2 Kings 18-21 - Outline

Mon Nov 5 12:10:15 PST 2012

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*

November 5, 2012

 *JUN 23 - 2 KINGS 18-21 - HEZEKIAH: REVIVAL AND EVIL AFTERMATH*

 *1. 18:3-4 (18:1-12, ESV) HEZEKIAH: THIRTEENTH KING OF JUDAH (SEVENTH
GOOD). “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all
that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the
pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent
that Moses had made, for until these days the people of Israel had made
offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).” *Father, we dedicate ourselves
like Hezekiah, to remove all that offends You! *Hallowed be your :Name!*

 *2. 18:35 (18:13-37) HEZEKIAH: INSULTED BY ASSYRIA. “Who among all the
gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the LORD
should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?” *What foolish words! This man did
not know You, Great Jehovah Elohim of Israel! But we know You, and humbly
bow before You in adoration and say, *Your :kingdom come!*

 *3. 19:3 (19) HEZEKIAH: MIRACULOUSLY DELIVERED. They said to Isaiah, “Thus
says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, of disgrace;
children have come to the point of birth, and there is not strength to
bring them forth.” *But this was spoken before You came on the scene,
Father! What victory over Judah’s enemies You worked! And You are the same
today! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!*

 *4. 20:6 (20:1-11) HEZEKIAH: SICKNESS AND HEALING. “And I will add fifteen
years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the
king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my
servant David’s sake.” *What an amazing story and event! And what an
amazing *sign* You granted Father, to confirm Your promise to Hezekiah. *Our
:daily :bread Give us this day!*

 *5. 20:16-17 (20:12-21) HEZEKIAH: PRIDE, PROPHECY AND DEATH. Then Isaiah
said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: 17 Behold, the days are
coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have
stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be
left, says the LORD.” *What a sad legacy Hezekiah left to his sons because
of his pride! Father, strengthen us in the time of victory, that we fall
not in the hour of temptation. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have
forgiven our :debtors.*

 *6. 21:9 (21:1-18) NANASSEH: FOURTEENTH KING OF JUDAH. “But they did not
listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil that the nations had
done whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel.” *This king was
born in the 15 years of Hezekiah’s reprieve. Was he wise in asking for
these extra years? Father, help us to walk softly before You, that we only
ask that which is wise in Your sight. *And bring us not into temptation!*

 *7. 21:20 (21:19-26) AMON: FIFTEENTH KING OF JUDAH. “And he did that which
was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done.” *What
two evil men did Josiah have as his predecessors! How do we explain the
sons of Hezekiah? And how do we explain Josiah? Father, we bless You that
these questions are *not* our domain, but *Yours*! *But deliver us from the
evil one!*

 *NOTE**: 18:11-12 (18:1-12) ISRAEL’S CAPTIVITY AND DEPORTATION. **“The
king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in
Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the
Medes, 12 because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but
transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD
commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.” *Did this weigh on Your
servant Hezekiah, Father? We are sure it did.

 Of all the kings of Judah, Hezekiah and Josiah - next to David - grip my
attention. These 3 only of the good kings of Judah - *removed* the *High
Places*. According to the Law of Types and Shadows - the High Places
represent the thoughts of our mind that have *not* been brought into the
subjection of Christ! See 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and Romans 12:1-2. Our
thoughts *must be* *transformed* by the *renewing of our minds*, if we
would become perfected in the sight of God. The majority of the good kings
of Judah did *not* remove these high places, parallel to human thinking *set
above* the *Word of God*.

 This for me is the high point in the life of Hezekiah, and the two others
- who are set above the remaining good kings of Judah.

 And what other key lessons can we receive from the life of this good king?
When in great danger, he did not seek his own wisdom for deliverance - but
sought God through His prophet Isaiah. *This* no doubt pleased the LORD,
for He miraculously delivered the king and Judah from the vaunting threats
of Assyria (now Iraq).

 But - with all his successes - Hezekiah was drawn away in pride, and
showed off his riches to those who were to become Judah’s punishment for
their sin of following evil rulers. And - Hezekiah said, “At least God’s
judgment for my pride will not take place in *my* lifetime! But what of his
sons and grandsons?

 *Our chapter from Proverbs for the day: 23:13-14 (23) PROVERBS FROM
SOLOMON. “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a
rod, he will not die. 14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his
soul from Sheol.” *The rod of instruction applied to the seat of learning,
produces wisdom in a child, in spite of what modern pedagogy says! Father,
we honor Your Word, and by doing so, *Hallow your :name!*

 *TO SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-subscribe at 2rbetter.org*

 *TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: mailing-unsubscribe at 2rbetter.org*

 *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/attachments/20121105/7e402368/attachment.htm>