1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,000 Well we’re coming today for the last time in our series 2 00:00:05,000 –> 00:00:10,000 to Isaiah and chapter 38, this remarkable story 3 00:00:10,000 –> 00:00:14,320 of King Hezekiah who faced an illness 4 00:00:14,320 –> 00:00:16,860 that brought him to the very point of death 5 00:00:16,860 –> 00:00:18,980 and yet God heard his prayer 6 00:00:18,980 –> 00:00:21,799 and he made a remarkable recovery. 7 00:00:21,799 –> 00:00:24,559 And we’re finding that this story is speaking 8 00:00:24,559 –> 00:00:27,600 to us directly in regard to the crisis 9 00:00:28,180 –> 00:00:31,680 that we are facing in our lives today. 10 00:00:31,680 –> 00:00:35,040 The particular value of the story is that 11 00:00:35,040 –> 00:00:38,959 as we look at Hezekiah’s unexpected crisis, 12 00:00:38,959 –> 00:00:42,200 we really see five stages that he went through 13 00:00:42,200 –> 00:00:44,959 in the journey of his experience. 14 00:00:44,959 –> 00:00:47,060 First there was shock. 15 00:00:47,060 –> 00:00:49,720 Then there was hope. 16 00:00:49,720 –> 00:00:52,880 Then there was anguish. 17 00:00:52,880 –> 00:00:54,779 Then there was faith. 18 00:00:54,820 –> 00:00:58,099 And today we’re going to look at his gratitude. 19 00:00:58,099 –> 00:01:01,259 Week by week as we have gone through this series, 20 00:01:01,259 –> 00:01:04,160 we have found that it has been speaking, 21 00:01:04,160 –> 00:01:06,620 I think, in a remarkable way 22 00:01:06,620 –> 00:01:09,739 to exactly what we are experiencing 23 00:01:09,739 –> 00:01:12,980 as we walk through this particular crisis. 24 00:01:12,980 –> 00:01:17,379 When we began last month, we were all in a state of shock. 25 00:01:17,379 –> 00:01:20,459 Nothing like this has ever happened 26 00:01:20,459 –> 00:01:23,339 to us in our lives before. 27 00:01:23,339 –> 00:01:27,139 But then as Christ’s people, we have affirmed our hope, 28 00:01:27,139 –> 00:01:29,660 our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. 29 00:01:29,660 –> 00:01:34,660 But as time has gone on, we have felt increasing anguish, 30 00:01:35,580 –> 00:01:37,739 and our faith has been tested. 31 00:01:37,739 –> 00:01:38,760 Some of us have found 32 00:01:38,760 –> 00:01:42,519 that our faith is not as strong as we had thought. 33 00:01:42,519 –> 00:01:46,139 We looked at how faith is strengthened by the Word of God 34 00:01:46,139 –> 00:01:49,519 and by praying the promises of God. 35 00:01:49,519 –> 00:01:51,099 And then we looked at the things 36 00:01:51,099 –> 00:01:54,879 of which a Christian believer can be absolutely sure, 37 00:01:54,879 –> 00:01:57,559 even in the hardest of times, 38 00:01:57,559 –> 00:02:02,559 I am loved, I am saved and I am forgiven. 39 00:02:04,580 –> 00:02:09,000 Now as we come to the end of this series today, 40 00:02:09,000 –> 00:02:12,000 we’re looking at the last theme in the story 41 00:02:12,000 –> 00:02:16,160 and I think it speaks again powerfully 42 00:02:16,160 –> 00:02:19,520 and directly to precisely where we are 43 00:02:19,600 –> 00:02:24,199 at this point in the COVID-19 crisis today. 44 00:02:24,199 –> 00:02:25,039 Think about it. 45 00:02:25,039 –> 00:02:28,020 Hezekiah was sick, he was at the point of death, 46 00:02:28,020 –> 00:02:30,880 he cried out to God in prayer, 47 00:02:30,880 –> 00:02:34,660 God healed him and added 15 years to his life. 48 00:02:34,660 –> 00:02:36,300 Now here’s the question, 49 00:02:37,259 –> 00:02:42,259 what use did this man make of these 15 years? 50 00:02:43,839 –> 00:02:46,619 Or to put it more directly in a way that’s personal 51 00:02:46,619 –> 00:02:49,240 for the each and every one of us, 52 00:02:49,279 –> 00:02:54,279 what will you do when you get your life back? 53 00:02:55,619 –> 00:03:00,619 See, here we are in this crisis, we’re past the shock, 54 00:03:00,779 –> 00:03:04,839 we’ve experienced a great deal of anguish, 55 00:03:04,839 –> 00:03:07,979 but the conversation’s beginning to turn. 56 00:03:07,979 –> 00:03:11,399 People are talking about light at the end of the tunnel. 57 00:03:11,399 –> 00:03:16,399 There are guidelines in place for opening up the country, 58 00:03:16,440 –> 00:03:19,619 conditions under which the restrictions 59 00:03:19,619 –> 00:03:22,080 that we’re still under can be lifted. 60 00:03:22,080 –> 00:03:25,000 We all want to get our lives back, 61 00:03:25,000 –> 00:03:27,240 back to work, back to our friends, 62 00:03:27,240 –> 00:03:30,479 back to our families, back to traveling again. 63 00:03:30,479 –> 00:03:33,460 We pray that this crisis will soon be over, 64 00:03:34,639 –> 00:03:37,820 but what are you going to do with your life 65 00:03:37,820 –> 00:03:39,039 when you get it back? 66 00:03:40,479 –> 00:03:43,600 That’s the question that is before us today. 