2 Chronicles 32:9-17
Notes
Transcript
Song: Deacon Rockie Williams
Song: Deacon Rockie Williams
Prayer: Elder Phydesia Lewis
Prayer: Elder Phydesia Lewis
Scripture: Brother Darrell Hawkins
Scripture: Brother Darrell Hawkins
Give Scripture: 2 Chronicles 32:9-17
Give Scripture: 2 Chronicles 32:9-17
9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
16 And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
17 He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
Give A Review
Give A Review
In the first portion of 2 Chronicles 32, we were able to see that the King of Assyria Sennacherib began to work against Jerusalem that he might engage in warfare against them and challenge them for regency over their Kingdom. We were also able to see in 2 Kings 18-19 a parallel of what happens in Chronicles because we see that Sennacherib had previously threatened the Kingdom of Judah and Hezekiah paid him monies that the Kingdom could remain. However, the King came again, despite the payment given to him so he could conquer Judah and the King was distraught. But the Word of the Lord came to Hezekiah from the Prophet Isaiah (all in 2 Kings 18-19) indicating that God would support the Israelites and ensure their survival.
And so Hezekiah began constructing barriers around the city and they dammed up the rivers surrounding the city to build up water reserves, to protect their water supply, and to deprive their enemies of water. The people of Jerusalem and from the countryside surrounding Judah began work to fulfill Hezekiah’s vision and protect their city. Then they all took their stand as Hezekiah encouraged them in the Word as they prepared for a battle.
Key Takeaways from Last Week
Many tests and challenges in your life will come when you least expect it and are used as a test to determine your willingness and ability to do for God.
We must use wisdom in our actions to ensure we make the best decisions for all people involved By drawing strength from the Father.
Leaders must engage in effective warfare that represents and guides the people as we work against the powers of darkness in this world.
Allow for Questions?
Allow for Questions?
Write some of the questions down if possible.
Scripture Study
Scripture Study
9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
Never abandon ship, even when you are under attack.
Despite Sennacherib’s attacks on the city, and attempts on his part to cause pain and hardship in Jerusalem, the King never left his city or his people.
Never abandon what God gave you.
The people refused to leave Jerusalem because they knew what God had given them and appointed to them when Abraham came into the land.
When God gives you something, you defend it with your last breath.
Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Your enemies will try to make you feel foolish for being faithful to him and his gifts.
The enemy will use words to try and break you, to cause you to exercise faithlessness. Your enemy wants you to lose sight of God’s promises by making you forget his ability to protect and provide.
Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
The enemy will often invoke the power of other gods and some history to appeal to you.
He is using his messengers to strike fear into the hearts of the King and the people of Judah.
He brings reference to the groves and altars which were erected to the gods of Baal and were taken down by Hezekiah and the people of Judah.
The enemy wants to make you feel stupid because of your desire to worship him and seeks to make you forget that the same gods he thinks you should worship failed to deliver them but now wants you to believe the same God who beat them can’t deliver you.
13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
The enemy often over-inflates their victories.
He brings reference to his own victories and what they have done to other people but let the record show that most victories of the Assyrians came over weak and struggling groups of people.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was struggling under their Kings who had completely abandoned God and were therefore easy targets.
Assyria was going after Lachish but only after war had been waged there for generations by other groups.
In fact, one of the reasons Assyria was so desperately attacking Jerusalem is because their empire was waning and they were seeking a plentiful place around which to resettle due to constant issues when they settled in areas. If you look throughout history the Assyrian empire was constantly going through resettlement throughout the reigns of their latter kings, including Sennacherib.
Their empire was not even strong enough to fully colonize Israel, which is why Babylon was able to conquer them and take over the land of Israel.
But, if your enemy can make themselves seem puffed up they can create fear and beat their enemy.
15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
16 And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
Your enemy will try to sow discord and distrust to provoke collapse.
He tries to speak against the God of Israel by comparing him to the other gods he had faced but he also tried to undermine their trust in the King. Despite the King having led the people well during his reign, the enemy will try to make you forget those things and create distrust.
Do not try to box in God.
Never allow yourself to create a box for God to try and put him in it.
Even if something was “impossible” God’s word is so great he can speak it and it has to come to pass.
If he spoke and said the sky was red, he is so much God that it would have to be red. That is why God cannot lie, its not because he lacks the capacity to lie, for is anything too hard for God. But it is fact that his Word carries so much weight that all of creation responds to it to make his word true.
In this sense, it is foolish to try challenging God because anything he wants to do, he can do it.
He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
The enemy will sometimes go to extra lengths just to create fear and confusion.
So we see the King of Assyria is sparing no expense in trying to create fear in the Kingdom of Judah.
He has sent groups of messengers, which are not cheap.
He has sent another group of messengers.
And now he has sent letters to the land of Israel to strike fear in their hearts because he wants to make this battle easy because if he can create fear and confusion, when the war itself comes it will be easier to win.
This is much like the Persian Immortals, which have been dramatized for TV and Movies like 300, Immortals, Spartacus, and a few other things.
But the Persian Immortals went to horrible lengths just to create fear and to cultivate an image that would shake people. They also invested in theatrics, creating smoke when they approached the battle field, war drums, large animals (like elephants) that were really ineffective but physically imposing.
But by doing so, they could win the battle before the war ever started. Because if you can create fear, you can cause someone to shake so much that the arrow they launch does not hit its target. Or you can create hesitation to the point that people draw their swords incorrectly or too slowly in such a manner that leads to large victories.
So, he is trying to use these tactics to create the illusion of invincibility.
Provide Key Takeaways
Provide Key Takeaways
Never give up on what God gave you.
Everything that God gives you has purpose, and when you give up on something he gave you, you are in effect, giving up the purpose to which it has been assigned.
Furthermore, you are giving up on the purpose God has for you because if you cannot accept the purpose of his gifts then you are indicating an unwillingness to accept his ultimate gifts of life and salvation. How can you take life from him, but when he asks you to do something with that life you reject him?
Be careful of your enemy, not just Satan, because they will often try to undermine your faith, trust, and beliefs
Enemies primary motive is to attack your mind which is why it is important you learn to guard your mind from the attacks of satan and those in his employ.
Beware of Satan who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
But, also remember that he who keepeth his mind stayed on Jesus he shall keep that mind in perfect peace.
Know your faith and take a stand
It is incredibly important that we know our faith because when we do not we give the enemy license to weaponize it against us and make us out to be the fool.
If you do not know you are the head and not the tail, you will think you are below and not above.
If you do not know that you are a chosen generation and royal priesthood then you will allow people to treat you as though you are common.
So you must know you faith.
But you must also take a stand, for when you have done all you can stand therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free that you be not entangled with the yoke of bondage.
If you do not stand on anything, stand on the price that Jesus paid.
That way when Satan or anyone else seeks to place you in bondage you can stand on and exercise in your freedom.
Allow for Final Questions?
Allow for Final Questions?
Write some of the questions down if possible.
Roll Call & Prayer Requests
Roll Call & Prayer Requests
Prayer: Do yourself unless otherwise led
Prayer: Do yourself unless otherwise led