October 18, 2020 - Isaiah 37
October 18, 2020
Lessons Learned
By Wayne Gaeddert
Isaiah 37
1. Hezekiah King of Judah:
Ahaz, the predecessor of Hezekiah, had made an alliance with Assyria (2 Kings 16:8). Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18:7).
The details of Hezekiah’s reign are told in 2 Kings 18-20 and 2 Chronicles 29-32.
Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that David his father had done (2 Kings 18:3).
Hezekiah, in his first year as king, called for the temple to be repaired (2 Chronicles 29:3) and cleansed (2 Chronicles 29:5).
Hezekiah was king 6 years (2 Kings 18:10) when Israel (the Northern kingdom) was defeated by Assyria and most of the residents carried away as captives to Assyria (2 Kings 17:6).
Hezekiah had been king 14 years when Sennacherib began to invade Judah (2 Kings 18:13).
When Sennacherib invaded Judah, Hezekiah encouraged the people by telling them, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8)
2. It takes ‘spiritual eyes’ to trust God’s protection when your physical eyes see an unbeatable foe advancing toward you.
3. “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10
4. “...God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” 1 Cor. 1:27
5. Judah was surrounded by territory that the Assyrian army had conquered.
6. In Isaiah 36, Sennacherib had begun attacking the fortified cities of Lachish (36:2) and Libnah (37:8) in Judah.
7. Talk to God first about everything.
8. Hezekiah’s prayer:
Shows reverence for God.
Claims a relationship with God.
Acknowledges where God resides.
Acknowledges God’s rule of all creation.
Acknowledges the accomplishments of the enemy.
Before he asks God to deliver Judah from Sennacherib’s army.
9. Hezekiah placed God’s glory and reputation above his own needs.
10. Do you think about how God’s answer to your prayer glorifies Him?
11. When you make your petition to God, do you:
Display reverence for Him?
Acknowledge your relationship with Him?
Acknowledge where He resides?
Acknowledge God as creator?