Sermons | Word of Grace Bible Church [wgbc.org]

The final story of King Hezekiah's life described by Isaiah has to do with his carelessness in dealing with the king of Babylon's ambassadors. Why is it that people who are driven by hope in the most difficult situations of life are able to let their guard down in seemingly relatively simple circumstances? What is the spiritual significance of such failures?

In describing the spiritual struggle in the life of King Hezekiah, the prophet Isaiah touches on one situation, not related to his duties as king as the leader of Judah, but to his personal life. Hezekiah had fallen ill with a deadly disease. His trust in God during this period of his life played an equally significant role.

The meaning of hope in God is that it relies on the power of the One who will surely overcome. In trials, true trust goes through difficult times, necessarily coming to victory. This victory is God's victory. It is different from the triumph that men can have when they achieve temporary success through their own strength. The triumph of true trust is always saturated with humility and expressed in gratitude.

Hezekiah is one of the most wholesome kings who ruled Judah prior to the Babylonian captivity. After several centuries of general backsliding from God in the nation of Israel, Hezekiah challenged this downward slide by attempting to bring the people back to the worship of Jehovah. He did much to accomplish this by placing his trust in God. And then, in the 14th year of his successful reign, Hezekiah faces his greatest challenge - Jerusalem is besieged by the Assyrian army. What happens when our trust is put to the test?

The book of the prophet Isaiah is a book of salvation. The very name "Isaiah" means "Jehovah saves." Although it contains many rebukes of the people for their sinfulness and prophecies of coming punishment, its main message is the salvation that God has prepared for His people. This is why the book of Isaiah is so relevant today. It helps us to see the salvation God has prepared for His children. 

God's judgment is one of the dominant themes of the book of Isaiah. It occurs more frequently in the first half of the book, the first 39 chapters. Before concluding this part of the book, the prophet describes one of his visions in which he vividly presents God's wrath and its effects. The subject of God's wrath has become increasingly unpopular, not only among people in general, but even among Christians. God is seen as obligated to provide people with all the goods they desire to have, and whenever God denies people these goods, people express their displeasure. Meanwhile, Scripture speaks extensively and clearly of God's wrath as an inevitable reality.