67 00:03:43,600 –> 00:03:45,639 We’re going to follow the story 68 00:03:45,820 –> 00:03:49,839 of what Hezekiah said and then what he did 69 00:03:49,839 –> 00:03:51,320 when he got his life back. 70 00:03:51,320 –> 00:03:56,259 What he said, what he did, what he discovered, 71 00:03:57,080 –> 00:04:01,600 and then how God’s grace prevailed. 72 00:04:01,600 –> 00:04:05,080 Now, let’s start then with what he said, 73 00:04:05,080 –> 00:04:07,679 and we saw it last time from verse 15 74 00:04:07,679 –> 00:04:09,279 that Hezekiah said, 75 00:04:09,279 –> 00:04:14,240 I will walk slowly, or as it might be translated, 76 00:04:15,080 –> 00:04:19,880 I will walk humbly all my years. 77 00:04:20,799 –> 00:04:25,799 Now this was Hezekiah’s commitment. 78 00:04:25,920 –> 00:04:27,480 He was absolutely clear, 79 00:04:27,480 –> 00:04:30,440 Lord, if you will give me my life back, 80 00:04:31,480 –> 00:04:35,040 if you will answer my prayers, 81 00:04:35,040 –> 00:04:37,480 here’s what I’m going to do. 82 00:04:37,480 –> 00:04:39,559 If you give me another 15 years, 83 00:04:39,579 –> 00:04:41,579 I’m going to live every day of them 84 00:04:41,579 –> 00:04:43,700 before you in humility. 85 00:04:44,880 –> 00:04:46,779 Now, what would that look like? 86 00:04:46,779 –> 00:04:50,239 What does it mean to walk humbly before the Lord? 87 00:04:50,239 –> 00:04:53,679 Well, Hezekiah tells us in verse 19 and 20, 88 00:04:53,679 –> 00:04:57,399 where he describes the life that he’s committed to pursue, 89 00:04:57,399 –> 00:05:01,320 first, a humble person is one who seeks to glorify God. 90 00:05:01,320 –> 00:05:02,480 He says, verse 19, 91 00:05:02,480 –> 00:05:04,559 the living, the living, 92 00:05:05,119 –> 00:05:09,760 he thanks you as I do today. 93 00:05:09,760 –> 00:05:12,920 Lord, he’s saying, no one in the pit of destruction 94 00:05:12,920 –> 00:05:14,640 is going to be praising you, 95 00:05:14,640 –> 00:05:17,600 but you have saved me from that. 96 00:05:17,600 –> 00:05:22,600 You have promised me life and I believe your promise. 97 00:05:22,920 –> 00:05:25,079 So, I’m going to praise you, 98 00:05:25,079 –> 00:05:26,959 I’m going to thank you and if you give me 99 00:05:26,959 –> 00:05:28,559 another 15 years of life, 100 00:05:28,559 –> 00:05:31,200 I’m going to praise you and thank you 101 00:05:31,200 –> 00:05:34,500 every day that you give to me. 102 00:05:34,720 –> 00:05:37,880 A humble person seeks to glorify God. 103 00:05:39,220 –> 00:05:42,579 And then, a humble person seeks the good of other people. 104 00:05:42,579 –> 00:05:44,399 Notice that he says here, 105 00:05:44,399 –> 00:05:49,399 the father makes known to the children, 106 00:05:49,519 –> 00:05:51,679 your faithfulness. 107 00:05:51,679 –> 00:05:54,880 And remember, that at this point in the story, 108 00:05:54,880 –> 00:05:57,160 Hezekiah was not yet a father, 109 00:05:57,160 –> 00:06:00,559 children had not yet been born to him, 110 00:06:00,559 –> 00:06:03,559 but he believed that God would be faithful 111 00:06:03,600 –> 00:06:06,220 to his ancient promise given to David 112 00:06:06,220 –> 00:06:08,119 that the line of David, 113 00:06:08,119 –> 00:06:12,040 in which Hezekiah stood would continue. 114 00:06:12,040 –> 00:06:14,579 And so he makes this commitment to God, 115 00:06:15,420 –> 00:06:20,420 I will tell my children of your faithfulness. 116 00:06:21,260 –> 00:06:25,980 I will make sure that my family knows that you are God, 117 00:06:27,000 –> 00:06:29,579 and that you are good, 118 00:06:29,579 –> 00:06:34,579 and that your faithfulness endures to all generations. 119 00:06:35,339 –> 00:06:38,500 And then notice that the circle of praise 120 00:06:38,500 –> 00:06:40,959 just keeps expanding. 121 00:06:40,959 –> 00:06:42,660 It starts with one man, 122 00:06:42,660 –> 00:06:45,559 Hezekiah, praising God and giving thanks. 123 00:06:45,559 –> 00:06:48,179 Then his family join in with him, 124 00:06:48,179 –> 00:06:50,980 and then the entire community is drawn in. 125 00:06:50,980 –> 00:06:53,619 Verse 20, notice the movement 126 00:06:53,619 –> 00:06:56,459 from me to we in this verse. 127 00:06:56,480 –> 00:06:59,600 The Lord will save me. 128 00:06:59,600 –> 00:07:00,420 But then he says, 129 00:07:00,420 –> 00:07:05,160 and we will play music on stringed instruments 130 00:07:05,160 –> 00:07:09,739 all the days of our lives in the house of the Lord. 131 00:07:09,739 –> 00:07:11,040 You see what he’s saying? 