2 Kings 19:8-37

Introduction: When you are tempted to panic, what do you do? Things looked dim for Hezekiah…..threats from the outside were weighing heavily on the king. It did not look good. In fact, odds were, Judah was history. Israel had met its demise in 722 B.C. and Judah was in the crosshairs. However, the King was decisive and left us three (3) actions to take during uncertain times.

1. GUARD your Heart- do not PANIC because of FEAR! (2 Kings 19:10-13)

“10Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered? 12Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? 13Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?”

*** Watch out – 

*** Guard from Panic

{The enemy tries to intimidate us to compromise our convictions – 2Kings 18:14-16….The Assyrians put pressure on Hezekiah until he gave in and cut off the gold from the door of the temple. And he gave silver as well}

{Archaeology confirms the tribute….a clay inscription kept in the British museum – Judah paid taxes to the Assyrian King Sennacherib to buy some time} 

{Hezekiah humbled himself before our Lord and sought for a word from the man of God, Isaiah – 2Kings 19:1-7}

2. Take the Situation to the LORD Jesus – tell Him- LEAVE with HIM! (2 Kings 19:14-19)

“And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. 15And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. 16LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. 17Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, 18And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. 19Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.”

{Hezekiah took it to the Lord in prayer in the house of the Lord – vv 1-4}

{God answered-vv 20f}

{What do you (we) need to take to the Lord in prayer?}

3. STAND FIRM and watch God WORK – lay bare His mighty Arm of Power! (2 Kings 19:31-37)

“31For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. 32Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. 33By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. 34For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.”

Sennacherib Slain

(2 Chronicles 32:20-23)

“35And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 36So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 37And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.”

{God “SHOWED UP” & God “SHOWED OUT”}

{One angel killed 185, 000 Assyrians in one night} 

{The king of Assyria was assassinated – v. 37}

Conclusion: Where is your “SECURITY” during “SHAKY” times? Is the enemy trying to intimidate you right now?

*** FIGHT your FEAR!

*** FEED your FAITH!

Guard your heart.

Don’t Panic 

Don’t be Afraid

Take it to the Lord

Tell Him

Leave it there

Step back

Watch God work

Be sure He gets the Glory!