November 8, 2009: Hezekiah Prays
The text for this lesson is 2 Kings 18—19.
Key Points
- Just as Hezekiah prayed in faith to God and was delivered, so Jesus, our mediator and advocate with the Father, intercedes for and with us, granting us deliverance from sin, death, and the devil.
- Law: My sin makes me proud; thinking I can be self-sufficient and don’t need God, I avoid Him.
- Gospel: My heavenly Father is always ready to hear me and my cries for help, giving me His Son for my salvation.
Context
In the late eighth century, Assyria was the world power of the ancient Near East. Led by Sennacherib, their armies went on a blitzkrieg across various lands. Ruling Judah was Hezekiah, a top-notch king. Along with Josiah, he was one of the two Israelite rulers after David who received not a word of criticism from the biblical writer (see 18:1–8). Though he initially caved in to Assyrian pres-sure, paying them tribute (vv. 13–16), Hezekiah later refused to bow to their demands. As the story in 2 Kings 18–19 recounts, Sennacherib would pay dearly for his mocking of the true God. Assyrian records echo the biblical account of his demise, that he was slain by his own sons as he knelt praying before a god who could not save (19:37).
Discussion Questions
- This lesson focuses on the faith and prayer of Hezekiah. If you overheard someone say, “I have strong faith and my prayers are powerful,” how would you gently critique that statement?
- This lesson focuses on Judah, the southern kingdom. However, 2 Kings 18:9–12 mentions what happened to Israel, the Northern Kingdom. What became of Israel, and why? What was Judah to learn from all this?
- The prophet Isaiah plays an important role in this narrative. In fact, Isaiah 36–37 tells the same story as 2 Kings 18–19, and it is necessary to keep many of Isaiah’s prophecies in chapters 1–35 in view while studying what happened to Judah in 2 Kings. What did Isaiah say was wrong with Judah? See Isaiah 1:2–4. According to 1:7–9 and 10:5–6, what would eventually happen to Judah?
- Hezekiah was praised for his faith and many good deeds. What were these? See 2 Kings 18:1–8.
- Hezekiah was a great king, but we should not get the impression that he was perfect, as if he were so faithful to the Lord that he never sinned. In what ways had he displeased the Lord, failing to heed His prophet’s advice? See Isaiah 30:1–3.
- What tactics and threats did the Assyrian delegates use to attempt to get Jerusalem not to follow Hezekiah but to surrender? See 2 Kings 18:19–35.
- Why would Hezekiah respond to Assyria’s threats by tearing his clothes, covering himself with sackcloth, going to the house of the Lord, and sending for Isaiah (19:1–4)? See 2 Chronicles 7:11–15. What appeal does Hezekiah make to the Lord? See 19:14– 19.
- What moved the Lord to answer Hezekiah’s prayer with a “Yes!” and save Jerusalem? See 2 Kings 19:20–34.
- The angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrians in one night to save Jerusalem. What act of “salvation” had the Lord accomplished in a similar fashion centuries before? See Exodus 12:12– 13. When the Lord went about saving the whole world, what different approach did He take? See Matthew 26:52–54 and Philippians 2:5–11.
- What do Hezekiah’s actions in 2 Kings 19:1–4 suggest to us about our Christian prayer life?
