Survivor (Part #3)

2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 38:9-20

Sometimes it feels as if life “piles on” the troubles and problems. That was the case with Hezekiah who was battling a life threatening illness during the same period of time that he was dealing with the  Assyrians who were advancing on Jerusalem.

• Hezekiah was sick with a life-threatening disease.
• Isaiah delivers a message to Him that he should get his house in order and prepare to die.
• Hezekiah prays to God and asks Him for healing.
• God hears/answers his prayer and gives Hezekiah an additional 15 years to live.
• He asks Isaiah if there will be a sign given him confirming his healing.
• God moves the sun back 10 degrees on the sundial.

Some believe this was a local miracle and others believe it was a worldwide miracle (“...in the land” can mean either: cf. 2 Chronicles 32:31).

• A traditional remedy was applied to Hezekiah’s boil, but it was God who healed him.
• Hezekiah composes a psalm of praise (Isaiah 38:9-20) to sing to God in thanksgiving.

Sometimes we “survive” not by DOING anything special, but by KNOWING some special things. What we don’t know can hurt us! Understanding certain truths enables us to survive through the many crises in our lives.

Things to remember:
1. God wants us to enjoy life and live it to the fullest.

• Hezekiah wanted to live, not die. That’s the desire of us all, if we’re honest about it. Fundamentally, there’s nothing wrong with that desire.

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17)

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

J. Vernon McGee tells the true, but comical story about a crisis moment in his life: “When I was taken to the hospital, I had no idea what the outcome of my illness would be. The nurse had to help me get into bed because I was so weak. I was not physically weak—I was frightened; I am a coward. She asked, ‘Are you sick?’ I replied, ‘No. I am scared to death!’ She was a Christian nurse, and she smiled at that. I asked her to leave me alone for awhile, and I turned my face to the wall, just as Hezekiah did, and I cried out to God. I told Him that I did not want to die—and I didn’t want to die.

“...Well, an acquaintance wrote me a letter in which she said, ‘I am not going to pray that you get well because I know that you are ready to go and be with the Lord. I am praying that He will take you home.’ I got an answer back to her in a hurry. I said, ‘Now look here. You let the Lord handle this. Don’t try and tell Him how I feel. I don’t want to die. I want to live. I want to live as long as I can...’”

2. God alone holds the power of life and death in His sovereignty.

• Job had no idea of the events going on in the heavenlies, but Satan had no ability to inflict pain on Job beyond what God allowed.
• James/Peter met different fates, but God was sovereign over both situations. (Acts 12)

Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. (Psalm 116:15) i.e., No one touches God’s saints until He says so!

3. God is always looking and listening whenever we are praying. (2 Kings 20:5)

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:16-18)

And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. (2 Chronicles 16:12)

4. God can use traditional means to work supernatural miracles. (2 Kings 20:7)

• We should think about doctors as ministers of God to the sick. (ex. Romans 13)

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15)

There are a number of reasons for understanding this application of oil as medicinal rather than sacramental. The [Greek word for “anoint”] is not the usual word for sacramental or ritualistic anointing. James could have used the [sacramental word] if that had been what he had in mind...Furthermore, it is a well-documented fact that oil was one of the most common medicines of biblical times...Josephus (Antiq. XVII, 172 [vi. 5]) reports that during his last illness Herod the Great was given a bath in oil in hopes of effecting a cure. The papyri, Philo, Pliny, and [a prominent ancient Roman physician-Golen] all refer to the medicinal use of oil. [The physician] described it as “the best of all remedies for paralysis.” ...It is evident, then, that James is prescribing prayer and medicine. --Expositor's Bible Commentary

5. God is teaching us spiritual lessons whenever we are suffering. (Isaiah 38:17)

Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word...It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. (Psalm 119:67,71)

6. God wants us to praise Him in life or in death. (Isaiah 38:9-20)


Conclusion:
Sometimes the disasters of life seem too big to handle. But then we hear of those who survive.

