The Kings of Judah Part 3            

Jotham: was a king that did that which was right in the sight of the LORD. But he did not stop the people from their corrupt ways. did not train up Ahaz his in the way he should go.

Ahaz:  2C 28:1-2 He did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father Jotham and the three kings before, Ahaz was wicked from the very first day of his reign.

2Ch 28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

·       Vs 3-4 sight his evil wicked ways.

·       V5-6 the judgment of the LORD upon Judah

·       Isa 7:6 Israel and Syria saw the opportunity to set their own king upon the throne of David in Jerusalem

·       Isa 7:7. The LORD told Ahaz that Israel and Syria would not be allowed to set their king in Jerusalem. V9b If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

·       Ahaz did not trust in the LORD he placed his trust in Assyria (2C 28:16) (2K 16:7-9). Assyria defeated Syria and Israel.

Assyria demanded tribute; the kings house and the temple was stripped of the gold and given to Assyria.

·       2K 16:10 Ahaz went to Damascus, the capital of Syria that was captured by Assyria. He saw an altar of the Syrian and had one made and brought into the temple in Jerusalem.

·       Ahaz chose the Syrian way of worship and

·       2C 28:23-25 Ahaz closed the temple and destroyed the vessels of the house of the LORD and worshipped the devils of Syria

·       Ahaz believed the gods of the Syria were better the LORD God of Judah because Syria had all but defeated Judah. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

When Ahaz died he was not buried in the sepulchres of the kings(Isa 7:9)

Hezekiah 2K18: 5-6 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

Hezekiah reigned for 29 years (2K 18:2)

During the first 13 years of his reign Hezekiah set out to correct the wickedness of his father Ahaz and the kings of Judah before him..

·       2C 29:3 In the first month of his reign he repaired the temple.

·       2C 29:3, 30:2 He restored the Levitical priesthood

·       2C 30 Hezekiah ordered all Israel and Judah to come and keep the passover. 2C 30:26

·       2C 31:1The people removed the high places and the idols

·       2K 18:9-11 The northern kingdom of Israel was carried away by Assyria during his reign.

2C 32:25 In the fourteenth year of his reign Hezekiah became sick unto death. He prayed the LORD gave him 15 more years Isa 38:3,5

·       2C 32:25 Hezekiah did not honor the LORD for what the LORD had done. His heart was lifted up in pride. Therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem

·       The wrath: His sickness and Isa 36:1 Assyria came against Jerusalem

·       The blasphemy of Sennacherib king of Assyria: (Isa 36:7,18-20) the God of Israel is powerless to deliver Jerusalem from Assyria. 

·       Hezekiah’s prayer: (Isa 37:16-20) Save Judah so all the world will know thou art the LORD, even thou only.

·       In his prayer Hezekiah acknowledged that the LORD God is exalted as head above all. That is worship! (David: 1Ch 29:11)

Ø    2C 32:26 Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem humbled their hearts and God removed his wrath.

·       The LORD’s answer Isa 37:35-37

·       Judah prospered greatly after the defeat of Assyria 2C 32:23

2C 32: 31; Isa 38:1-2 Hezekiah’s pride gets in the way again. Ambassadors of the princes of Babylon bring presents and honored Hezekiah and he shows them all the wealth of his kingdom.

·       The LORD’s response Isa 39:6-7 prophesy of  the coming 70 years of captivity in the hands of Babylon.

·       Hezekiah’s response: Isa 39:8; The LORD’s words are good that judgment will not happen in my days. (The good words 2C 32:26)