Wise Choices Impacting Tomorrow
Notes
Transcript
Hezekiah ended up being one of the greatest kings Judah ever had.
His kingdom and the legacy he left behind was equal to that of his forefather, the great king David.
At first glance, thinking about his Godly ancestor, David, we can assume that Hezekiah had an easy life becoming king of Judah.
After all he must have had everything and the best of all that Israel had to offer.
Before we make this assumption, let’s look at his life before becoming king:
His father was Ahaz:
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.
His father was not a good man
Ahaz’s life is recorded in several portions of Scripture: 2 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 28; Isaiah 7-9
Ahaz’s name meant possessor - it was given to mean one that would possess
Yet, the irony of his name is that Ahaz lost everything:
Lost his family
2 Chron 28:3
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
Hezekiah heard the stories, and undoubtedly watched as his father would sacrifice his brothers and sisters to a false god called Baalim
He would watch as his mother witnessed and may have even been a part of this abortionistic ritual
Lost his possessions
2 Chron 28:4
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
His father would spend vast amount of money to sacrifice to false gods
Lost his friend
2 Chron 28:5
Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
Many people in Judah, certainly some of them Ahaz’s friends were enslaved by other countries never to be seen again
Lost his power
2 Chron 28:16-20
At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord. And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
His influence and power were lost
Lost his allies
2 Chron 28:21
For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
He went into the temple, sold the gold, silver, and precious jewels that decorated and adorned the house of God to fund his battle
His ally received it, but did not help
Lost his mind
2 Chron 28:22-23
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
Lost his soul
2 Chron 28:27
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
The people of Judah knew Ahaz was a wicked man that lost everything
Worse than this, at the age of 35 he would die. He would die unsaved, and he entered a place that he will never leave. A place called Hell.
Isaiah - chapters 7-9 foretelling of the Saviour
Hosea & Micah would warn Ahaz about his unbelief and the consequences that lie ahead
Mat 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
This is the environment where Hezekiah would be raised.
He saw the loss. He knew the pain. He saw the distress and anguish. He certainly saw the tears and bitterness that ravaged his father.
There must be a better way!
What did Hezekiah do?! What did he choose to do?!
Chose to stand for right
Chose to stand for right
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
Hezekiah saw the wickedness and sinfulness surrounding these false gods
He saw what was innocent, the serpent that Moses made to remind Israel of the Saviour, taken and corruptly misused and worshipped as a god
Hezekiah took a stand
He, as a first generation Christian in his family, chose to stand for what is right!
As this church established, God has used His Word to show us what is right!
As we see what is right, stand upon in truth and love!
We can take a stand without being mean about it!
This world wants right!
How many times do hear in news media, this was not right. That was not right. What is right in this situation?
These questions and statement illuminate our natural desire for right.
That desire for right is the natural desire for our Holy God! God is truth! God is right!
Chose to trust the Lord
Chose to trust the Lord
He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.
Hezekiah trusted
The confidence by which Hezekiah stood was grounded in the Lord
He knew the Lord. He saw what God could do!
Confident in my wife’s cooking
God desires us to be confident in Him
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do
The mountains are His, the rivers are His
The stars are His handiwork too
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do
Hezekiah clave
to cling ⇔ stay v. — to stay, conceived of as clinging.
Hezekiah was tempted and encouraged to forsake or turn away from God.
But he chose to cling.
When times were difficult and the situation looked hopeless, he clung to the Lord!
God defeated a large army of soldiers trying to take over Jerusalem by Himself. Hezekiah never lifted a sword against the enemy! God destroyed the army!
God showed Hezekiah how great He is through his faithfulness!
When times come that tempt us away from God. Decide to solidify your trust in God afresh. Renew that hope and belief in God for He ALWAYS comes through!
Chose to stay right
Chose to stay right
And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
As Hezekiah followed God, God showed Himself faithful. In the times of prosperity, God was still the forefront of his life.
Hezekiah was willing to see the enemy that lifted itself against God. State and act accordingly what was right. Trust God that He would help him do right, and then chose to exalt God!
God is looking for someone who will lift Him up.
There is not one that is watching today that is worthy lifting up, humanly speaking.
There is One though that is watching. He hears every word I’m saying. He sees past the words and focuses on the heart and spirit by which it is stated. He knows every thought and motive. His name is:
Wonderful
Counsellor
Mighty God
Prince of Peace
Jehovah
El Shaddai
Lord God
Almighty
Alpha and Omega
The Beginning and the End
The Lamb
God
Father
Jesus Christ
Holy Spirit
The Great I AM
He is watching this morning and I will stand before God and give an account one day of every word that has been spoken this morning.
Let’s glory in the Lord God, Jesus Christ!
Church, I do not know what the days ahead are going to look like.
I look back these past 4 years and see His mighty hand working in so many ways, but I do not the future!
I do know the One that holds the future in His hand.
Church, let’s lift up the God of all gods, King of all kings, great and mighty is He!
If you’re watching this morning and have questions about Jesus, may I remind you that every choice away from God will cost you:
Family
Possessions
Friendships
Power
Allies
Mind
Soul
Hezekiah chose differently. He chose Jesus. This brought him a life that God chose to remind us of and will be reminded of for all eternity.
Not only did Hezekiah’s life change completely, but his eternity changed from death to life. Eternal life in Heaven.