132 00:07:11,040 –> 00:07:13,200 It’s not just me that’s going to thank you, Lord. 133 00:07:13,200 –> 00:07:17,279 All of God’s people are going to join in praise with me. 134 00:07:17,279 –> 00:07:18,420 We’re gonna make music. 135 00:07:18,420 –> 00:07:20,859 We’re going to be singing praise to you. 136 00:07:20,859 –> 00:07:22,640 We’re gonna be doing it in the temple, 137 00:07:22,660 –> 00:07:27,660 and we’re going to be doing it all the days of our lives. 138 00:07:30,200 –> 00:07:33,940 Now, friends, this is a marvelous commitment. 139 00:07:35,459 –> 00:07:37,679 Lord, if you give me my life back, 140 00:07:37,679 –> 00:07:38,839 here’s what I’m going to do. 141 00:07:38,839 –> 00:07:42,279 I’m going to live it humbly for your glory. 142 00:07:42,279 –> 00:07:46,059 And I’m going to seek the good of other people. 143 00:07:48,220 –> 00:07:50,980 That’s what Hezekiah said. 144 00:07:52,640 –> 00:07:57,140 What he did was something entirely different. 145 00:07:59,040 –> 00:08:01,320 Let’s follow the story together. 146 00:08:01,320 –> 00:08:04,760 Chapter 39 and verse 1 tells us 147 00:08:04,760 –> 00:08:09,380 that the king of Babylon sent envoys 148 00:08:09,380 –> 00:08:12,480 and letters and a present 149 00:08:12,480 –> 00:08:15,600 to Hezekiah because he heard that he’d been sick 150 00:08:15,600 –> 00:08:17,320 and that he had recovered. 151 00:08:18,480 –> 00:08:22,119 Now Babylon was really the rising superpower 152 00:08:22,119 –> 00:08:27,119 of that day and so when envoys came from Babylon, 153 00:08:28,359 –> 00:08:31,859 while Hezekiah really wanted to impress them, 154 00:08:31,859 –> 00:08:35,760 he was flattered and he couldn’t resist 155 00:08:35,760 –> 00:08:39,119 showing off his treasure. 156 00:08:40,039 –> 00:08:41,380 So here’s what he did. 157 00:08:42,320 –> 00:08:45,859 Verse 2 of Isaiah 39, 158 00:08:45,859 –> 00:08:50,599 Hezekiah welcomed these envoys gladly 159 00:08:50,640 –> 00:08:54,820 and he showed them His treasure house, 160 00:08:54,820 –> 00:08:59,780 the silver, the gold, the spices, 161 00:08:59,780 –> 00:09:03,340 all that was found in the storehouses. 162 00:09:04,820 –> 00:09:08,479 Now, it’s not difficult to imagine the effect 163 00:09:08,479 –> 00:09:12,080 that this had on the envoys from Babylon. 164 00:09:12,960 –> 00:09:17,580 I mean, their eyes widened as they see the gold 165 00:09:17,580 –> 00:09:20,099 and as they see the silver. 166 00:09:20,099 –> 00:09:24,340 And then they go back to their crown prince, 167 00:09:24,340 –> 00:09:28,099 this man called Merodach Baladan. 168 00:09:28,099 –> 00:09:30,940 And they say to the crown prince 169 00:09:30,940 –> 00:09:35,940 there’s serious money over there in Jerusalem. 170 00:09:37,219 –> 00:09:40,239 And the crown prince says to them, 171 00:09:40,239 –> 00:09:42,219 thank you for telling me. 172 00:09:43,479 –> 00:09:45,320 I’ll remember that. 173 00:09:46,280 –> 00:09:51,280 And one day, that treasure that you have seen will be ours. 174 00:09:55,559 –> 00:10:00,080 Well, when the invoice from Babylon had gone back home, 175 00:10:01,000 –> 00:10:04,679 the Bible tells us that Isaiah the prophet came back again 176 00:10:04,679 –> 00:10:09,440 to Hezekiah in the palace and asked about these visitors. 177 00:10:09,440 –> 00:10:12,520 What did these men say, verse three? 178 00:10:12,520 –> 00:10:15,179 And from where did they come? 179 00:10:15,799 –> 00:10:18,719 And the king tells them, well, these men who came to visit, 180 00:10:18,719 –> 00:10:21,080 they were envoys from Babylon. 181 00:10:21,080 –> 00:10:23,479 And so Isaiah the prophet asks, 182 00:10:23,479 –> 00:10:26,440 and what have they seen in your house? 183 00:10:28,119 –> 00:10:30,559 And the king says, well, they’ve seen everything. 184 00:10:31,880 –> 00:10:34,260 Then Isaiah the prophet says, 185 00:10:35,280 –> 00:10:40,280 he’s the word of the Lord of hosts, 186 00:10:41,320 –> 00:10:43,919 behold, the days are coming, 187 00:10:44,919 –> 00:10:47,679 when all that is in your house 188 00:10:47,679 –> 00:10:49,719 shall be carried away to Babylon. 189 00:10:51,039 –> 00:10:56,039 Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 190 00:10:59,880 –> 00:11:04,880 You know, good people can make disastrous decisions. 191 00:11:06,760 –> 00:11:09,619 That’s something very important that we learn right here. 192 00:11:10,799 –> 00:11:12,619 Hezekiah was a godly man 193 00:11:13,619 –> 00:11:18,539 but here he acts in utter folly. 194 00:11:19,619 –> 00:11:23,520 A good man making a disastrous decision, 195 00:11:23,520 –> 00:11:28,299 showing future enemies all of the treasure in his house. 