This week, we shall continue to
study the book of 2 Kings in the Old Testament.
(1) Given the dire situation, what did Hezekiah do that was different than before, i.e. when Jerusalem was first attacked in 18:13-16? (19:1)
(2) Why didn’t he go to Isaiah himself?
(3) What did he ask Isaiah to do?
(4) How did he address God in v. 4? Why?
(5) Why did he call themselves “the remnant”? (v. 4) Were they (in the biblical sense of the word)? (see Note below)
(6) What was the reply from the Lord? (vv. 6-7)
(7) What was the basis of God’s action?
(8) What was the outcome of this particular incident? (v. 8)
(9) Sometime later, the Assyrians made another attempt to besiege Jerusalem:
a. The message of intimidation resembled that of the last time (18:27-35): What was the focus of this intimidation?
b. If you were Hezekiah, would you have reacted differently this time? Why or why not?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
The word, “remnant”, is a rendering of different Hebrew words. “At first the word denoted a part of a family or clan left from slaughter, and later came to be applied to the spiritual kernel of the nation who would survive God’s judgment and become the germ of the new people of God. Thus Micah saw the returning glory of Israel (2:12; 5:7). Zephaniah saw the triumph of this remnant (2:4-7), and so did Zechariah (8:1-8). Isaiah named a son She’ar Jashub which is ‘A remnant returns’ (7:3).” (Pictorial Bible Dictionary, 711)
(1) How did Hezekiah react differently to this latest threat this time?
(2) In his prayer to the Lord (vv. 15-19):
a. How did he adore God? How important was it that he began with these words of adoration? (v. 15)
b. In imploring God to listen and see, to what did he draw God’s attention? (v. 16)
c. In his prayer, to what reality did he admit? (vv. 17-18)
d. However, what was the basis of his confidence? (v. 19)
(3) In God’s reply to Hezekiah (vv. 21-34):
a. What did God point out as the mistake committed by the king Sennacherib? (vv. 21-23a)
b. What had caused him to be so confident and proud even against God? (vv. 23b-24)
c. What had he forgotten or not been aware of? (vv. 25-26. Also see Note below.)
d. What would be the judgment on him and why? (vv. 27-28; 32-33)
e. What blessing was promised by God to Hezekiah and Judah? (vv. 29-31)
(4) How and when was this prophecy fulfilled? (v. 35)
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
“The historical reality, in this instance of the Assyrian judgment upon the nations, had had from all eternity an ideal reality in God…the prophecy becomes a proof that the event is the work of God and was long ago the predetermined counsel of God. The whole of the Scripture presupposes this pre-existence of the divine idea before the historical realization, and Isaiah in Israel…was the assiduous interpreter of this supposition.”
(K&D, Kings, 320; Isaiah, 258)
(1) Hezekiah came to the throne at age 25 and with the extra 15 years that God would add to his life because of this incident, he ruled a total of 29 years (18:1-2). How old then was he when he was terminally ill?
(2) Announcing to him that he will die, what did Isaiah ask him to do? (v. 1)
(3) How would you have reacted to this news, if you were Hezekiah?
(4) How did Hezekiah react to this news? Was it a surprise to you?
(5) What did his reaction reveal about him as a person who knew and belonged to God?
(6) What reasons did God give in changing His mind?
(7) How does this speak to the character of our God?
(8) Why did Hezekiah even seek for a sign from the Lord if he was going to be completely healed in just two days?
(9) What miracle was performed at his request?
(10) As we know, Manasseh, probably the most wicked king of Judah, was born during the extra 15 years added to Hezekiah’s life. If Hezekiah knew it ahead of time, would he have asked for an extension to his life? Why or why not?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) What do you think was the real intention of the king of Babylon in sending a gift and envoys to visit Hezekiah?
(2) Do you think Hezekiah should know their real intention?
(3) In showing his glory and richness, why did Hezekiah show them everything to the point that the Bible says, “There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them” (20:13)?
(4) Why did Isaiah choose to ask the king what he already knew?
(5) From the reply of Hezekiah, do you think he knew he had done something wrong? Why or why not?
(6) What was the judgment pronounced by God as a result of his action?
(7) What sin did he commit that warranted such a severe judgment?
(8) How did Hezekiah respond to these words of judgment?
(9) Judging from his reply, what kind of a king was Hezekiah?
(10) If you were to write his epitaph, what would you write about Hezekiah?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Since Manasseh was only 12 years old when he became king, how old was Hezekiah when he was born?
(2) Why didn’t Hezekiah have any spiritual influence on Manasseh?
(3) Consider Manasseh’s drastic change of course from Hezekiah’s (vv. 2-6):
a. What might be the most unexpected thing he did as far as you are concerned?
b. What might be the most abominable? Why?
(4) What sacrilege did he commit inside the temple of the Lord? (vv. 4, 5 and7)
(5) What impact did his sin have on the people? (v. 9)
(6) How many prophets did God send to warn and rebuke him? (v. 10)
(7) Why didn’t Manasseh listen?
(8) What incentive did he have to listen?
(9) Suppose that you were one of the prophets or godly Jews in his time:
a. What and how would you pray?
b. What questions might you have in your heart?
c. What would be your only hope?
(10) Apart from blatant idol worship, what other sin(s) did Manasseh commit? (v. 16)
(11) In your opinion, why did God allow such a wicked king to reign for 55 years? (you might want to read 2 Chr. 33:10ff about Manasseh’s subsequent repentance)
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Given the repentance of Manasseh in his latter years, why did Amon choose the former ways of his father? (see 2 Chr. 33:23)
(2) The death of Amon meant a fresh start for the nation of Judah: How and where might Josiah learn to worship and follow the Lord, instead of the practices of his father?
(3) What did Josiah do in the 18th year of his reign? (22:3-7)
(4) What do you think the temple was like before then?
(5) What is meant by “finding the Book of the Law in the temple”?
a. Where was it all the time?
b. How did they worship without the Book of the Law up till then?
(6) What immediate impact did the hearing of the words of God in the Law have on the king? Why?
(7) Many Christians do not put much effort in the reading and the hearing of the Bible:
a. How would they know how to follow the Lord and live their Christian lives?
b. What danger do they put themselves into?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) The king asked the priests to “inquire of the Lord” (22:13):
a. Who were the well-known prophets serving at the time of Josiah? (see Jeremiah 1:2; Zephaniah 1:1)
b. Why didn’t they go to them to inquire of the Lord?
(2) Who was the prophet Huldah? (22:14)
a. Why didn’t they speak to Shallum instead of his wife?
b. What might this show us about the role of women in spiritual matters?
(3) Based on the words of the prophetess (22:16-20):
a. What caused the king to tear his robes and weep in God’s presence?
b. Would God carry out the “curse” declared by the Book of the Law? Why or why not?
(4) How did the king react to the words of the prophetess? (23:1-2)
(5) How important was it that all the people, not just himself, would hear “all the words of the Book of the Covenant”? (23:2)
(6) What lesson can we learn from this?
(7) What did the king ask the people to do in response to the hearing of the words of God? (23:3)
(8) How does it speak to the proper attitude toward reading and hearing the Word of God today?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?