Introduction
I love this story concerning King Hezekiah, the prophet Isaiah , and
Sennacherib of Assyria. I especially like the fact Hezekiah took Sennacherib's
written threat to him; to the Temple, laid it out before God and said "hear
the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God." Because Hezekiah
knew his kingship was anointed by God, and criticism of it was a criticism
of God. On one occasion I got an anonyms note of criticism about my ministry,
as I did my morning devotions the writer pointed to this story, so I took
my note to the worship center laid it out before God and said "look what
somebody is saying about You Lord. Then I had a beautiful time of praise
and worship. The bottom line of Christian ministry and serving is: Trusting
In God.
1. The . . Taunting About Trusting In God. 18:30
A. Taunting About The Kings . . Persuasion. v 30
a
"Don't let Hezekiah
persuade you to trust in the Lord by saying: Certainly the Lord will deliver
us!
B. Taunting About The Lord's . . Protection. v
30 b
This city will not
be handed over to the king of Assyria.'
2. The . . Trepidation About Trusting In God. 19:1-3, 5-7
A. The Trepidation .. Reviewed In Hezekiah's Fear.
Vs 1-3
1 When King Hezekiah
heard [their report], he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth,
and
went into the Lord's temple.
2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the
court secretary, and the
elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son
of
Amoz. 3 They said to him,
"This is what Hezekiah says: 'Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and
disgrace, for children have
come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver [them].
B. The Trepidation . . Rebuked In Isaiah's Faith.
Vs 5-7
5 So the servants
of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah, 6 who said to them, "Tell your master
this, 'The
Lord says: Don't be afraid
because of the words you have heard, that the king of Assyria's
attendants have blasphemed
Me with. 7 I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor
and return to his own land
where I will cause him to fall by the sword.' "
3. The . . Tabulation About Trusting
In God. 19:14-19
A. The Tabulation In The . . Temple. v 14
14 Hezekiah took
the letter from the hand of the messengers, read it, then went up to the
Lord's temple, and spread
it out before the Lord.
B. The Tabulation In The . . Telling. Vs 15-16
15 Then Hezekiah
prayed before the Lord: "Lord God of Israel who is enthroned [above] the
cherubim, You are God--You
alone--of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the
heavens and the earth. 16
Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, Lord, and see; hear the
words that Sennacherib has
sent to mock the living God.
C. The Tabulation In The . . Truth. Vs 17-18
17 Lord, it is true
that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands.
18 They
have thrown their gods into
the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands--wood and
stone. So they have destroyed
them.
D. The Tabulation In The . . Testimony. v 19
19 Now, Lord our
God, please save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth
may know that You are the
Lord God--You alone."