Faith Tested: Hezekiah's Journey Through Crisis
Summary
In our journey through Isaiah 38, we encounter the story of King Hezekiah, a godly man who faced an unexpected crisis when he was struck with a life-threatening illness. Despite his faithfulness, Hezekiah was told by the prophet Isaiah to set his house in order because he would not recover. This narrative reminds us that godly people are not exempt from suffering. Hezekiah's response to this crisis was to turn to God in prayer, and God answered by granting him an additional 15 years of life. This story is not just about a miraculous healing but also about the profound lessons Hezekiah learned through his ordeal.
Hezekiah's experience teaches us that crises test our faith. He candidly confessed the bitterness he felt during his illness, revealing that even the most devout can struggle with doubt and despair. Yet, he recognized that God used this bitterness for his welfare, humbling him and strengthening his faith. This aligns with the biblical principle that God works all things for the good of those who love Him, even when it involves exposing the weaknesses in our faith.
Faith is strengthened through the Word of God. Hezekiah's faith was bolstered by God's promise of healing, which he turned into a prayer. This illustrates the importance of praying with an open Bible, transforming God's promises into personal petitions. By doing so, we align our desires with God's will, allowing His promises to become realities in our lives.
Finally, Hezekiah's story assures us of God's love, salvation, and forgiveness. In love, God delivered Hezekiah from the pit of destruction, casting all his sins behind His back. This assurance is available to all believers, reminding us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. In times of crisis, we can confidently declare that we are loved, saved, and forgiven, not because of the strength of our faith, but because of the strength of our Savior.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith Tested: Crises reveal the true strength of our faith. Hezekiah's struggle with bitterness during his illness shows that even the godly can falter. Yet, God uses these moments to humble us and expose our need for Him, reminding us that our salvation depends on the strength of our Savior, not our faith. [08:21]
- Faith Strengthened: The Word of God is essential for strengthening faith. Hezekiah's renewed confidence came from God's promise, which he turned into prayer. This teaches us to pray with an open Bible, transforming God's promises into personal petitions, thereby aligning our desires with His will. [17:02]
- Faith Assured: In love, God delivers us from destruction and forgives our sins. Hezekiah's assurance of God's love and salvation is a reminder that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. This assurance is not based on our merit but on God's grace and mercy. [24:02]
- The Role of Humility: Hezekiah's experience teaches us the value of humility. God used his crisis to humble him, showing that spiritual pride can be a barrier to growth. By walking humbly, we open ourselves to God's transformative work in our lives. [10:25]
- The Power of God's Promises: God's promises are powerful and transformative. Hezekiah's story illustrates the importance of holding onto God's promises, especially in times of crisis. By turning these promises into prayers, we invite God's power into our lives, allowing His promises to become our reality. [18:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Introduction to Hezekiah's Crisis
- [01:07] - Godly People and Suffering
- [01:34] - Hezekiah's Response: Prayer
- [02:17] - God's Answer to Hezekiah
- [02:41] - Hezekiah's Confession
- [03:41] - Faith Tested
- [04:46] - Bitterness and Honesty
- [06:20] - The Struggle with Bitterness
- [08:21] - God Uses Crises for Good
- [10:25] - Walking Humbly
- [13:43] - Faith Strengthened
- [17:02] - The Role of God's Word
- [18:04] - Praying God's Promises
- [22:14] - Faith Assured
- [24:02] - Assurance of Love, Salvation, and Forgiveness
- [35:11] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Story of King Hezekiah
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 38:1-17
- Romans 8:28
- 1 Peter 5:6-7
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial message that the prophet Isaiah delivered to King Hezekiah, and how did Hezekiah respond to it? ([00:33])
2. How did God respond to Hezekiah's prayer, and what promise did He make to him? ([02:17])
3. What emotions did Hezekiah experience during his illness, and how did he express these feelings? ([05:45])
4. According to the sermon, what role did the Word of God play in strengthening Hezekiah's faith? ([16:36])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Hezekiah's struggle with bitterness during his illness illustrate the testing of faith in a crisis? What does this reveal about the nature of faith? ([08:21])
2. In what ways did Hezekiah's experience of God's promise and subsequent prayer demonstrate the strengthening of his faith? How can this be applied to personal faith journeys? ([17:47])
3. How does the sermon explain the assurance of God's love, salvation, and forgiveness in Hezekiah's story? What implications does this have for believers today? ([24:02])
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of humility in spiritual growth, and how did Hezekiah's crisis contribute to his humility? ([10:25])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your faith was tested by a crisis. How did you respond, and what did you learn about your faith through that experience? ([08:21])
2. Hezekiah turned God's promise into a prayer. How can you incorporate this practice into your own prayer life? Identify a specific promise from Scripture that you can pray over this week. ([18:04])
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility. In what areas of your life might spiritual pride be hindering your growth? How can you practice humility in those areas? ([10:25])
4. Consider the assurance of God's love, salvation, and forgiveness. How does this assurance impact your daily life and interactions with others? ([24:02])
5. Hezekiah's story shows that even godly people can struggle with doubt and despair. How can you support someone in your life who is currently facing a crisis of faith? ([05:45])
6. The sermon highlights the power of God's promises. What is one promise from the Bible that you find particularly encouraging, and how can you hold onto it during challenging times? ([18:04])
7. How can you ensure that the Word of God is consistently "drip-fed" into your life, especially during times of crisis? What practical steps can you take to make this a reality? ([17:19])
Devotional
Day 1: Crises Reveal the Depth of Our Faith
In times of crisis, our faith is put to the test, revealing its true strength. King Hezekiah, despite his godliness, faced a life-threatening illness that brought him to a place of bitterness and doubt. This experience shows that even the most devout can struggle when faced with severe trials. However, God uses these moments to humble us and expose our need for Him, reminding us that our salvation depends on the strength of our Savior, not our own faith. Hezekiah's story encourages us to embrace our struggles as opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God. [08:21]
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent crisis you faced. How did it reveal the true state of your faith, and how can you invite God to use this experience to deepen your reliance on Him today?
