Bible readingProverbs 3:6 (ESV)
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
2 Kings 19:14-15 (ESV)
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.”
2 Kings 20:1-6 (ESV)
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, and I will add fifteen years to your life.”
Observation questions- According to Proverbs 3:6, what are the two actions described (one we must do, and one God will do)?
- What was Hezekiah's immediate reaction upon receiving the threatening letter from his enemy? [01:48:57]
- When faced with a terminal illness, what specific things did Hezekiah ask God to remember in his prayer? [01:55:01]
- What did the visiting Babylonian officials come to see, and what did Hezekiah ultimately show them instead? [02:03:02]
Interpretation questions- Why is spreading a threatening letter before the Lord a significant act, and what does it reveal about Hezekiah's understanding of God's role in a crisis?
- Hezekiah's prayer when sick was based on his own faithfulness. How does this type of prayer fit with a theology of grace, and what does it teach us about how God relates to a faithful life?
- The sermon contrasts the outcomes of the visits from the Queen of Sheba to Solomon and the officials from Babylon to Hezekiah. What was the fundamental difference in how these two kings handled their prosperity and what was the result for each? [02:15:24]
- The sermon mentions that "blessing without gratitude produces forgetfulness." [02:03:59] How does a lack of gratitude actively lead a person to forget God?
Application questions- What is a specific "letter" (a threat, a bill, a stressful situation) you are currently facing that you need to "spread before the Lord" in prayer instead of trying to handle on your own? [01:49:59]
- The sermon identified different "types of forgetfulness." [01:38:37] Which type (traumatic, psychological, lack of interest, physiological, or the "shameless" kind) do you most often struggle with in your relationship with God?
- Prosperity is described as the ultimate test of fidelity. [02:01:51] In what practical ways can you ensure that your possessions, career success, or comfortable life point others to God's goodness rather than to your own achievement?
- The core command is to acknowledge God in all your ways. What is one ordinary, daily routine (e.g., commuting, starting work, making a meal) where you could be more intentional about recognizing God's presence and seeking His will?
- Hezekiah forgot God when things were going well. Recall a recent blessing or success in your life. How did you respond? Did it draw you closer to God in gratitude or did it subtly make you more self-reliant?
- The call is to live so that people see God in our lives, not just our stuff. [02:12:12] What might a friend, coworker, or family member conclude about your priorities based solely on what you get most excited about or spend your time and money on?