INTRODUCTION:  This chapter begins our study of the reign of king Hezekiah over Judah. The material available on the history of Hezekiah exceeds that of most kings after David and Solomon. Hezekiah is mentioned by name over 100 times in the Bible. His history is recorded in 2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32, and Isaiah 36-39. The records in 2 Kings and Isaiah deal more with the deliverance from Assyria. The record in 2 Chronicles deals more with the spiritual revival in the early part of his reign.

Hezekiah reigns at a critical time in the history of Judah. Israel is taken into captivity during his reign. The Assyrian Empire is destroying or conquering the nations all around Judah. Ahaz, Hezekiah’s father, had already sent tribute to the king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-8). What was to become of Judah, the place of God’s chosen line of kings of the house of David? This is the story that we will study for the next couple of chapters. It has many lessons for us today—especially lessons of faith.

1. THE BEGINNING OF HEZEKIAH’S REIGN (2 Kings 18:1-8)
1. The Beginning of his Reign (2 Kings 18:1)
2. The History of his Reign (2 Kings 18:2)
3. The Character of His Reign (2 Kings 18:3)
1. Did right in the sight of the Lord
2. Did according to David his father
3. Note: Hezekiah is the third of only four kings of Judah who are compared favorably with David: 1)Asa (1 Kings 15:11); 2)Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:3); 3)Hezekiah; 4)Josiah (2 Kings 22:2).
4. The Spiritual Revival Early in his Reign (2 Kings 18:4-6); 2 Chronicles 29-30 describes this spiritual revival in great detail. It includes the reopening and repair of the house of the Lord, the restoration of the temple worship, and the renewal of the Passover celebration.
1. His destruction of false worship (2 Kings 18:4)
2. His faithfulness to the Lord (2 Kings 18:5-6)
3. Note: The destruction of the brazen serpent (2 Kings 18:4)
1. A useful symbol (Numbers 12:4-9)
1. Discouragement (Numbers 12:4)
2. Resentment (Numbers 12:5)
3. Judgment (Numbers 12:6)
4. Confession (Numbers 12:7)
5. Provision (Numbers 12:8) – the brazen serpent
6. Salvation (Numbers 12:9) – look and live
2. An important type of Christ (John 3: 14-15)
1. Both were lifted up (John 12:32)
2. Both must be believed (see Numbers 21:8)
3. Both gave life (Numbers 21:9; John 11:25-26)
3. A worthless idol (2 Kings 18:4)
1. A piece of brass: the meaning of Nehushtan
2. Compare with the ark of God (1 Samuel 4:3; 1 Samuel 6:19-20)
5. The Military Victories Early in his Reign (2 Kings 18:7-8)
2. THE CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL (2 Kings 18:9-12)
1. The Siege of Samaria (2 Kings 18:9)
2. The Fall of Samaria (2 Kings 18:10)
3. The Captivity of the Israelites (2 Kings 18:11-12)
3. THE TRIBUTE GIVEN TO ASSYRIA (2 Kings 18:13-16)
1. The Attack of Sennacherib Against Judah (2 Kings 18:13)
2. The Sending of Tribute to Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:14-16)
4. THE THREAT OF THE ASSYRIANS (2 Kings 18:17-25)
1. The King of Assyria Sent Representatives to Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:17-18)
2. The Confidence of Hezekiah Attacked (2 Kings 18:19-22)
3. The Strength of Assyria Flouted (2 Kings 18:23-25)
5. THEIR THREAT TO THE PEOPLE (2 Kings 18:26-30)
1. The Request to Use the Syrian Language Refused (2 Kings 18:26-27)
2. The Threat Made Directly to the People (2 Kings 18:28-30)
6. THEIR OFFER OF TERMS (2 Kings 18:31-32)
1. Come Out with a Present (2 Kings 18:31)
2. Wait to be Removed to Another Land (2 Kings 18:32)
7. THEIR DISMISSAL OF THE LORD (2 Kings 18:33-37)
1. The Failure of All the Other Gods (2 Kings 18:33-34)
2. The Expected Failure of the Lord (2 Kings 18:35)
3. The Silence of the People (2 Kings 18:36)
4. The Taking of the Report to Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:37)

CONCLUSION:  God has been likened to the other gods. The next chapter will show how He responds to this challenge.