DNA

Wk 4 “Bold Action:  Hezekiah”

2 Kings 18:1-12

7/28/24

Justin Scarberry

Message Notes for Week 4

2 Kings 18:1-12 NASB

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. ⁴ He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

⁵ Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. ⁶ He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. ⁷ And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. ⁸ From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

⁹ In King Hezekiah’s fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. ¹⁰ At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. ¹¹ The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes. ¹² This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

The time of King Ahaz was a time of worldly influence & trial for the Israelites.

Previous Kings in Judah/Israel did not completely follow God’s instruction and chose to do things their own way including Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz.

Hezekiah took immediate bold action! Why was he successful?

1. He trusted ___________________________

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV 

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

2. He held fast ________________________

Revelation 2:4-5

⁴ But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  ⁵ Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

3. He kept ____________________________

4. The Lord was with him; ______________________________

Hezekiah took bold action in a time where it would have been easier to go with the flow. 

What bold action is God asking you to take?

Who is God putting on your heart right now to have a Bold Action for?

____________________________________

• The Transition Team is in place, responsibilities are almost fully assigned.
• Dan Hall will be leading the transition team
• Transition Team Needs
  • Areas the need to be covered before August 18  If interested, contact Dan Hall
    • Benevolence Assistants (Coordinator is in place)
    • Missions Contact (communication with the mission the church supports in S/E Asia).
• The Board is continually in contact Growing Healthy Churches (GHC) for guidance through the process.
• GHC has helped 1000’s of Churches finding Pastors
• A Search Team is being put together to start the process
  • The typical time to replace a Pastor is 12-18 months. Please wait on the Lord with us!
  • The team will update the church regularly
• Prayer is a critical part of this process! Please pray continually for the board’s guidance in seeking God’s will.

1. When you think of some people in the Bible who took “Bold Action” for God, who are some of the people that come to mind? Does there seem to be any similarities on why they were successful?
2. What is the context of 2 Kings 18? Do you feel there are any similarities with our society today?  What are the differences? Read 2 Chronicles 28:1-4 for more of the context.  Ahaz is Hezekiah’s father.  Do we inherit the sins of our parents?  Why or why not?  Do you think the church picks up worldly influence?
3. Read 2 Kings 18:1-8, what is meant by “He did what was righ in the eyes of the Lord”? How can we know what is pleasing to God? What is the significance of the actions that Hezekiah took?
4. What does it mean to trust in the Lord? What are some times in our lives when it is not easy to trust in the Lord?  What are some ways we can ensure what we do is directed by God?
5. Read Revelation 2:4-5, what is meant by “first love” in verse 4? What are some of the things that we can do to restore that relationship?
6. Read 2 Kings 18:9-12, who are the Assyrians and what is the significance in scripture of this group? What is the difference between Israel & Judah?
7. What are some of the consequences we can face as a country when not obeying God? What are some of the consequences we can face personally when not obeying God?
8. Would you say that our church takes “Bold Action” for God? Why or why not?  What are some specific things we could do to start taking Bold Action or to make the actions already in place even bolder?
9. The church needs your help! Bold Action for God always starts with prayer.  Will you plan to set a reminder on your phone some time this week to set aside to pray for the leadership of the church?  Many important decisions will need to be made over the next several months and it is critical that those decisions are following God’s lead.
10. Is there someone God is putting on your heart to have a Bold Action to share the gospel message with this week? Will you choose to be Bold and reach out?