196 00:11:28,820 –> 00:11:31,380 And it was an absolute disaster 197 00:11:31,380 –> 00:11:34,059 because this was what sowed the seed 198 00:11:34,979 –> 00:11:39,940 of the loss of Hezekiah’s kingdom in future generations. 199 00:11:40,799 –> 00:11:43,859 When a future king of Babylon would come 200 00:11:43,859 –> 00:11:45,900 and destroy the city of Jerusalem 201 00:11:45,900 –> 00:11:49,020 and plunder its wealth entirely. 202 00:11:50,700 –> 00:11:54,979 All that is in your house shall be carried to Babylon, 203 00:11:54,979 –> 00:11:59,979 nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 204 00:12:02,539 –> 00:12:07,400 Now, when Hezekiah heard what would happen, 205 00:12:08,400 –> 00:12:13,400 he spoke one of the saddest sentences in all of the Bible. 206 00:12:16,320 –> 00:12:19,599 Isaiah you see, had told him 207 00:12:19,599 –> 00:12:23,460 that his sons would be carried away. 208 00:12:23,460 –> 00:12:27,679 In other words that this loss of the treasure 209 00:12:27,679 –> 00:12:31,059 would happen in a future generation. 210 00:12:33,020 –> 00:12:35,239 And Hezekiah knew of course 211 00:12:35,299 –> 00:12:39,580 that he was only going to live for another 15 years. 212 00:12:39,580 –> 00:12:40,799 Remarkable thing. 213 00:12:40,799 –> 00:12:44,059 This man knew exactly how long he had left to live. 214 00:12:45,479 –> 00:12:47,359 And so when he hears this news 215 00:12:47,359 –> 00:12:48,900 that actually the disaster 216 00:12:48,900 –> 00:12:50,580 is not going to happen immediately, 217 00:12:50,580 –> 00:12:53,299 but that it’s going to happen in a future generation, 218 00:12:53,299 –> 00:12:55,239 it’s going to be on his sons. 219 00:12:56,340 –> 00:13:00,159 Well, verse eight Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 220 00:13:00,159 –> 00:13:04,000 the word of the Lord that you have spoken is good. 221 00:13:05,320 –> 00:13:07,460 For He thought, 222 00:13:07,460 –> 00:13:09,460 there will be peace 223 00:13:09,460 –> 00:13:11,659 and security 224 00:13:11,659 –> 00:13:13,900 in my days. 225 00:13:16,219 –> 00:13:17,059 That 226 00:13:17,979 –> 00:13:20,719 is sheer selfishness. 227 00:13:22,539 –> 00:13:24,960 No thought for a future generation, 228 00:13:26,000 –> 00:13:29,460 who cares what happens to other people. 229 00:13:29,460 –> 00:13:32,239 As long as life is good for me, 230 00:13:33,059 –> 00:13:36,219 there will be peace and security 231 00:13:37,299 –> 00:13:38,940 in my days. 232 00:13:41,020 –> 00:13:43,179 I look at these words and I think, 233 00:13:44,039 –> 00:13:47,580 how could anyone possibly be so selfish? 234 00:13:49,760 –> 00:13:51,000 But, you know, 235 00:13:52,659 –> 00:13:54,940 God has told us 236 00:13:56,380 –> 00:14:00,559 that judgment is coming on the world. 237 00:14:02,559 –> 00:14:05,299 And you know, we may not be so far 238 00:14:05,299 –> 00:14:07,039 as we like to think from Hezekiah 239 00:14:07,039 –> 00:14:09,619 when he basically says, you know, judgment’s coming 240 00:14:09,619 –> 00:14:12,280 and I don’t care as long as I’m not caught up in it. 241 00:14:13,919 –> 00:14:18,140 It is very easy for us to think like Hezekiah. 242 00:14:18,140 –> 00:14:20,340 Judgment is coming on the world? 243 00:14:21,539 –> 00:14:23,380 Well, as long as I’m not involved. 244 00:14:25,059 –> 00:14:30,059 The world can go to hell as long as we don’t go with it. 245 00:14:33,159 –> 00:14:35,700 You see, that’s the spirit of Hezekiah right there. 246 00:14:38,020 –> 00:14:40,200 What Hezekiah said 247 00:14:41,479 –> 00:14:44,359 and what he did were two entirely different things. 248 00:14:44,359 –> 00:14:46,760 He said he’s going to live for the glory of God. 249 00:14:46,760 –> 00:14:48,960 He’s going to live humbly with thanksgiving. 250 00:14:48,960 –> 00:14:51,059 He’s going to seek the good of others. 251 00:14:52,760 –> 00:14:53,799 What he did, 252 00:14:55,099 –> 00:14:57,119 it’s all about himself. 253 00:14:58,440 –> 00:15:00,960 As long as there’s peace and security 254 00:15:00,979 –> 00:15:03,260 in my days 255 00:15:04,280 –> 00:15:05,960 God gave him life 256 00:15:07,400 –> 00:15:10,320 and he lived it for himself. 257 00:15:11,640 –> 00:15:12,979 Now here’s the question. 258 00:15:13,859 –> 00:15:17,320 How could a godly man 259 00:15:17,320 –> 00:15:19,580 behave in such a way? 260 00:15:20,719 –> 00:15:22,700 How could a king who has prayed 261 00:15:22,700 –> 00:15:25,520 and whose prayers have been heard and answered, 262 00:15:25,520 –> 00:15:26,559 how could a good man, 263 00:15:26,559 –> 00:15:29,840 indeed the Bible says he was the best king Judah ever had, 264 00:15:30,799 –> 00:15:32,799 how could this man, 265 00:15:32,799 –> 00:15:35,900 this godly man have behaved like a fool? 266 00:15:37,640 –> 00:15:40,219 Well, the key to understanding this story 267 00:15:40,219 –> 00:15:41,780 is actually given to us 268 00:15:41,780 –> 00:15:45,000 in the Second Book of Chronicles, 269 00:15:45,000 –> 00:15:49,460 where God tells us what was going on at this time 270 00:15:49,460 –> 00:15:51,900 in King Hezekiah’s heart. 