Before the dawn of the reformation there was a time when the encroaching darkness had swept across Europe and the Church. It looked as if the knowledge of scripture would disappear, and the light would be snuffed out. It is often referred to the dark ages. Where would help come from? The answer from God and his word. And indeed, it is the covenant promises of God through the ages, that gave the people renewed hope, and a firm foundation.
Today as we look at this passage, we also see the darkness, and Gods enemies encroaching on the people of God, till only Jerusalem is left? Where would God’s people turn? The same place they always do – To God and his word.
Dear children of God there is a war taking place. Between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. We are engaged in this struggle – as we are united to Christ. He is the one that has overcome. He is the one that when it looked like all was lost – won the victory. And the only way we will be victorious is through humility, gratitude, and a total dependance on God.
The Battle of the Ages – the worlds kingdom against Gods Kingdom
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The King and the Kingdom of God
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The King and the kingdom of this world
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The end of pride and the victory of humility
The king and kingdom of God
Our text starts off with “After these acts of faithfulness.” as we have seen past faithfulness does not guarantee future faith. Just because we are reformed, does not mean we must not keep reforming. God does not stop calling us, testing us, pushing us to grow in the life of faith. We as Christians do not rest on past laurels, but with Paul we Forget the things that are behind and strain toward the things that are ahead (Phil 3:13). God is not done with us until our dying day.
So, after all these acts of faithfulness from Hezekiah, Sennacherib “invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.” The kingdom of this world would like nothing more than to wipe off the kingdom of God off this world. He was going to conquer this weak little kingdom for himself and swallow it up like he did with other far greater nations.
And in the face of this great nation what does Hezekiah do? V. 2-8 tell us. He does not just sit back and do nothing and expect God to do everything. He knows that God works through human agency. Holiness, and humility does not lead to laziness, and passivity. Believing in God does not make us avoid all means which God gives. No! trust in God does the opposite, it encourages, it enlivens, it causes men and women to take up their work in the kingdom with renewed vigor! It gives us every reason to be busy in the kingdom! God commands us to “work our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13).”
And Hezekiah gets busy, stopping up water, so that the enemy might not have water, builds up the wall, and places towers at strategic places. He also makes weapons and shields in abundance. And sets up combat commanders! This is a man preparing for war! A man with a plan.
In preparing he takes action, but when it comes to the outcome of this battle he does not trust in his preparedness, but in the Lord. Remember the Bible says, “work our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13).”
Look at the beautiful speech each gives as the battle day nears, “Be strong and courageous Do not be afraid or dismayed!” These words echo closely what David said to his Son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 22:13, when it came to the temple building. And this is not an empty encouragement that is spoken, like when someone says, “It’s going to be ok.” - When you know it’s not.
No, this is a command from the king that must be obeyed. But can only be obeyed when one has faith in God. Without faith is God there would be no reason for these people to be strong and courageous, and not be afraid or dismayed.
And why should they be strong and courageous? Why should they not be afraid or dismayed? Because says the king, “There are more with us then with him. With him is the arm of flesh but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” In other words, dear church this is Gods fight! This is his kingdom. We are his covenant people. There are more than us as are with them. You can only see this with the eyes of faith. This is an amazing exncouragement for the elders and deacons who are going to be ordained today. They must lead. They must work – but at the end of the day this is the Lords people he will protect them. Do you see – this courage is based on Gods covenant promises! It is his word that undergirds this strength and courage during lives circumstances!
And your king speaks to you. Be strong and courageous. Yes, the great son of David! Right before he goes to the cross, he tells his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27). Or as the writer to the Hebrews so beautifully put it, “He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. So, we can confidently say, “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me.”
As Hezekiah says, “Bit with us is the LORD our god, to help us and to fight our battles.” The battle between the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of this world is the Lord’s battle! We can entrust it into his hands! Be strong!
And what happened? The people took confidence. Confidence comes from a steadfast trust in God, not from all the planning in the world. You can have all everything ready, all of life planned out, insurance for every eventuality, and a retirement plan that will last you till you are 200 years old, and yet you will still be anxious and nervous, if it is not for your trust in the lord.
We believe that faith is a “a firm confidence and sure knowledge whereby I accept as true all that God has revealed in his word (LD 7 Q&A 21).” Dear church when all of life looks hopeless. When it seems pointless ot believe. Do not dismay! Believe have faith. Hear the clarion call of th reformation ring through the ages, “Sola Fide!” Let’s listen to our king and his wordand strengthen our faith.
Now let’s look at the king of this world.
The king of this world
Thing king of this world is in total opposition not just against Hezekiah but God! In fact, he is blinded to the fact that this God is the one True God. He blasphemes him and brings God down to the level of humanity. He will control this god just like the other gods.
Furthermore he does not see anything special about this weak and small little kingdom. There would be nothing to it, really, a few skirmishes here and there. What makes this kingdom more special than any of the other kingdoms? Beloved, the world does not understand, nor can they understand. Their foolish minds were darkened. The sin and rebellious pride as blinded them. And they would like nothing more then to destroy what in the eyes of the world looks weak and lowly.
