Trust Issues

2 Kings 18

Introduction: A couple of weeks ago, I spent some time speaking about the good and bad kings in Israel after the kingdom divided.

King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18 was one of the few good kings. He feared the Lord and did ‘what was right in the sight of the Lord.’

Transition: Let’s go back to 2 Kings and continue to look at the narrative of that time.

Application: It is not unusual when God’s people fear the Lord and do the right thing that challenges and or problems are sure to follow.

1 Peter 5:8, ‘Stay alert (sober)! Watch (be vigilant) out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. NLT

2 Kings 18:13-18

1. The Enemy Demands Payment

As opposed, when God’s people don’t listen, obey and follow God’s ways, trouble is usually right around the corner.

2 Kings 18:12 ‘because they (Israel / Northern Kingdom) did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them. (2Ki 18:12 NKJ)

When we fail to honor God and do the right things, there is often a price to be paid and…The Enemy Demands payment!

Background / Context

• Sennacherib was the king of Assyria who reigned from about 720 BC to 683 BC.
• Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of his palace in Khorsebad, near the ancient city of Nineveh (Jonah 1:1–3).

• During the reign of King Hezekiah in Judah, Sennacherib invaded Judah, bent on conquering Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13).

• Assyria had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and had taken the people captive.

• Second Kings 18:12 says, “This happened because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God, but violated His covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded—and would neither listen nor obey.” Now, under Sennacherib, Assyria stood poised to conquer Judah, too.

• King Sennacherib’s men first attacked forty-six of Judah’s fortified cities and captured them (Isaiah 36:1).
• Then they laid siege on Jerusalem.
• In desperation, Hezekiah sent gold and silver as a peace offering to Assyria, hoping to appease the power-hungry Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13–16). 

Application: Satan has always been power hungry.

• In the Bible, Satan’s primary sin and the root cause of his fall from heaven is pride. Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:17 are often cited as biblical passages that reveal Satan’s prideful rebellion against God.
  
  
• These passages describe a being who, consumed by his own beauty and power, desired to exalt himself above God and usurp His authority.

• Satan is not only power hungry but demands payment!

—————————————————————-

Side Bar: Usurping and Undermining. The two great ‘no noes!

Usurp = take (a position of power and importance) illegally or by force. Supplant, enc roach or infringe.

Biblical Example: Jacob

In the Bible, Jacob is often referred to as “the supplanter” because his name in Hebrew, Ya’aqov, literally means “he grasps the heel” or “supplanter”.

This name reflects his character and actions, particularly in the way he acquired his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing. The term “supplanter” implies someone who replaces or deceives another, which is a prominent theme in Jacob’s story.

Here’s why Jacob is called “the supplanter”:

• Birth Narrative:
  
  
  • Jacob was born grasping Esau’s heel, signifying his competitive and opportunistic nature even before birth.
    
    
  • Birthright:
    
    
• Jacob tricked his hungry brother Esau into selling his birthright for a meal.

Blessing:

• Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceived his blind father Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing meant for the firstborn.

Naming: (Thankfully, there is a hope and possible great future for even the worst usurper/sinners!

Later, after wrestling with an angel, Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, meaning “one who struggles with God,” but the “supplanter” aspect of his character is still acknowledged according to Bible.com.

Undermining = the action or process of lessening the effectiveness, power, or ability of someone or something, especially gradually or insidiously.

It can involve eroding someone’s authority, confidence, or reputation through indirect or underhanded actions. Essentially, it’s about damaging something or someone from the bottom up, like eroding a foundation. 

Satan did both!

—————————————————————-

Transition: Continuation from 2 Kings 18:13f

* The king of Assyria demands payment

• 1 Kings 18:15, 16 – Hezekiah pays up with “ALL” that is in his treasuries and strips the gold from the doors of the temple. I note that after this there is no record of the siege being called off, but rather, the siege is continued and more demands are made, all in the 14th year of kings Hezekiah (V13).

Kings 18:17-37
The siege continues and the field commander demands surrender and submission to Assyria

1 Kings 19:1-13 – Hezekiah is told and is very distressed (he has no more money!!)

1 Kings 19:14-19 – Hezekiah prays to God for help (as he should have done in the first place)

1 Kings 19:20-34 – Isaiah prophesies Assyria’s defeat

1 Kings 19:35, 36 – that same night 185,000 soldiers killed by thee Angel of the LORD.

1 Kings 20 – at about the same time (V1) Hezekiah becomes very ill.

All the events in 1 Kings 18:13 – 19:36 appear to have occurred in a matter of days or a week or two.

Possible alternatives as to why Hezekiah ‘caved in’ to demands.

Questions: It might be that Hezekiah did not completely give everything (some in some treasuries somewhere) and or that either way he / people of Israel recovered it all) after 185,000 were destroyed.

II. The Enemy is Never Satisfied