271 00:15:51,900 –> 00:15:53,820 We’ve looked at what he said. 272 00:15:53,820 –> 00:15:55,840 We’ve looked at what he did. 273 00:15:55,840 –> 00:15:59,440 Now let’s look thirdly at what he discovered. 274 00:15:59,440 –> 00:16:03,559 Second Chronicles, in chapter 32, verse 24, says this. 275 00:16:03,559 –> 00:16:07,080 In those days, Hezekiah became sick 276 00:16:07,080 –> 00:16:08,640 and was at the point of death. 277 00:16:08,640 –> 00:16:10,859 So this is commenting on the story 278 00:16:10,859 –> 00:16:12,359 that we’ve been following. 279 00:16:12,359 –> 00:16:13,880 He prayed to the Lord, 280 00:16:13,880 –> 00:16:16,739 and God answered him and gave him a sign 281 00:16:16,739 –> 00:16:20,960 but Hezekiah did not make return 282 00:16:20,960 –> 00:16:23,299 according to the benefit done to him. 283 00:16:23,299 –> 00:16:24,140 Why? 284 00:16:25,580 –> 00:16:28,640 For his heart was 285 00:16:29,820 –> 00:16:30,659 proud. 286 00:16:31,820 –> 00:16:33,900 Exactly the opposite of what he had said 287 00:16:33,900 –> 00:16:34,919 when he prayed to God, 288 00:16:34,919 –> 00:16:36,219 you give me my life back, 289 00:16:36,219 –> 00:16:37,580 you give me 15 more years, 290 00:16:37,580 –> 00:16:38,919 I’m going to walk humbly. 291 00:16:40,000 –> 00:16:41,140 But the reality, 292 00:16:42,179 –> 00:16:45,760 was that when God gave him his life back, 293 00:16:45,760 –> 00:16:49,359 this man became proud. 294 00:16:51,619 –> 00:16:53,400 That’s the explanation 295 00:16:54,780 –> 00:16:57,059 as to why this man said one thing 296 00:16:58,039 –> 00:17:01,280 but what he did was entirely another, 297 00:17:01,280 –> 00:17:04,420 he did not return according to the benefit 298 00:17:04,420 –> 00:17:06,939 that was done to him, 299 00:17:06,939 –> 00:17:10,939 for his heart was proud. 300 00:17:12,180 –> 00:17:17,180 Now remember that Hezekiah was a godly king. 301 00:17:20,459 –> 00:17:25,459 He was the best king that Judah ever had. 302 00:17:26,439 –> 00:17:28,660 There was none like him before the bible says, 303 00:17:28,660 –> 00:17:31,420 and none like him after. 304 00:17:31,420 –> 00:17:34,099 He was a true believer, 305 00:17:34,099 –> 00:17:36,900 his prayers were heard and wonderfully answered 306 00:17:36,900 –> 00:17:39,520 by almighty God. 307 00:17:39,520 –> 00:17:44,520 But pride lurked in the heart even of this most godly king, 308 00:17:47,420 –> 00:17:51,560 and when God gave him his life back, 309 00:17:51,560 –> 00:17:52,900 the bible makes it very clear 310 00:17:52,900 –> 00:17:55,439 what he did with that given life 311 00:17:56,300 –> 00:17:58,839 was he lived it for himself. 312 00:18:00,239 –> 00:18:03,079 Second Chronicles chapter 32 in verse 27 313 00:18:03,079 –> 00:18:07,140 lays this out in detail, lists it. 314 00:18:07,140 –> 00:18:12,140 Hezekiah we’re told had very great riches and honour, 315 00:18:12,739 –> 00:18:17,739 and he made notice for himself treasures, 316 00:18:18,819 –> 00:18:21,540 plural, not just one 317 00:18:21,540 –> 00:18:23,619 but he needed a treasury for silver 318 00:18:23,619 –> 00:18:25,079 and another one for gold 319 00:18:25,319 –> 00:18:27,119 another one for precious stones 320 00:18:27,119 –> 00:18:28,400 another one for spices 321 00:18:28,400 –> 00:18:29,699 another one for shields 322 00:18:29,699 –> 00:18:31,920 another one for all kinds of costly vessels 323 00:18:31,920 –> 00:18:33,780 and on it goes. 324 00:18:34,599 –> 00:18:36,699 Likewise the Bible continues, 325 00:18:36,699 –> 00:18:39,560 he provided cities, for who? 326 00:18:39,560 –> 00:18:43,640 For himself, and flocks, and herds 327 00:18:43,640 –> 00:18:47,219 in abundance for God had given him very great possessions. 328 00:18:47,219 –> 00:18:50,239 God gives him abundant goodness 329 00:18:51,160 –> 00:18:52,520 and what does he do with it? 330 00:18:52,520 –> 00:18:55,339 It’s all for himself. 331 00:18:56,319 –> 00:18:58,400 So here’s a man who says to God, 332 00:18:58,400 –> 00:18:59,880 now you give me my life back 333 00:18:59,880 –> 00:19:02,900 and I will walk humbly with you all of my years 334 00:19:02,900 –> 00:19:06,040 and what happens when God gives him his life back is this, 335 00:19:06,040 –> 00:19:07,760 precisely the opposite. 336 00:19:07,760 –> 00:19:10,199 It’s all about Hezekiah. 