“A man who has been pulled alive from the rubble of a marketplace in Port-au-Prince may have been trapped since the devastating earthquake struck the Haitian capital 28 days earlier on, January 12, 2010.
.
“The 28-year-old, identified as Evans Muncie, was found under the remains of the Croix Bossal market where he sold rice. He had not been seen since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake leveled the city killing over 200,000 people.

"Mr Muncie was discovered by people who had been digging at the marketplace. He was taken to an American field hospital in Port-au-Prince where he was treated for severe dehydration and malnutrition…

"Despite the Haitian Government calling for an end to search and rescue operations on January 23, survivors continued to be pulled from the rubble in the following days.”

The next time it seems like life is hopeless or that problems are overwhelming, remember that God is bigger than anything you face.

Survivor (Part #2)

2 Kings 18:13-21

On April 27, 2011 an F-4 tornado tore a path across central Alabama, including the big cities of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. This 190 mph monster had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and caused damages totaling $2.2 Billion. When all was said and done, direct injuries from the storm numbered 1500, and 64 people lost their lives.

Angie Richardson is a retired employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She, along with her son Zachary, are the caretakers for her disabled husband, Stewart. Even before the tornado, 2011 was a tough year for Angie. Her mother’s health was taking a turn for the worse, and her daughter was struggling with a difficult pregnancy. Angie was hoping for a change, but on that morning of April 27, she never anticipated how many challenges she still had to face.

None of us knows the challenges and storms (or how many) that await us in the coming days/years. As the clouds gather around us possibly foretelling the ominous events of our personally, unknown future, we begin to fear the outcome and how we will survive.

That’s very much how Hezekiah must have felt as he saw the Assyrian army marching toward him and his capital of Jerusalem under siege.

Let’s recount the biblical story and the gathering storm in Hezekiah’s day so that we can learn from him how to be a survivor of the storms/challenges of life.

The Assyrians had conquered numerous cities of Judah in a campaign to ultimately conquer Jerusalem, the capital city of the Kingdom of Judah.

• Hezekiah diverted the water supply outside the city to prevent the Assyrians from having access to it.
• Hezekiah had the city wall repaired and added an outer wall in some locations.
• Hezekiah had weapons and shields made for a potential attack.
• Hezekiah encouraged the people to be strong and trust the Lord.
• The, an apparent and temporary failure. He capitulated to the Assyrian king by offering to pay him tribute money.
• The tribute money was accepted, but it did not stay the Assyrians from their siege of Jerusalem.
• The king of Assyria threatened Judah through his emissaries in an attempt to coerce the surrender of Hezekiah and the city of Jerusalem.
• He even shouts his message in Hebrew to those along the wall of Jerusalem to frighten them into surrender.
• The Assyrians even suggest that they have been sent by God to capture the city.

How did Hezekiah respond:
1. He humbled himself. (19:1; cf. Isaiah 37:1)

• “...God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

• “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

• Satan was cast out of Heaven because of pride. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

• King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled for his arrogance (Daniel 4:28-35).

• Hezekiah knew that he needed God’s help and that meant he must humble himself before God...not exalt himself. Hezekiah is not running from his enemy, he is re-focusing and seeking the help of His God! Some battles don’t even require you to lift a weapon or endanger a life. Such will be the case for Hezekiah!

• Don’t misunderstand, there’s no problem with having confidence...when it’s in the power of your God and your response is according to HIs will. (cf. 1 Samuel 17:45)

2. He sought counsel from the godly. (19:2; cf. Isaiah 37:2-7)

• I’ve been reading the book proverbs once a month and it has MUCH to say about receiving counsel!

• “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

• “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)

• “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)

• “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22)

• “Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.” (Proverbs 20:18)

• Not only did Hezekiah seek counsel...he sought it from God’s prophet because he wanted God’s wisdom! You can find someone that will tell you what you want to hear! Or, you can find the right one (counselor) that will tell you what God wants you to hear!

