in the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4. Perceived danger and pressure from constituents were the catalyst to Saul’s disobedience in 1 Samuel 13.
With the threat of Assyrian invasion, chapter 19 documents God’s sovereignty to Judah. Hezekiah seeks the Lord’s deliverance as the dangers of an Assyria invasion became more evident. In response to Hezekiah’s supplications and obedience to the prophet Isaiah’s instructions, the Lord spared Jerusalem from invasion. “The Lord’s goodness is so great that he often finds his way to grant the salvation of the majority on account of a few people. When Hezekiah was about to run the greatest possible risk, although he was a righteous man, God said that he would aid him for the sake of David”.
Reflection
How many of us have done something as extreme as destroying the resting place of God to pay for something because we perceived a threat? We may not have done it naturally but we spiritually bypass God’s authority and power often and end up looking crazy. We make Him our last resort instead of abiding in His refuge or protection. We speak one thing out of our mouth, but our faith and our “works” or action don’t add up.
But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses. ~Deuteronomy 17:6
What's The Difference?
Unlike his response with the threat of Assyria where he defiled the temple of God, Hezekiah submitted to the true King of Judah, God. His response mimics that of King David in Psalm 5:2. The Lord answers Hezekiah with a prophecy from Isaiah (v.6). Hezekiah’s course of action is a vast improvement from his previous reaction to an Assyrian threat. Instead of attempting to mitigate the problem within his own strength and resources. He submits to the sovereignty of God. Prayer is a powerful tool and should be the first course of action despite it often being relegated as an afterthought.
What was the enemy's response to Hezekiah's faith? Try to place doubt on God’s promise!
Sennacherib defiles God by sending another message to Hezekiah attempting again to discredit God’s power and challenge Hezekiah’s faith (v.10). God’s promise of deliverance was not accompanied with detailed plans that would secure Judah’s victory. Hezekiah’s faith was vulnerable because he had to trust the word of God over the tangible evidence provided by Assyria that seemed to contradict the prophecy (v.11-13).
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. ~ Psalm 5:2
How Does Hezekiah Respond To This Attack?
Hezekiah returns to seek God regarding Sennacherib’s threats. Hezekiah approached God not with dread but after laying out the situation before God (v.14), without minimizing or exaggerating the magnitude of the situation. He then praised God’s omniscience and sovereignty and then requested God’s intervention.
Relationship Is What Caused God To Move
We Must Be In Relationship
Similar to Hezekiah, our access to God and His power are not because of our own righteousness but on behalf of Jesus Christ. We cannot even come to the Father without Jesus Christ. This removes our need to perform in perfection and gives freedom to cultivate a real relationship with God that includes falling short and being afforded the opportunity to do it right the next time.
God Moved On Hezekiah's Behalf Without Intervention
As God promised, 185,000 members of the Assyrian army were destroyed by a single angel of the Lord and Sennacherib was killed by sword (v.35-36).
That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere.Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there. ~2 Kings 19:35-36 NLT
Hezekiah Got Complacent
Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are going to die and not live’” (v.20). Hezekiah again seeks God's deliverance.
Hezekiah’s illness was a result of the he was no longer adamant about God as he was before and idolatry had come back into the land. The Lord was confronting Judah about idolatry in the land. After receiving the prophecy, Hezekiah immediately sought repentance and deliverance from God (v.2). In response to his prayer, God prompted Isaiah to return to Hezekiah at once to inform Hezekiah that his life would be extended an additional 15 years (v.4-6).
Hezekiah Got Beside Himself
The downfall of Hezekiah came during an envoy from Babylon where he sought an alliance with Babylonians and impressing them with God’s treasure (v.12-13). The prophet Isaiah was sent to Hezekiah and questioned him about his interaction with the envoy (v.14). Despite having been a good and faithful king, Hezekiah’s response indicated he believed he owned the kingdom that God trusted him to rule (v.15). It was clear by his response that Hezekiah’s success, wealth, and prosperity (2 Chronicles 32:24-31) had turned into self righteousness. As a result, it was promised that Babylon would overtake Judah (v. 16-17).
Unlike he had done previously, Hezekiah did not seek the Lord with repentance or supplication. In fact, he declared Isaiah’s prophecy as “good” despite him thinking otherwise (v.19). Hezekiah would later die without ever “getting his house in order” and would be succeeded by his son Manasseh (v.21). Manasseh allowed idolatry in the land and even allowed the sacrifice of children. Judah would eventually be exiled to Babylon.
Relationship Strategies
Hezekiah was not a perfect king, but his faithfulness to God and propensity for prayer allowed him to bear witness to God’s grace and mercy. We can learn much about grace, mercy, prayer, and spiritual warfare from Hezekiah. However, the most eye-opening lesson should be that of enduring. Hezekiah’s complacency in victory and lack of preparation for future generations would secure Judah’s exile to Babylon.
Faithfulness
Out of the 40 Kings that reigned, Hezekiah was 1 of 8 who remained faithful to God. We must ask ourselves if we truly live your life for God? Belief is more than knowing of His existence, but it is submitting to His ways in response to your reverence for Him.
Love: To love, to take pleasure in, long for, esteem, the love of reason; preferring to live through Christ (1 John 4:9-10); embracing God’s will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power; actively doing what the Lord prefers; a discriminating affection which involves choice and selection.
You cannot truly revere (respect) or trust someone without love. If you struggle in this area ask God to show you where the disconnect is and partner with Him to repair that area. This is going to require an investment of your time and intention just like any other relationship that you expect to thrive and grow.
Repentance + Recourse
Repentance is the lifeline that God gives us to return back to him when we fall short. It is not a matter of if, but when. Pride is the thing that will keep us from repenting and without true repentance we lose access to God. Our sin separates us, repentance is the lifeline to get us back in right standing. Jesus is the reason that we have the number to the repentance lifeline.
Relationships require an active pursuit. How many of us have been guilty of falling off after God blesses us with the thing that we asked for. The enemy is using that blessing to position it as a barrier between us and God.
Humility is us comparing ourselves only to the Lord so that way we can keep ourselves in proper perspective. This keeps us from becoming prideful and self dependent, both of which are spiritual poison.
Obedience is a reflection of our love for God. Jesus says in John 15:4 if we love Him we will obey His commands. This doesn’t mean that obedience is easy, it means that we do it despite it being challenging because the love runs that deep.
Communication
Studying God’s Word: God and His word are one. If you need to study this, read John chapter 1. No one should say that they don’t know how to hear from God because His word is Him speaking. TV shows got us tripped up thinking that there is an audible voice all the time. The easiest way to hear from God is to get into His word constantly. This is the #1 way how you spend time with Him, learn His voice, and hear from Him directly.
Prayer and praise are our way to exalt God, but also how we exercise the authority that God has given us. The enemy attacks prayer because when you speak the word of God it is an offense weapon. When you praise God you are inclining Him to move in your situation. Hezekiah laid the note from the Assyrian king before God and then went IN about how God had slayed and is powerful over all kingdoms. We are tricked into speaking more about our problems than praying and praising and using our authority. Remember that death and life are in the power of the tongue. We cannot afford to not get that, because the enemy DEFINITELY does.
Worship means to personally esteem, to hold something (someone) in high respect; showing reverence or awe. The way that we do this is through service. When you go out and you serve God’s people following His plans, you are worshiping Him. Worship is beyond lip service. It is a heart posture to be devoted to God no matter what and demonstrating that through your actions.