But as we will see, “…God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).”
This proud king insults the King, and his God. He calls the king a liar in verse. 11 and 15. He compares the kingdom of God with all other kingdoms of the world. And their God with all the other gods. And asks what makes them any different? No other god has been able to save, why do you think yours can?
Do you see what he is trying to do? He is trying to cast doubt. He is trying to get the people not to believe the words of their king. In verse 18 he even makes sure all the people hear it, and it gives us the reason for that: to frighten and terrify them, in other that they might take the city.”
Dear church of God, the world is crying loudly in a language you all understand! The voice you hear on Sundays is not the only voice you year. Throughout your life the world will shout, and say your god is like all the other Gods. What makes him special. Look at the church? Is that anything to look at? And doubt creeps in, you are no longer sure about that voice of your king which told you to do not be afraid. Indeed, you doubt. And this doubt leads to fear.
Doubt according to the dictionary is “to call into question the truth of or to be uncertain.” It is lack of confidence in the truth. That’s what this king wanted. He wanted to the king and people to doubt that God is who he says he is. That is what the ruler of this world, Satan, wants, - to cast doubt on your faith, to crush your confidence, and muddy the truth of the cross. To cast doubt on the words of your king. May this not happen. One of the reasons for the reformation was an absolute faith in the Word of God. To the point of death. And unless w have this faith our doubt will lead to fear.
Our confidence in God evaporates then we look at the things from a worldly perspective. And we will be overcome with fear. For they are richer, more powerful, more influential. It seems like the church has no chance. Dear church, do not listen to them! Do not look at what is seen but unseen! Listen to your God! has any of his promises ever fallen to the ground? Ever? No – not one. And none shall ever. Hear the words of your king, ““Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Indeed, without faith in God, the church is nothing. Dependance upon God is our only hope. And this king knew this. Look at what he does in v. 20. He prays along with the prophet.
The King and the prophet prayed and cried out to heaven! O church of the living God, Pray! This is where it begins and ends. Pray. The powers of Satan are much too strong for us. We will be destroyed. As Ps 124 says, “If the LORD had not been on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us. blessed be the LORD who has not given us to the mouth of the prey.
So what should our response be. Trusting in the word, and responding in prayer. Prayer shows dependence. Prayer is the greatest tool in our spiritual warfare! Is our greatest defense against fear and doubt. This is the hope of the Christian. Psalm 91 says, “He will call upon me and I will answer him!” And God does answer.
The outcome.
v. 20-23 gives us the outcome of this war between these two kings. God does not give them over to the prey! His answer, as it so often is in Chronicles, is immediate. An angel cuts off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers. And look at what it says in verse 21b, “he returned with shame of face to his own land.” The power of the pride will be put to shame! God cuts of the head of the army so to speak, as one day he would crush the head of the serpent! And he puts this mighty king to shame, just as he would one day put to shame the rulers of this world through Jesus Christ as we read “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” I hope you see now; this is only a microcosm of the great war that was being fought between the seed of the serpent and the seed of woman. It was a conflict between the house of David, and the kingdom of this world.
God’s triumph is through weakness.
But Hezekiah even after all this still needed to learn his lesson. He was safe now from outside power – but there the battle starts in our hearts. In the final years of his reign, we read about God prolonging his life, which we learn more about in other places in Scripture. But as he becomes wealthy, and he prospers in all his works. The question is will he still give credit to God?
The test is answered when envoys from Babylon come to him. We know from the book of Kings that he fails the test, and he shows off all his wealth. He has adopted the worlds value system. He wanted to meet these enjoys on equal footing. Seeing wealth, and power as a sign of strength, rather than trust in God. And so, rather than shining the light of God and sharing his God with these people, he shows off his gold. But Chronicles does not tell us that. It just ends his reign with “God left him to himself, or order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.”
It is a cliffhanger. As if to say to the people in Exile, what would be in your heart of left to yourself? Will you pass the test?
But praise God, he has not left us to ourselves. Let us depend on him, and be pressured into adopting the worlds value system, and making that our basis for how healthy we are. We look to numbers, on money, or popularity, on organization. Dear elders and deacons this goes especially for you. We must show the people that faith is how we move forward. Let us show by example the value system of the kingdom, of gratefulness, humility, and dependence. Again, and again our God is testing us, purifying out faith. At the end of the day what will the Lord find in your heart – O may our hearts be found in Him! remember past faithfulness does not allow for present passivity. Your heart is not set in concrete. God wants a real living relationship. This is what we as elders and deacons want to encourage you in both in word and deed.
James Packer writes, “When we walk along a clear road feeling fine, and someone takes our arm to help us, likely we would impatiently shake him off; but when we are caught in rough country in the dark, with a storm brewing and our strength spent, and someone takes our arm to help us, we would thankfully lean on him. And God wants us to feel that our way through life is rough and perplexing, so that we may learn to lean on him thankfully. Therefore, he takes steps to drive us out of self-confidence to trust in himself, to -- in the classic scriptural phrase for the secret of the godly man's life -- "wait on the Lord."
Amen