Skip to content
Advent Lessons

Lesson 4 · January 23, 1892

Hezekiah's Prayer and Deliverance.—Isa. 37:14-21, 33-38

This lesson PDF Whole quarter PDF · 13 lessonsShare on WhatsApp

(Memory Verses, 15-17.)

Golden Text.—"The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them." .

  1. 1.To what power was Judah tributary when Hezekiah came to the throne? .
  2. 2.How old was Hezekiah when he began to reign? and how long did he reign? .
  3. 3.What was the character of his reign? .
  4. 4.Mention the most important acts of this reformation. Ans. The destruction of the idolatrous places of worship and of the idols, notably the brazen serpent, the repairing of the temple, and the holding of the great passover for all Israel. See chapters 29 and 30 of 2 Chronicles.
  5. 5.What is said of his greatness? .
  6. 6.How did God regard him? , first part.
  7. 7.What noted event occurred in the early part of his reign? .

Notes

Hezekiah seems to have been at least outwardly friendly to Shalmanezer and Sargon, successors to Tiglath-pileser, and to have paid his tribute as a subordinate power. His faith had not yet reached the point of relying on God alone.

  1. 8.What did Hezekiah do when he thought himself strong? , last clause.

Notes

Rawlinson points out that at the time of Sennacherib's accession to the throne nearly all of the kingdoms south and west of Assyria, which had been tributary to that empire, were in open revolt, and Hezekiah seized upon such a time to declare Judah free. He was at this time, however, forced to yield, for he trusted in his own strength and the strength of allied powers, instead of resting wholly upon God. See and . See also on Hezekiah in "Kings of Israel and Judah," by Rawlinson.

  1. 9.What action did Sennacherib take with reference to this? .

Notes

After this victory, according to Assyrian records, Sennacherib returned to Nineveh, where Hezekiah sent his tribute.

  1. 10.To what power did Hezekiah evidently seek to ally himself, after having for the time purchased Assyria's favor? .
  2. 11.What action did Sennacherib take when he heard of what Hezekiah was doing? .
  3. 12.Who did Rab-shakeh (the cup bearer of the king) say had sent him against Judah? .
  4. 13.What showed that he not only lied, but that he had no faith whatever in Jehovah? .

Notes

Rab-shakeh not only did not go by command of God, but he reproached and blasphemed Jehovah by classing him with the gods of the heathen.

  1. 14.How did this boastful chief, with his mighty army, affect Hezekiah? Ans. Hezekiah humbled himself greatly, sought God in the temple, and sent his leading men clothed in sackcloth to inquire of Isaiah the prophet. See .
  2. 15.How did God regard this humility of soul? .
  3. 16.As Rab-shakeh departed, what threatening letter did he send to Hezekiah? .
  4. 17.What did Hezekiah do with this blasphemous letter? .
  5. 18.How did he plead with God? .

Notes

Hezekiah appealed (1) to God's majesty and omnipotence; (2) to God's honor, which had been insulted; (3) he admitted the truth of all Sennacherib's victories, but exalted God above him; (4) and, lastly, he pleads God's mercy to his people, and asks that the salvation granted may be such that all the nations of earth might know that Jehovah was God alone.

  1. 19.What answer did the Lord through his prophet give Hezekiah? .

Notes

He assured the king of Assyria that the virgin daughter of Zion laughed him to scorn; that as he had blasphemed the Holy One of Israel and reproached the Lord, in whose power was all nations, so would God overcome Assyria, and lead him back as a man would a beast, with a hook in the nose; and that the Lord would defend Jerusalem for his own sake.

  1. 20.How did the Lord fight for his people? and what became of this proud king? .
  2. 21.Why did God thus come to the help of Hezekiah? .
  3. 22.What promise has God made to all that call upon him in trouble? See golden text and .

Bible texts in this lesson

Psalms 34:17 · 2 Kings 16:7 · 2 Kings 18:2 · 2 Kings 18:3-6 · 2 Chronicles 32:27-30 · 2 Kings 18:7 · 2 Kings 18:9-12 · 2 Chronicles 32:1-8 · Isaiah 20 · 2 Kings 18:13-16 · Isaiah 36:4-6 · Isaiah 36:9 · 2 Kings 18:17 · 2 Kings 18:25 · Isaiah 36:14 · Isaiah 36:15 · Isaiah 36:18 · Isaiah 36:20 · Isaiah 37:1-5 · Isaiah 37:6 · Isaiah 37:7 · Isaiah 37:9-13 · Isaiah 37:14 · Isaiah 37:15 · Isaiah 37:16-20 · Isaiah 37:21-35 · Isaiah 37:36-38 · Isaiah 37:21 · Psalms 107:17-21

Your notes

Kept in this browser. Sign in to keep them on every device.

This lesson PDF Whole quarter PDF · 13 lessons