337 00:19:11,060 –> 00:19:14,099 He becomes proud in his heart 338 00:19:14,099 –> 00:19:15,500 and what he does, 339 00:19:15,540 –> 00:19:18,900 it’s all for himself. 340 00:19:21,979 –> 00:19:26,979 See the question that really reveals our hearts, 341 00:19:28,619 –> 00:19:32,380 it’s not will you pray in a crisis. 342 00:19:32,380 –> 00:19:34,619 Most people pray in a crisis. 343 00:19:35,819 –> 00:19:39,160 No, the question that really reveals your heart 344 00:19:39,160 –> 00:19:42,780 is how will you live when the crisis is over? 345 00:19:43,739 –> 00:19:46,119 What will you do with your life 346 00:19:46,119 –> 00:19:47,719 when God gives it back to you? 347 00:19:49,119 –> 00:19:54,119 That’s the question that exposed the heart of Hezekiah. 348 00:19:56,260 –> 00:20:01,260 Now God knows how to deal with the proud heart. 349 00:20:02,239 –> 00:20:05,000 Second chronicles tells us this, 350 00:20:05,000 –> 00:20:07,699 that Hezekiah did not make return 351 00:20:07,699 –> 00:20:10,400 according to the benefit done to him 352 00:20:10,400 –> 00:20:12,560 for his heart was proud. 353 00:20:13,760 –> 00:20:18,000 Therefore wrath came upon him 354 00:20:18,000 –> 00:20:21,680 and Judah and Jerusalem. 355 00:20:21,680 –> 00:20:24,160 You see what we’re being told here 356 00:20:24,160 –> 00:20:28,119 that when Hezekiah’s heart became proud, 357 00:20:28,119 –> 00:20:32,719 he came under the discipline of Almighty God. 358 00:20:33,819 –> 00:20:37,020 It was a very important Bible principle. 359 00:20:37,099 –> 00:20:41,660 God loves his children so much 360 00:20:41,660 –> 00:20:45,900 that he will not allow his own children 361 00:20:45,900 –> 00:20:48,020 to continue in sin. 362 00:20:49,260 –> 00:20:52,339 What did this wrath look like? 363 00:20:52,339 –> 00:20:54,560 Well, Chronicles tells us very clearly 364 00:20:54,560 –> 00:20:57,420 how it was that God dealt with Hezekiah 365 00:20:57,420 –> 00:21:00,180 and how he will deal with us 366 00:21:00,180 –> 00:21:02,540 if our hearts become proud. 367 00:21:02,540 –> 00:21:06,199 Verse 31, 368 00:21:07,439 –> 00:21:10,619 in the matter of the envoys 369 00:21:10,619 –> 00:21:12,859 of the princes of Babylon, 370 00:21:12,859 –> 00:21:14,119 here’s what God did, 371 00:21:15,339 –> 00:21:18,819 God left him to himself 372 00:21:20,579 –> 00:21:23,300 in order to test him 373 00:21:23,300 –> 00:21:26,500 and to know all that was in his heart. 374 00:21:27,920 –> 00:21:30,300 Now, do you see, when a person 375 00:21:30,300 –> 00:21:32,300 who has been blessed by God 376 00:21:32,760 –> 00:21:36,219 turns away from Him in defiance 377 00:21:36,219 –> 00:21:38,739 and refuses to repent? 378 00:21:39,979 –> 00:21:41,800 Well, things don’t go so well. 379 00:21:42,979 –> 00:21:47,260 The prodigal son knew all about this. 380 00:21:48,260 –> 00:21:51,040 Remember that he sinned 381 00:21:51,040 –> 00:21:55,500 against God and against those who loved him 382 00:21:55,500 –> 00:21:58,079 and for a long time, 383 00:21:58,079 –> 00:22:00,640 there wasn’t the slightest hint 384 00:22:00,640 –> 00:22:03,859 of repentance in his life. 385 00:22:03,859 –> 00:22:05,500 He remained in the far country 386 00:22:06,400 –> 00:22:09,160 and things did not go well for him there. 387 00:22:10,199 –> 00:22:12,640 In the end he became desperate 388 00:22:13,479 –> 00:22:15,239 and I expect he told himself 389 00:22:15,239 –> 00:22:18,119 that what he needed was a new job 390 00:22:18,119 –> 00:22:20,119 or new friends 391 00:22:20,119 –> 00:22:22,400 or maybe to move to another location. 392 00:22:23,400 –> 00:22:25,839 But you know what the prodigal son really needed to do? 393 00:22:25,839 –> 00:22:28,219 He needed to repent! 394 00:22:28,219 –> 00:22:31,000 He needed to humble himself. 395 00:22:31,000 –> 00:22:35,420 He needed to repent towards God. 396 00:22:35,420 –> 00:22:38,119 I have sinned against Heaven! 397 00:22:38,119 –> 00:22:42,900 He needed to repent towards the people in his life 398 00:22:42,900 –> 00:22:44,900 he had sinned against. 399 00:22:44,900 –> 00:22:47,520 I have sinned against you! 400 00:22:47,520 –> 00:22:51,619 The money that he had taken, 401 00:22:51,619 –> 00:22:53,839 the trust he had betrayed, 402 00:22:53,839 –> 00:22:57,500 the work that he abandoned, 403 00:22:57,500 –> 00:23:02,199 the love that he had sporned, 404 00:23:02,199 –> 00:23:07,680 the Lord Jesus says in the story of the prodigal son 405 00:23:07,680 –> 00:23:13,619 that eventually he came to his senses. 406 00:23:13,619 –> 00:23:16,619 That’s what happened to Hezekiah. 407 00:23:16,619 –> 00:23:20,020 He came to his senses. 