The Book of Isaiah, Part 18: King Hezekiah’s Crisis, Part B (Isaiah 38-39)
Survey of the Old Testament Prophetic Books • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Series - The Book of Isaiah, Part 18
Sub-Series - King Hezekiah’s Crisis, Part B
Background
Background
Outline of Isaiah 38-39
Outline of Isaiah 38-39
Isaiah 38.1 - the prophet tells the king that he was going to die soon by the word of the LORD
1 In those days 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.’ ”
Isaiah 38.2-3 - the king prays to God as soon as he heard the sad news
Isaiah 38.4-8 - the prophet returns to the king to tell him that God has heard and answered his prayer
Isaiah 38.9-22 - the king writes a song about his situation
Isaiah 39.1 - Merodach-Baladan of Babylon sent letters and gifts to the king after learning about his sickness and subsequent healing
Isaiah 39.2 - the king shows his kingdoms riches to his babylonian guests
Isaiah 39.3-8 - the prophet reprimands the king and tells about the word of the LORD concerning his action
Historical context
Historical context
King hezekiah’s sickness happened in the same year that the king of Assyria came to conquer Jerusalem.
King hezekiah’s sickness and healing came before the army of Assyria is destroyed, as evidenced by God’s promise to heal him.
The order could be as follows -
king Hezekiah was sick and was healed
k. Sennacherib invades Judah
k. Hezekiah pays tribute to the king of Assyria
Rabshakeh lays seige on Jerusalem
God destroys the Assyrian army
Merodach-Baladan sends letters and gifts to the king
k. Hezekiah’s shows them the riches of kingdom
Main Idea
Main Idea
Our time of crisis can be a time of learning.
It doesn’t have to be the end of our life, if we can understand God’s will and learn.
Main points
Main points
The importance of presenting your case to God
The importance of setting your boundaries
The importance of making the most of your time
The importance of presenting your case to God
The importance of presenting your case to God
What did the king do?
What did the king do?
King Hezekiah presented His case before God
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,
3 and said, “Please, Lord, just remember how I have walked before You wholeheartedly and in truth, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept profusely.
God has already set this principle from the beginning of this book - Isaiah 1.18
18 “Come now, and let us debate your case,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.
God wants us to plead with Him
God delights in making things right!
God did not change His mind
God’s instruction was to “set your house in order” because he was going to die as a result of his mortal illness
his death was not a divine execution, but a natural consequence of his illness
God did want to hear the king ask for His help!
God delights in us seeking Him and His work
15 Call upon Me on the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “I will satisfy him with a long life, And show him My salvation.”
How did God respond?
How did God respond?
God answered his prayer and more!
4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,
5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David says: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
6 And I will save you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will protect this city.” ’
The king did not force God to change His mind
The king spoke something that delights God and aligns with His will
his wholehearted and truthful walk with God
God responded to a true prayer!
True prayer is not forcing God to do something on your behalf-
true prayer is connecting your life to the will
true prayer is seeking the will of God for your life
God is known for rewarding prayers with more than the petitioner is asking!
king Solomon received more than just his request for understanding heart
k. Hezekiah received more than his healing - assurance of salvation from enemy hands
K. David received more than his desire to build a house for the LORD - God established a covenant with him and his house!
The importance of setting your boundaries
The importance of setting your boundaries
What did the king do?
What did the king do?
King Hezekiah welcomed Babylonian visitors into his kingdom
1 At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
2 Hezekiah was pleased, and let them see all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the balsam oil, the excellent olive oil, his entire armory, and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his realm that Hezekiah did not let them see.
What was wrong with the king’s action?
He exposed his kingdom’s riches to the eyes of a stranger and a potential enemy!
What could have caused him to do that?
Pride! He was very blessed by God - 2 Chronicles 32.22-23
22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.
23 And many were bringing gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem and valuable presents to Hezekiah king of Judah; so thereafter he rose in the sight of all nations.
Pride! He did nothing in return to God’s favor to his life - 2 Chronicles 32.24-25
24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign.
25 But Hezekiah did nothing in return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
What did God say?
What did God say?
5 Isaiah then said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of armies,
6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when everything that is in your house, and what your fathers have stored up to this day, will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.
7 ‘And some of your sons who will come from you, whom you will father, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”
Because he has exposed his riches to the eyes of the enemy, they will one day set their eyes against Jerusalem and its riches.
This happened later in the days of Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezar
Lessons to learn
Lessons to learn
The time of crisis is not an excuse to be loose, to be without restraint.
many Christian forget their morals in times of crisis
they curse and blaspheme
they disobey rules
they invite strangers into their lives
they connive with enemies
Learn to set boundaries with your enemies!
the devil
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
the world
31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the present form of this world is passing away.
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
do not LOVE the world nor the things of the world…
when we love someone or something, we give something to the person or thing
God gave His only begotten Son
Do not give your life to the world!
Do not open your home, life, heart, to the enemy!
do not share your church concerns with non-believers!
do not share your family concerns with non-believers who may one day seek to destroy you!
The importance of making the most of your time
The importance of making the most of your time
What did the king do?
What did the king do?
King Hezekiah humbled his heart
8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “For there will be peace and truth in my days.”
26 However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
he recognized early his wrong and corrected his actions and attitude
perhaps he remembered the extra 15 years of his life and wanted to please God in them!
King hezekiah made his remaining days productive for the kingdom
27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles,
28 also storehouses for the produce of grain, wine, and oil; stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds for the flocks.
29 He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, because God had given him very great wealth.
30 It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah was successful in everything that he did.
Lessons to learn
Lessons to learn
Many Christians do not know how to live out their old age, or the remaining days they have
they retire and spend their days playing around or lying around
they whine and cry and spend their days complaining
Do not waste your time - use them to serve God!
15 So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
How to not waste your time
understand the will of the Lord for your life
learn to answer some basic questions in your life
why did God save me?
why did I grow up in church?
why did God bring me to this town and place?
why did these things happen to me?
what can I do with the remaining days of my life that will please my Lord?
what can I do with my resources that will please God?
what can I do with my extra blessings that will benefit the kingdom of God?
pray for the will of the Lord over your life
Conclusion
Conclusion
Your crisis is not the end of your joy!
your crisis is not the twilight of your life!
your crisis is not the end of your happy marriage!
Let God make a new thing in your life through your crisis!
Song - God will make this trial a blessing!
