HEZEKIAH’S SUCCESS AFTER THE DEFEAT OF SENNACHERIB
Text: 2 Kings 20; 2 Chronicles 32:23-33; Isaiah 38
18 January 2011
(I) HEZEKIAH’S SUCCESS AFTER THE DEFEAT OF SENNACHERIB
1. Success of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:23)
a) Great wealth of Hezekiah described (2 Chronicles 32:27-30)
b) God’s part was all but forgotten
2. Sin of Pride of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:25-26)
a) His heart was lifted up (2 Chronicles 32:25)
b) The pride of his heart (2 Chronicles 32:26)
(II) THE GRAVE ILLNESS OF HEZEKIAH
1. Description of his physical state
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death…” 2 Kings 20:1a
2. Declaration of the Lord
“And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him,
‘Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ” 2 Kings 20:1b
(III) SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER
1. Short account of Hezekiah’s prayer to the Lord
“Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying,
‘Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sights.’
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” 2 Kings 20:2-3
2. Shorter account of Hezekiah’s Prayer
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign.” 2 Chronicles 32:24
3. Long account of Hezekiah’s Prayer to the Lord (Isaiah 38)
(IV) GOD’S RESPONSE TO HEZEKIAH
1. Swift response to Hezekiah’s prayer (2 Kings 20:4)
2. Two promises given:-
a) Hezekiah will be healed (2 Kings 24:5)
b) He will have an extra fifteen years (2 Kings 24:6a)
d) God will deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrians (2 Kings 24:6b)
c) God will defend Jerusalem for the sake of David (2 Kings 24:6c)
(V) HEZEKIAH’S REQUEST FOR A SIGN
1. This was a near-death situation
Hezekiah asked if he could have a sign from the Lord (2 Kings 24:8)
2. Sign offered by Isaiah
a) The sun dial will go forward by 10 degrees (2 Kings 24:9)
b) The sun dial to go backward by 10 degrees (2 Kings 24:9)
3. Hezekiah’s request
The sun dial to go back 10 degrees (2 Kings 24:10)
4. Requested answered
“So Isaiah cried out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sun dial of Ahaz.” 2 Kings 24:11