Day 2: The Word of God as a Source of Strength
The Word of God is essential for strengthening our faith, as demonstrated by Hezekiah's renewed confidence through God's promise. Hezekiah turned God's promise of healing into a prayer, illustrating the importance of praying with an open Bible. By transforming God's promises into personal petitions, we align our desires with His will, allowing His promises to become realities in our lives. This practice not only strengthens our faith but also deepens our relationship with God, as we learn to trust in His Word and His plans for us. [17:02]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: What is one promise from God's Word that you can turn into a personal prayer today? How can this practice strengthen your faith and align your desires with God's will?
Day 3: Assurance of God's Love and Forgiveness
In love, God delivers us from destruction and forgives our sins, as seen in Hezekiah's assurance of God's love and salvation. This assurance is not based on our merit but on God's grace and mercy. Hezekiah's story reminds us that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. In times of crisis, we can confidently declare that we are loved, saved, and forgiven, not because of the strength of our faith, but because of the strength of our Savior. This assurance provides us with peace and confidence, knowing that we are secure in God's love. [24:02]
Micah 7:18-19 (ESV): "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you doubted God's love and forgiveness. How can you remind yourself today of the assurance that nothing can separate you from His love?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of Humility
Hezekiah's experience teaches us the value of humility, as God used his crisis to humble him and expose his spiritual pride. Walking humbly before God opens us to His transformative work in our lives, allowing us to grow and mature in our faith. Spiritual pride can be a barrier to growth, but humility invites God's grace and power to work within us. By embracing humility, we acknowledge our dependence on God and allow Him to shape us into the people He desires us to be. [10:25]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with spiritual pride? How can you practice humility today to invite God's transformative work in your life?
Day 5: Holding Onto God's Promises in Times of Crisis
God's promises are powerful and transformative, as illustrated by Hezekiah's story. In times of crisis, holding onto God's promises can provide us with hope and strength. By turning these promises into prayers, we invite God's power into our lives, allowing His promises to become our reality. This practice not only strengthens our faith but also deepens our trust in God's faithfulness and His plans for us. Hezekiah's story encourages us to cling to God's promises, especially when we face challenges and uncertainties. [18:04]
2 Peter 1:4 (ESV): "By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
Reflection: What is one promise from God that you need to hold onto during a current challenge? How can you turn this promise into a prayer and invite God's power into your situation today?
Quotes
Now when you go through an unexpected crisis, your faith will be tested. Remember that Hezekiah is writing after he recovered from the illness. We have that in verse nine and looking back, well, he's full of thanksgiving. What shall I say, he says, because God has spoken and God has done what he said. [00:04:37]
He tells us the truth when I was afflicted, I struggled with bitterness. Why me, Lord? What in the world are you doing? He's telling us that when he was afflicted, a battle raged within his own soul. He trusted God, yes, but when the crisis came, trusting God wasn't so easy. [00:06:48]
Behold, he says, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness. In other words, he's saying God used even this for good. God used the exposure of the weakness of my faith for good. This is like Romans 8:28 in the Old Testament. God works in all things for our good. [00:08:39]
I used to think that my faith was strong, but when the unexpected crisis came, I didn't do so well. I wish I could look back and say I trusted God all the way, but I can't say that. I have to tell you that there was great bitterness in my soul. [00:09:55]
Faith is strengthened by the word of God. How did Hezekiah overcome this bitterness? And when a crisis comes to you and you discover that your faith is not nearly as strong as you thought that it was, how is help going to come to you? Well, the answer to that question is that faith is strengthened by the word of God. [00:16:41]
Faith prays for what God has promised. God speaks in verse 15, the promise recorded in verse 5, I'm going to add 15 years to your life. And what does Hezekiah do? He prays in response to that promise. Faith prays for what God has promised. [00:17:44]
Always pray with an open Bible. I'm so thankful for that. Always pray with an open Bible. In other words, look at what God has promised and then turn what God promises into your prayers. That's exactly what Hezekiah models for us here. [00:18:18]
When you see that God has promised something in the Bible, the right response to that is to pray that what he promises will be yours and that you will know it in your own experience. This is what faith does. It prays for what God promises. [00:18:57]
In love, you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. Wow, will you pause and just try and take that in with me right now? You know, when you face an unexpected crisis and your faith is tested, here are three things that you can always say for sure. [00:23:17]
Nothing in life is surer than the love of God for you in the Lord Jesus Christ. God loves you and he has proved that forever by his self-giving to you. The Father gave his one and only Son for you, and on the darkest day of your life, you can say, the Son of God loved me and he gave himself for me. [00:24:32]
Friend, Jesus Christ came into the world to save you from the pit of destruction. He came to save you and me from the hell to which our sins would rightly consign us, and he came so that by faith in him, at the lowest point of your life, you would be able to say to God in love, you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction. [00:28:43]
When you repent of your sins, God takes them from before his face and casts them behind his back. Do you see that? That's exactly what is being said here, and I love this word cast. You have cast all my sins behind your back. See, in Jesus Christ, when you come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God removes our sins. [00:32:16]
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