©Living Hope Church 27 July 2008

Actions Have Consequences 38 & 39 (read except 38:10-20)

Introduction

A. “If - then” statements are foundational to disciplines like geometry or computer programming. If a certain set of facts are true then the same result always follows so 2 + 2 = 4.

1. Further, “if - then” statements are part of life (whether facts or actions).

· If you study in college (school) instead of hanging out with friends then ... grades. · If you exceed the speed limit as you drive your car then ... you get a ticket. · If you spend money impulsively without saving then ... you have debt. · If you are humble then ... God gives grace.

2. The point of “if - then” statements is to show that actions have consequences. What wise parent does not endeavor to teach their children that actions have consequences?

Galatians 6:7 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

B. Here in Isaiah 38 & 39 we will study , his actions and the consequences that follow, and lessons we can glean from this great king.

1. We will see that actions have consequences.

I. Who is Hezekiah?

A. We were introduced to Hezekiah last Sunday in & 37. Sennacherib, king of , comes up against and Hezekiah.

1. Hezekiah gets it right and seeks God. He prays a prayer that is powerfully effective. This prayer is for God and His cause. This is the way to pray!

Isaiah 37:15-20 (ESV) And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of , enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 18 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”

2. God responds by rising up against the Assyrians and striking down 185,000 soldiers.

B. Hezekiah demonstrates impressive faith in God and God displays His glory by being true to the Word that was prophesied back in .

1. Hezekiah is a great king. In fact, he was Judah’s greatest king.

2 Kings 18:5-7a (ESV) He [Hezekiah] trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered.

C. We don’t know how Hezekiah became a great king. It sure wasn’t his DNA.

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1. Hezekiah’s father was who was a faithless, idolatrous king (we met him in ) - the lineage is , Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah who will be followed by Manasseh.

2. Hezekiah began to reign in when he was 25 years old and he reigned there for 29 years. Hezekiah did so much right.

3. In the first year, in the first month, he opened the doors to the house of the Lord and repaired them. He smashed the bronze serpent Moses made because it was now an idol.

4. Hezekiah restored Davidic temple worship, feasts, and the priests.

D. Hezekiah is a great king but he is not the Messiah.

1. Scholars are as agreed as scholars get that chapters 38 & 39 precede 36 & 37. We don’t know this if we merely read the text (this is probably to introduce ).

E. So, “in those days Hezekiah became sick” is before Sennacherib is on the scene. The story is fascinating because we have lots going on and not much explanation.

II. Hezekiah’s actions and consequences in Isaiah 38 & 39 (four).

A. First, Hezekiah becomes sick. So sick he is at the point of death. So sick that Isaiah prophecies that Hezekiah will die. He will not recover.

1. Sickness is not sin. Sickness, biblically, may be caused by sin or it might not be caused by sin. The wise believer does examine themselves for sin.

B. Second, Hezekiah turns to face a wall (perhaps for privacy) and prays by asking God to remember his faithfulness, wholehearted obedience and his goodness.

1. Is it a good prayer? Perhaps (and the text doesn’t say) it is. The prayer gets results but prayer that is God-glorifying is concerned with God’s name and will (not selfish).

· Hezekiah was concerned because no heir (no Davidic kingdom as promised).

2. God gives Hezekiah 15 more years of life with a sign confirming this action. Is that a good thing? Perhaps if the years are spent wisely but Hezekiah misses the mark.

2 Chronicles 32:24-25 (ESV) In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

3. Did God change His mind regarding Hezekiah and his impending death (openness)? No, and we certainly can’t prove that. We know that God does interact with His creation.

C. Three, Hezekiah pens a lament and a song of praise. It is well done!

1. He pours out his heart to God, doesn’t sin by accusing God, and turns to celebrate God’s goodness by giving thanks. It has the quality of a Psalm.

D. Four, Hezekiah gladly receives an envoy from Babylon. He shows them everything (all of his immense treasure and wealth).

1. Isaiah simply asks questions (you tell we have a problem) and to Hezekiah’s credit he answers well. But Isaiah has another prophetic word to share.

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2. Judah will be taken captive by Babylon (not Assyria!) and nothing will be left. Hezekiah says that it is a good word and a just word (let’s not criticize unfairly).

3. Babylon will now come into play. In a little over 100 years they will take Judah. Babylon represents the world (hinted at in -23 with Babylon leading the way).

Throughout the Babylon is a cipher for everything wrong with the world, everything against God. Ray Ortlund, Jr in Isaiah PTW Commentary, p 226

E. Actions have consequences (both favorable and unfavorable).

III. What can we learn from Hezekiah? What lessons can we glean from this story? Three:

A. One, when Hezekiah is in trouble he seeks God and he prays.

1 John 3:21-23 (ESV) Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

1. God is pleased when we are satisfied with Him. When our concern is His glory, and not our personal status, God loves to move on our behalf.

2. A lack of prayer reveals our view of God. Because we are so seldom in serious trouble we may find that we so seldom see our need for God.

I believe that prayer is the measure of a man, spiritually, in a way that nothing else is, so that how we pray is as important a question as we can ever face. J.I. Packer quoted by D.A. Carson in Spiritual Reformation, p 17

B. Two, with God failure isn’t the final word. Hezekiah welcomed Babylon (probably forming an alliance when God was enough) due to the pride in his heart but he would humble himself.

1. This action was a massive blunder. Hezekiah needed God for protection. He did not need or Babylon. But:

2 Chronicles 32:26 (ESV) But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

1. Perhaps you can point to a pride-filled failure in your life. What are you going to do? The wise move is to humble yourself and go on with God.

2. Failure is designed by God to produce fresh dependence in our hearts. Because He loves us He disciplines us (not to discard us or punish us but to make us fruitful).

Ex: Hezekiah knew bitterness but he turned to God and was then able to pray a mighty prayer of faith when Assyria drew near.

C. Three, a life of faithfulness can be undone by pride in a single moment of weakness.

1. Pride lurks in every human heart (not if but where) and we do well to cultivate humility. Pride is our greatest enemy and humility is our greatest friend.

2. Nothing should scare us more than the potential actions that lurk within.

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· The challenge of ending well and being found faithful to the end.

Close

A. Hezekiah is a great king but he is not the Messiah promised in . There is a suffering servant who will come to save the world from their sins. His name is Jesus Christ.

1. He will be faithful in all His ways. He will desire to do the will of His Father. He will, for the joy set before Him, endure the cross. He will not be proud or selfish.

2. As we turn to Is 40 next week the Sovereignty of God and His sure promises of a Savior will come into glorious focus.

B. Even the best of the best fall short of God’s standard. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That is not the end of the story. There is a Redeemer.

Pray

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