The Beginning of the End Israel’s Captivity Judah’s Last Chance

721 B.C. and 586 BC

“All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God.” 2 Kings 17:7

The Beginning of the End for us?

Atheists Last Words David Strauss, "My philosophy leaves me utterly forlorn! Sigmund Freud: “The meager satisfaction that man can extract from reality leaves him starving.”

Believer’s Last Words Martin Luther: “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit! Thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth.” D. L. Moody: “I see earth receding; heaven is opening. God is calling me.”

To the South: King Hezekiah

Back Story…

How Hezekiah handled “it”

He Humbled Himself “When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord...

He Prayed “spread it out before the Lord” 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.

He Remembered 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God...

He Trusted 19 Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.” 2 Kings 19:1,14-16a, 19

How you can handle “it” Humble Yourself Pray Remember Trust

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8

Upper Story: Isaiah “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:3-6

Phillip Phillips: “Home” Hold on, to me as we go, As we roll down this unfamiliar road And although this wave is stringing us along Just know you’re not alone Cause I’m going to make this place your home