2 Kings 18

< Back to 2 Kings Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Reign of Good King Hezekiah of Judah

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Lord will prosper committed believers.

  2. The enemy will threaten committed believers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Get rid of relics.

QUESTIONS

  1. List some of the actions of King Hezekiah that made him a “good king.”

  2. What was Hezekiah’s relationship with the Assyrians?

  3. List the type of tactics used by the enemy here and used by Satan against believers.

  4. Why did the Judean officials ask the Assyrian officials to speak in Aramaic?

ANSWERS

  1. The idolatrous shrines were removed and the high places where sacrifice to the Lord was wrongly taking place were closed down. He repaired and reopened the doors of the Temple which had been closed to the priests by wicked King Ahaz. Even Moses’ bronze serpent was destroyed, because it had become an object of worship. As a result of Hezekiah’s trust and faithfulness, a great revival started and spread even into northern Israel.

  2. King Hezekiah rebelled again the king of Assyria. This was a good rebellion. Wicked King Ahaz, Hezekiah’s father, had wrongly submitted to the pagan Assyrians.

  3. Scare tactics, tactics of maligning and questioning God and God’s leaders, bargaining tactics, and “the Lord told me” tactics

  4. Because they had been speaking in Hebrew, which the people on the wall could overhear and become discouraged.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Psalms 1:3 says whatever the godly do will prosper. Explain what this biblical truth is not guaranteeing. So in what ways does this guarantee blessing and prosperity?

  2. Review the tactics used by the Assyrian officials in verses 17-37. These were some intimidating and demoralizing threats! Discuss how Satan uses these same types of threats against believers today.

CHALLENGE

  1. “But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, ‘Do not answer him.’” 2 Kings 18:36 Sometimes the best response to someone’s discouraging tactics, is no response. Especially if that person is not teachable or open to listening to your side.

KEY VERSES

  • “The LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went.” 2 Kings 18:7

  • “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?” 2 Kings 18:22

  • “Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make peace with me by a present and come out to me.’” 2 Kings 18:31

2 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 KINGS 18