3. He prayed to the God of Heaven. (19:14; cf. Isaiah 37:14-35)
God can move heaven and earth through prayer!

• Asa

In 2 Chronicles 14, Asa must lead his men against the Ethiopians (Cushites). Asa prays to God saying, "there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty." God then struck down the Ethiopians and they fled.

• Jehoshaphat

Jehoshaphat also prayed to God when it seemed they were up against an unbeatable army. Judah brought together all the people of Judah in 2 Chronicles 20 and everybody prayed. The Lord answered and told King Jehoshaphat and his people to not be afraid or discouraged for the battle was not theirs, but God's. When the battle came Judah and the people of Jerusalem sang and praised and the Lord.

• Elisha

In 2 Kings 6, the king of Syria sends chariots and horses to surround Elisha in Dothan. Elisha prays and asks God to blind the Syrians (Arameans) so that he may be able to trick them and God answers Elisha's prayer. Elisha then leads the Syrians directly into Samaria.

• David

In Psalm 116, David talks about how the "cords of death entangled me." The rest of the chapter goes on to say that if I cry out "O Lord, save me" he will, because He is full of grace, righteousness, compassion, He protects the simple hearted and when you are in great need he will save you.

4. He waited on God to work. (19:35-37)

“Come, behold the works of the Lord,  how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;  he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” (Psalm 46:8-11)

“...but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Conclusion:
With God’s help, you can survive the storms and challenges that come in life!

Author Gerald L. Sittser writes:
"Two years ago, I wrote a book about suffering. I have received many letters from people who wanted to tell me their own stories of suffering. I have asked permission from a few to tell their stories to others. One woman, Mary, was in a terrible automobile accident when she was only five years old. Her grandmother, aunt, and only sibling-a younger brother-were killed. She, the only survivor, was trapped in that chamber of death for more than an hour before an emergency crew could get her out. It took her parents, who were touring Europe at the time, three days to get home. By the time they arrived, she had retreated into a cocoon of silence that lasted for nearly two years. Gradually, she emerged from her silence and returned to normal, or so it seemed.

Mary forgot the accident, but the memory of it did not forget her. She was married in her 20s and had a baby. When her little son reached the age of her brother at the time of his death, the memories flooded back. She had a nervous breakdown... That experience set her on a journey of pain, healing, and redemption.

She was well on her way to emotional and spiritual health when she wrote to me. She concluded her letter by admitting the obvious: She would never have chosen what had happened to her. 'Let this cup pass from me,' she would have said to God. But she did not have a choice.

She came to realize over time that her suffering had a good effect. It served God’s redemptive purpose. She understood the tension in which Christians must live-- the tension between human weakness and God’s strength, life’s afflictions and God’s redemptive plan, catastrophic suffering (which she surely faced) and spiritual victory. She was living what Paul wrote: "We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies" (2 Cor. 4:8-10, TEV)...”

We, also, live in that tension between “human weakness and God’s strength, life’s afflictions and God’s redemptive plan, catastrophic suffering and spiritual victory.” And, we CAN survive with God’s help!

Survivor (Part #1)

2 Kings 18:1-8

This series introduces us to an Old Testament character by the name of Hezekiah. He is one of the “giants” of the Old Testament, but he is not as well know as some of the other Old testament patriarchs, kings and prophets.

There are three extended passages dealing with the life and work of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 29-32; Isaiah 36-39).

He is described as being the BEST King since the time of David and Solomon and was the twelfth King over the southern kingdom of Judah.

The central story of his life is one of survival! There are at least four separate events that Hezekiah survived during his period as Ruler of Judah.

Only two other kings were given the kind of accolades Hezekiah enjoyed: Asa (1 Kings 15:11) and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2).

Hezekiah is one of only nine kings that is said to have done what is, “right in the sight of the Lord.”