408 00:23:20,020 –> 00:23:21,920 And the reason that he came to his senses 409 00:23:21,920 –> 00:23:24,359 was that God left him to himself 410 00:23:24,359 –> 00:23:32,540 so that the foolishness of his own proud heart was exposed. 411 00:23:32,540 –> 00:23:36,280 What he said, something very wonderful. 412 00:23:36,280 –> 00:23:39,640 What he did, something very different. 413 00:23:39,640 –> 00:23:41,540 What he discovered, 414 00:23:41,540 –> 00:23:47,459 that his own heart was filled with a detestable pride 415 00:23:47,459 –> 00:23:50,020 and that he wasn’t nearly as godly 416 00:23:50,020 –> 00:23:53,819 as he might have liked to think. 417 00:23:53,819 –> 00:23:56,420 And then here’s the fourth thing, and it is very wonderful. 418 00:23:56,420 –> 00:24:04,420 I want us to see together today, how God’s grace prevailed. 419 00:24:04,420 –> 00:24:08,260 Look at 2 Chronicles chapter 32 in verse 26, 420 00:24:08,260 –> 00:24:11,560 Hezekiah humbled himself. 421 00:24:11,560 –> 00:24:13,219 There’s good news. 422 00:24:13,219 –> 00:24:16,400 He humbled himself for the pride of his heart, 423 00:24:16,400 –> 00:24:19,420 both he, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 424 00:24:19,420 –> 00:24:22,280 so that the wrath of the Lord 425 00:24:22,280 –> 00:24:27,339 did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 426 00:24:27,339 –> 00:24:32,560 Now, notice how it was that God’s grace prevailed 427 00:24:32,560 –> 00:24:34,719 in this man’s life. 428 00:24:34,719 –> 00:24:40,319 He humbled himself for the pride of his heart. 429 00:24:40,319 –> 00:24:46,459 In other words, God’s discipline exposed this man’s heart. 430 00:24:46,459 –> 00:24:49,500 He hadn’t seen it before, 431 00:24:49,579 –> 00:24:54,099 but when he came under the discipline of Almighty God, 432 00:24:54,099 –> 00:24:57,920 he saw the pride of his heart for what it was. 433 00:24:57,920 –> 00:25:00,359 He saw what a fool he had been. 434 00:25:00,359 –> 00:25:02,739 What am I doing? 435 00:25:02,739 –> 00:25:04,219 God has given me my life back. 436 00:25:04,219 –> 00:25:06,040 I was at the point of death. 437 00:25:06,040 –> 00:25:08,420 I prayed, and he gave me life. 438 00:25:08,420 –> 00:25:09,420 What am I doing now? 439 00:25:09,420 –> 00:25:11,900 I am living it for myself. 440 00:25:11,900 –> 00:25:16,579 I’ve been a fool. 441 00:25:16,579 –> 00:25:19,479 And then, notice what it says next. 442 00:25:19,479 –> 00:25:24,560 As Hezekiah sees the folly of his own heart. 443 00:25:24,560 –> 00:25:30,859 The pride that is there that’s driving this life that’s all about himself. 444 00:25:30,859 –> 00:25:39,119 It says that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 445 00:25:39,119 –> 00:25:43,160 Now, notice something very significant. 446 00:25:43,979 –> 00:25:54,959 Here in the Old Testament, the wrath in God’s mercy was postponed, held over for another time. 447 00:25:54,959 –> 00:25:57,540 It was postponed. 448 00:25:57,540 –> 00:26:01,439 It was not removed. 449 00:26:01,439 –> 00:26:05,719 Justice must be done somewhere. 450 00:26:05,719 –> 00:26:12,319 Sooner or later, all sin must be dealt with. 451 00:26:12,400 –> 00:26:16,760 And this, friends, is why Jesus Christ came into the world. 452 00:26:16,760 –> 00:26:24,579 And, you know, if you think about it, what we see in the Lord Jesus Christ is exactly 453 00:26:24,579 –> 00:26:29,880 the opposite of what we’ve seen in Hezekiah today. 454 00:26:29,880 –> 00:26:35,079 Hezekiah became proud in his heart. 455 00:26:35,079 –> 00:26:42,060 Jesus humbled himself even to death on a cross. 456 00:26:42,239 –> 00:26:45,859 Hezekiah lived for himself, all about himself. 457 00:26:45,859 –> 00:26:48,420 Filling the treasuries for himself. 458 00:26:48,420 –> 00:26:57,199 Jesus left the riches of heaven and gave himself for the good of others, but perhaps most striking 459 00:26:57,199 –> 00:26:59,819 of all. 460 00:26:59,819 –> 00:27:06,140 When Hezekiah faced the prospect of the wrath of God, he thought to himself, as long as 461 00:27:06,140 –> 00:27:10,739 it’s on others and not on me. 462 00:27:10,739 –> 00:27:15,819 But Jesus said let it be on me and not on them. 463 00:27:15,819 –> 00:27:20,020 Father, forgive them. 464 00:27:20,020 –> 00:27:24,079 They do not know what they are doing. 465 00:27:24,079 –> 00:27:32,079 Jesus absorbed the wrath that was due to us on account of our sins. 466 00:27:32,079 –> 00:27:42,160 He took it in himself so that all who come to him in faith and in repentance, for all 467 00:27:42,160 –> 00:27:49,599 who will come to him, that wrath that was due to us, it’s not just postponed, it’s 468 00:27:49,599 –> 00:27:51,160 removed. 