Daybreak: 2 Kings 18:1-37

Second Kings 181-37

Devotional Focus Verse

Who are they among all the gods of the countries that have delivered their country out of

my hand that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

But the people held their peace and answered him not a word, for the king's commandment

was saying, answer him not. Second Kings 1835-36

It was the 1930s, and business trends were still headed downward. There was rumor of upcoming

salary cuts at the New York Insurance Office where a 22-year-old clerk worked. Possessor

of a deep, melodious voice, the young man was offered a radio contract. There was an

opportunity for fame and great financial gain, if he would agree to regular performance

on a secular program.

George had one request. He was a Christian, and he wanted to glorify God by singing.

He asked that he might sing gospel songs. In response, the radio station told him that

he must sing the popular music of the day, but could occasionally slip in a gospel tune.

The young man had been pondering the matter for several days. When he sat down at the piano

early when Sunday to rehearse him, he was singing church. As he played, his mother, who

had been earnestly praying for him to be fully consecrated to God's plan for his life,

slipped him a piece of paper upon which was written a poem by Rhea Miller called, I'd

rather have Jesus. In a few moments, his fingers unconsciously left the tune he was rehearsing

and began to find the melody which is known today to millions.

The words hit their mark. The young man turned down the secular contract, and a short time

later, he was offered a position with a Chicago radio station where he could sing the gospel

songs he loved. While there, he met Billy Graham, and that was the beginning of George

Beverly Shay's 60-year association with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Outreach.

George Beverly Shay faced a choice about whether to sign an appealing contract or to follow

his conscience. In our text, the people of Judah also faced a choice. They were besieged,

cut off from food, encompassed by an army, and standing alone in a conquered land. The

enemy offered them safety, horses, and land rich with food resources. All they had to

do was surrender. How do they respond to this offer? They held their peace and answered

him not a word, choosing to follow the instructions of their king, and trusting God's promises

and obey his will. In our lives, there may be times when we face choices. Maybe we will

have opportunities to promise wealth and worldly success like George Beverly Shay, or we may

be offered an enticing alternative to God's will as for the people of Judah. What will

our response be? God has promised us deliverance during trials, guidance throughout our lives,

and an eternity with Him in heaven. These are not empty promises. If we choose His will,

we will be choosing God's best for our lives.

Background Information

Hezekiah became Judah's king and reigned for 29 years as the best king Judah had seen

or would see. He had previously reigned with his father for 13 years. The phrase He

reigned 29 years refers to his reign after his father died, when he immediately began

turning the nation back to godly ways. He made the prophet Isaiah a close advisor, as well

as destroying the idolatrous forms of worship. Hezekiah stood up to the Assyrians and refused

to pay the tribute that his father A has had begun.

With Israel gone into captivity, Judah was left alone to face the Assyrians. In 701 BC,

King Sinecorid began an invasive march down through Western Judah. A series destruction

of Lakeish, a city 30 miles south west of Jerusalem, was such an important military success

that royal artists carved a relief depicting the victory on the wall of Sinecorab's palace.

This relief is one of the most important archaeological finds from the ancient Middle East. Lakeish

became a staging area for attacking a number of Judah's cities, including Jerusalem itself.

After the fall at Lakeish, Hezekiah attempted to end the Assyrian threat himself. Instead

of turning to Isaiah and ultimately to god for help, he sent tribute to Sinecorib with

an apology for his earlier refusal to pay as his father had, taking gold from the temple

to facilitate the payment. However, the attempted bribe did not work. Sinecorib took the money

and marched toward Jerusalem anyway. The Assyrian commander, Repsheka, stopped at the aqueduct

of the upper pool on the road to the fuller's field. This place had significance because

it was the exact spot where Isaiah had confronted A has Hezekiah's father. A has had refused

to trust the Lord and had chosen instead to make a treaty with Assyria. Now the Assyrians

are ready to invade Jerusalem and Hezekiah was faced with the same message of deliverance

from the same man of God. The ambassadors from Assyria hoped to convince the people of

Judah to surrender without fighting. They appealed to Jerusalem, a starving city under siege

by offering food, land, and horses if they would surrender.

Repsheka accused Hezekiah of offending God by tearing down the altars in the hills. He

completely misinterpreted Hezekiah's reform, which sought to eliminate idle worship that

occurred mainly in the hills. Sinecorib mocked Judah's king, mocked their God, and even

went so far as to say that the very God they served had sent him. He was a master of fighting

a war propaganda, challenging Judah to decide who they were going to trust.

Conclusion All of us are faced with choices. God's best is found in choosing to follow Him

and His will for our lives.