2 Kings 18

Bible Passage:  2 Kings 18

Today’s passage has a king in stark contrast to the king we read yesterday.  In fact, the author of Kings gave a glowing evaluation of Hezekiah…

He trusted in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. (v. 5)

It was telling that when it was said he did right in the eyes of God, he was compared to king David (v. 3) and he actually went further than his past few predecessors by removing the high places and smashing the idols.

No Compromise

After reading about Hezekiah’s godly character from verses 1 to 7, we are suddenly brought to the most critical episodes of Hezekiah’s and Judah’s existence.  Hezekiah rebelled against Assyria, to which his father had submitted as a vassal (2 Kings 16:7-9).  It is most likely that he refused to pay the annual tribute and his actions were the complete opposite of the northen kingdom, which perished because of unbelief and disobedience (2 Kings 18:9-12).

Although the Assyrians were not pleased with Hezekiah’s actions and wanted to take action against his nation, Hezekiah and Judah were delivered because they trusted in God rather than handing over silver and gold (cf. vv. 28-29; 19:32-37).

God was with him and blessed him with success.

He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commands the Lord had given (v. 6).  His actions and character stands as a reminder that living for God’s glory is also for our good (cf. v. 7a with 2 Chron 31:20-21).  Actually the pasage from Chronicles bears repeating here….

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.

In the Sabbath evening service last nite, Pr CAQ spoke about “God’s Arrows” and that if we are truly God’s arrows, we would be hidden in the quiver of God.  What that meant was that we are ever ready for God’s use as and when He requires and after we are used, we return to the quiver…. ensuring that all the glory is God’s and God’s alone.

He continued to say that we all may be shining for the Lord… but the question is where do we shine the light?  Do we shine it at Jesus and accentuate His glory… or do we shine upon ourselves and highlight our achievements?

Hezekiah stood in the face of seemingly certain doom and was tempted instant relief if he were to compromise on his stand and give way to the Assyrian king.

This is the easy way out.  And it is the way a lot of us would have chosen if we were to be placed in a similar situation between obeying God and following Him but having a life full of persecutions and trouble versus a life of going with the world and everything is smooth and plain sailing.

Choosing to live for God’s glory and His work is a conscious decision to make a stand against the evil one and the world.  The deceiver would never like us to take that stand and would offer us all sorts of enticements, threats and all manners of persuasion to make us compromise.

We must learn from Hezekiah… to consistently choose God and His ways … and not man’s ways or ways out 🙂

Psychological Warfare

Sometimes when physical threats do not work, the enemy would make use of pyschology to weaken us and make us doubt our chosen position.

The Assyrian’s message to Hezekiah and his people was couched in terms of brilliant pyschological warfare.  Sennacherib’s warning was given in two stages.  In verses 19-22, he pointed out that Hezekiah’s tactics and trust were ill conceived.  In verses 23-25, he then suggested that the king’s supposed strengths were actually weaknesses.

Scare tactics.  Intimidation.  Spin.  Gossips.  Hurtful remarks.

How vulnerable do you suspect you are to pyschological manipulation?

How easily are we swayed, or depressed, or disheartened because we are suddenly faced with words that seek to harm us… even though there is no basis for the attacks?

Most of us are easily affected by the things that surround us.  But situations come and go… often at break-neck speed.  But God’s Word is the opposite.

It’s been there for God’s people since the beginning and it is as changeless and powerful today as it was when the words were first inspired and written.

We were reminded in the sermon last nite that the arrow of God needs to be polished… and the only way to do is with the Word of God because it sanctifies us.

And it is the Word of God that will be our anchor, our compass, our rock, our guide… you get the point…

In the midst of pyschological attacks and warfare on our spiritual lives, it is the Word of God that keeps us in His right way.  And us from falling away.  So treasure the Word of God and read it… study it… obey it… and teach it (Ezra 7:10).

Have a blessed Sabbath.

And to all Senior Members out there… Happy Senior Members Day!  May God bless and keep you in His grace, love and joy!