Today’s passage: 2 Kings 18:1-37
Helpful thoughts:
- The fall of Samaria occurred just as Judah was going through its greatest reform and repentance under king Hezekiah. There was a stark contrast of events in these kingdoms.
- Hezekiah had trusted the Lord, but when the empire that defeated Israel retaliated and started moving in on Jerusalem, he simply tried to pay him off. He didn’t have to do that.
- God had preserved Jerusalem before, He could certainly do it again.
- Just like sin itself, Sennacherib couldn’t be satisfied. He wanted total surrender.
- The Assyrians’ challenge from verses 19 on gives Hezekiah the perfect opportunity to point the world to the Lord. It also shows they had done their homework. They knew how to manipulate the truth to intimidate their enemy.
- The Assyrians made sure to speak in Hebrew to tempt the people of Judah away from their king.
Questions to consider:
- What gods did these challengers name as the ones who would have rescued Samaria? What does that teach us about the common knowledge that day of whom the Samaritans worshiped?
- Why is this challenge so foolish? Is the Lord just a god of a local area or country? Who has the upper hand in this tense moment of invasion? The ones with the riches and giant army or the ones with Almighty God?
- What does Hezekiah’s moment of weakness or lack of faith remind us of all people in the Bible (Outside of Jesus)? He was a great King and feared the Lord (Compared to other kings), and he needed a Savior because he too was a sinner. Who is the hero of the story of the Bible? Who is your hero?