469 00:27:51,160 –> 00:28:04,199 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ, Jesus our Lord.” 470 00:28:04,199 –> 00:28:10,300 Friend here then is the question that is before us today and I want to press it for all of 471 00:28:10,300 –> 00:28:16,500 us as we come to the end of the series that has spoken so directly to these extraordinary 472 00:28:16,819 –> 00:28:24,319 days in which we are living, what are you doing with the life that God is giving to 473 00:28:24,319 –> 00:28:25,319 you? 474 00:28:25,319 –> 00:28:29,979 What are you doing with it? 475 00:28:29,979 –> 00:28:36,780 Maybe you see something of yourself today in Hezekiah’s story. 476 00:28:36,780 –> 00:28:43,660 I want to end by speaking directly to the person who says, yes I see myself in this 477 00:28:43,660 –> 00:28:44,660 story. 478 00:28:44,660 –> 00:28:48,020 I’ve really messed up. 479 00:28:48,020 –> 00:28:50,140 Big Time. 480 00:28:50,140 –> 00:28:52,839 I’ve said one thing and done another. 481 00:28:52,839 –> 00:28:58,260 I’ve made commitments to God in the past, but I haven’t kept them. 482 00:28:58,260 –> 00:29:03,219 I’ve even taught others, but I have not lived up to that teaching myself. 483 00:29:03,219 –> 00:29:07,739 I’ve behaved like a fool. 484 00:29:07,739 –> 00:29:11,660 And now I see my own heart for what it is. 485 00:29:11,660 –> 00:29:17,800 I feel that there can be no hope left for me. 486 00:29:17,800 –> 00:29:22,699 And I want to say to you from the scriptures today, dear friend, oh yes, there is hope 487 00:29:22,699 –> 00:29:23,699 for you. 488 00:29:23,699 –> 00:29:30,660 There is hope for you, in and through the Saviour who came for you and for me, Jesus 489 00:29:30,660 –> 00:29:34,459 Christ, our Saviour and our Lord. 490 00:29:34,459 –> 00:29:41,219 Can you see, dear friend, that the very fact that you are seeing the need of your own heart, 491 00:29:41,300 –> 00:29:46,579 that in itself right now is evidence of the grace of God at work in you? 492 00:29:47,819 –> 00:29:51,199 And here is now what you must do. 493 00:29:51,199 –> 00:29:54,300 You have seen that you need a Saviour. 494 00:29:54,300 –> 00:29:58,219 You have seen the need of your own heart. 495 00:29:58,219 –> 00:30:03,180 Now you must humble yourself before God in repentance. 496 00:30:03,180 –> 00:30:09,160 You must tell Him that you are done with living for yourself. 497 00:30:09,180 –> 00:30:15,160 Thank Him that Jesus Christ His Son came into the world and bore the wrath for you. 498 00:30:15,160 –> 00:30:17,380 And then ask Him. 499 00:30:17,380 –> 00:30:22,900 Ask Jesus Christ God’s Son to become your Lord 500 00:30:22,900 –> 00:30:26,040 and to become your Saviour. 501 00:30:26,040 –> 00:30:33,199 There is hope for you in Jesus Christ who died for your sins. 502 00:30:33,500 –> 00:30:36,459 And the scripture states it so wonderfully in these words. 503 00:30:36,459 –> 00:30:38,300 Speaking of Jesus, 504 00:30:38,300 –> 00:30:41,060 He died for all. 505 00:30:41,060 –> 00:30:43,819 That includes you. 506 00:30:43,819 –> 00:30:48,160 He died for all that those who live 507 00:30:48,160 –> 00:30:53,060 might no longer live for themselves 508 00:30:53,060 –> 00:30:59,660 but for Him who for their sake died 509 00:30:59,660 –> 00:31:02,339 and was raised 510 00:31:02,339 –> 00:31:06,339 Will you bow with me before God in prayer? 511 00:31:06,339 –> 00:31:08,780 Let’s pray together. 512 00:31:10,079 –> 00:31:12,479 Our father, 513 00:31:12,479 –> 00:31:18,140 please forgive the foolish pride 514 00:31:18,140 –> 00:31:21,839 of our hearts 515 00:31:21,839 –> 00:31:27,880 that we would take the life that you give to us 516 00:31:27,880 –> 00:31:31,640 and spend it on ourselves. 517 00:31:33,339 –> 00:31:38,199 Father, our hearts are exposed by your Word 518 00:31:38,199 –> 00:31:43,880 and we thank you that when we see our own self-interest, 519 00:31:43,880 –> 00:31:48,540 we see our need of a savior, 520 00:31:48,540 –> 00:31:55,880 and we thank you that Jesus Christ is the Savior we need. 521 00:31:55,880 –> 00:32:02,099 And therefore in humble faith and in repentance today, 522 00:32:02,400 –> 00:32:11,099 we embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and as Lord. 523 00:32:11,099 –> 00:32:15,239 Grant, Father, cleansing for our sin 524 00:32:15,239 –> 00:32:17,760 and renewal of our hearts. 525 00:32:17,760 –> 00:32:23,140 Take proud hearts and make us humble 526 00:32:23,140 –> 00:32:31,260 and grant that in Christ we may no longer live for ourselves 527 00:32:31,260 –> 00:32:36,000 but as you give us life, let us live for the one 528 00:32:36,000 –> 00:32:40,560 who died for us and rose again 529 00:32:40,560 –> 00:32:43,800 in whose marvellous name we pray. 530 00:32:43,800 –> 00:32:45,000 Amen.