The statement that the Lord was with Hezekiah is only made about one other king: David ( 2 Samuel 5:10)

Hezekiah continued the legacy of his ancestor, David by doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. It was David who was described as a man after God’s own heart. ( 1 Samuel 13:14)

His father Ahaz was corrupt during his reign:

• He was an idolater and promoted idolatry in the nation (16:4).
• He made an agreement with the Assyrian king (16:7).
• He raided the Temple (16:8).
• He had a special pagan altar built (16:10).
• He closed down the Temple (2 Chronicles 28:24).
• He offered some of his children as sacrifices (16:3; 2 Chronicles 28:3).
• He wasn’t allowed to be buried in a royal burial place because of his wickedness (2 Chronicles 28:27).

Hezekiah broke free from his family history and did not follow in his father’s footsteps. He knew that just because his father had made foolish choices didn’t mean he had to make them too.

Lessons to be learned from Hezekiah’s survival of his dysfunctional family:
1. A dysfunctional family life doesn’t have to result in a dysfunctional personal life.

Hezekiah grew up in the palace of Ahaz his father. Ahaz was one of the most wicked of the kings to rule and introduced the southern kingdom of Judah to pagan idolatry and much evil...even offering some of his children as sacrifices to pagan gods (2 Kings 16:3; 2 Chronicles 28:3).

Never-the-less, Hezekiah survived his father’s spiritual apostasy and despicable conduct. Here is a case when, “like father, like son” didn’t materialize, as it so often does.

In this story we have a good son (Hezekiah) that comes from a bad father (Ahaz) and a bad son (Manasseh) that comes from a good father (Hezekiah)! It’s about choices, not just environments!

2. Evil around you doesn’t have to become evil within you.

Public sentiment was clearly on the side of Ahaz, idolatry and vice. Evil was popular in his day! Peer pressure was against following the true God.

There were plenty of opportunities for Hezekiah to adopt the practices of his father’s idolatry and paganism. He probably walked through the streets of Jerusalem smelling the incense burning to the pagan gods, as well as seeing other unspeakable acts. But, he didn’t succumb to these ways or choose them for himself.

3. The choices others make don’t have to become the choices you make.

Not everyone was embroiled in the paganism that Ahaz promoted, but probably most were participants in some fashion. Even though many around Hezekiah chose to follow the evil of their king, Hezekiah made right choices rather than easy choices.

cf. Proverbs 1:10-19

4. A few good influences can overcome a society full of bad influences.

There were at least three good influences around Hezekiah that had an impact on his being a survivor of his father’s apostasy.

Who influenced Hezekiah:

A. His mother: her full name was Abijah

Hezekiah’s name means: “Strength of Jehovah.” His mother’s name (“Abijah” - 2 Chronicles 29:1) means “my Father is Jehovah.”

“The cause of God has always owed much to mothers.” --James Smith

(cf. 2 Timothy 1:3-5; 1 Corinthians 7:14)

B. His distant cousin: Isaiah.

Isaiah was his spiritual mentor/advisor (2 Kings 19:2, 5-6) and the one he called on in difficult times for guidance from God.

Many scholars believe that Isaiah was a well-educated relative of King Uzziah (Hezekiah’s Great-Grandfather). Jewish tradition says that Isaiah’s father was King Uzziah’s brother. That would mean that Isaiah would have been a distant cousin to King Hezekiah.

C. His access to the scripture.

With his father as King in Jerusalem, Hezekiah lived in the palace that Solomon built. That meant he had access to the Psalms of David and the Proverbs of Solomon when he was growing up (Proverbs 25-30).

Also, if his mother’s father was a priest, as some believe, he may have had access to more than just the Psalms and Proverbs, but also to other portions of the Law of Moses. He certainly knew what God expected in his sweeping renewal of religious life that took place during his rule.

The impact of the scripture on our lives is inestimable. (cf. 2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Central thought: Your past doesn't have to determine your present or your future.

• You can chose to follow God instead of following the crowd.
• You can let the scripture guide you instead of the current trends/culture.
• You can follow your Heavenly Father and not follow your hellish, earthly family.

Hezekiah’s life boldly challenges the notion that your circumstances are the supreme determining factor in your life and shows that a person can rise above those circumstances.

Your dysfunctional family doesn’t have to become your dysfunctional future.

God is in the business of altering people’s temporal and eternal destinies. (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)