Breaking the chains 2 Kings 18. 1-7; Isaiah 37. 14-20 Hezekiah Breaking the chains 2 Kings 18. 1-7; Isaiah 37. 14-20

Hezekiah 1000 BC David 950 BC Solomon 720BC Israel exiled 930 BC Kingdom divided – Israel/Judah 720BC Israel exiled Hezekiah 540BC Judah exiled 4 BC Jesus

2 Kings 18. 1-7 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

2 Kings 18. 1-7 5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

Hezekiah’s starting-point a bad background bad surrounding culture threats from outside

Hezekiah’s response made God king led his people back to God prayed and acted

Isaiah 37. 14-20 14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

Isaiah 37. 14-20 18 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. 19 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 20 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.

Isaiah 37. 14-20 18 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. 19 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 20 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.

Hezekiah Not shackled by his background, culture or circumstances Not afraid to break out, to do God’s will

Hezekiah – example for us Living for God in tough times.   He did what was right He abolished idol worship He even destroyed the bronze snake of Moses

Hezekiah – example for us Living for God in tough times.   “This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:“This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Isaiah 37.30

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Hezekiah’s response and ours? made God king led his people back to God prayed and acted and ours?

Hezekiah – pointing to Jesus Jesus – Light in the darkness not shackled by background, culture or circumstances not afraid to break bonds and buck trends calls us to take up our cross and follow him