Beacon Hill Church

After God gave Moses the Law of the Covenant Moses instructed the people: Deuteronomy 11:19-21

In the centuries following Moses there would be good kings of Israel who followed the Law of God, but more often the kings didn’t fear God, broke His rules and did evil in God’s sight.


King Hezekiah was one of the good kings who ruled the southern kingdom of Judah. Hezekiah’s father, King Ahaz, had been an evil king. He worshipped Baal and followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations, he even sacrificing his own sons in the fire to appease foreign gods.


At one point during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, the northern kingdom of Israel formed an alliance with the nation of Aram and threatened to attack Judah.


God decided to give Ahaz a chance to turn from his evil ways and repent, and sent the Prophet Isaiah to preach a message of repentance and deliverance

Instead of turning to the Lord for help, King Ahaz turned to the Assyrian Empire to rescue him.

The King of Assyria conquered Aram and Israel. He also subjugated the people of Judah and made Ahaz a mere puppet-king and Judah a vassal.


King Hezekiah acted decisively and courageously to institute religious reforms:
(1) Restored the temple in Jerusalem;
(2) Followed the Law of Moses;
(3) destroyed pagan shrines.

Sennacherib was the king of Assyria during Hezekiah’s reign.

He carried out a devastating military campaign against Judah in 701 B.C. He returned to Judah in 688 B.C. to finally crush Hezekiah's rebellion, destroy Jerusalem, and deport the people of Judah to Assyria.

HEZEKIAH BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR THE SIEGE:

1. HE BLOCKED THE SPRINGS and dug the famous HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL which brought the waters of the Spring of Gihon into the city and cut water off from their enemy.

2. HE REPAIRED THE BROKEN AND WEAK SECTIONS OF THE WALL

3. HE MADE WEAPONS AND SHEILDS

4. HE MADE A DECLARATION OF THEIR DEPENDENCE ON THE POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD.


The siege of Jerusalem parallels a spiritual siege on the believer:
1 Peter 5:8

Make ready your defenses to prepare for the Satan’s attack:

1. CUT OFF ALL RESOURCES FROM THE ENEMY. Any place where the devil could gain a foothold.

2. FORTIFY THE WEAKENED AREAS OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE: Prayer, Bible study, fellowship with other believers and faith

3. MAKE READY YOUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS (Ephesians 6:10-17)

The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, feet fitted with the readiness, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God

STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH

Hezekiah had seen the failure of his own father to repent and heed the words of the Prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 7:9: If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. (NIV)

· The first “stand” is in the causative form of the verb: “Stand firm”. In the Old Testament it is used regularly with regards to one’s faith and trust in God.

· The second used of “stand” is in the reflective form of the verb. Thus “stand” in the reflective form can be translated “made firm” or “established

· “If you do not believe or stand firm in your faith; you will not stand or be established.”


Hezekiah was determined to STAND FIRM IN FAITH and trust in God

4. Lastly, DECLARE YOUR CONFIDENCE AND UTTER DEPENDENCE ON THE POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD

KNOW THE STRATEGY OF THE ENEMY

NOTICE THE FOLLOWING REGARDING THE ENEMY'S STRATEGY:

1. The Assyrian commander SPEAKS TO THEM IN HEBREW, a language that they can understand. He communicates to them on their level.

2. CASTS DOUBT on the ability of God to deliver them.

3. Offers them an ENTICING ALTERNATIVE TO TRUSTING GOD.

4. Tries to twist Hezekiah’s reform to look like Hezekiah had undermined the worship of the Lord and deserved God’s wrath.

5. He tries to UNDERMINE THE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE IN GOD by attempting to prove that God is powerless.

6. He even says that the Lord told him to attack the city.


THESE PLOYS ARE SO TYPICAL OF THE ENEMY

1. THE DEVIL'S VOICE SOUNDS FAMILIAR

2. The devil comes to us during times of great adversity to CAST DOUBT on God's ability to deliver us out of our trouble.

3. The devil offers us ENTICING ALTERNATIVES TO TRUSTING GOD

4. The devil tries to UNDERMINE OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD by ATTEMPTING TO PROVE GOD POWERLESS

Sennacherib never attacks the city of Jerusalem. He didn't want to weaken his forces, because he knew Tirhakah, the ruler of Egypt, was marching to Hezekiah's defense.


ALTHOUGH Hezekiah was HEARTBROKEN and DISCOURAGED because of the suffering of his people, their starvation and pain . . .

· He would not surrender, because he knew surrender would mean the end of Judah and the deportation of his people.

· SO, DESPITE ALL FEARS AND DOUBTS - HE TRUSTED GOD TO DELIVER JERUSALEM