HOW TO KEEP GOD ON OUR SIDE
2 Kings 18:1-7
INTRODUCTION
A. Many professing Christians believe God is on their side in religion, politics, and even in sports.
B. God is on the side of his creation (John 3:16), but it is up to his creation as to whether we keep him on our side (Isa 59:1-2).
C. God was on the side of King Hezekiah (1 Kgs 18:7).
D. The text gives three reasons.
I. HEZEKIAH REMOVED THE HIGH PLACES (V. 4)
A. The author reveals the origin of the mongrel religion found in the days of Christ (2 Kgs 17:24-41).
B. He also reveals the pit into which Israel fell and the pit into which many believers fall today (v.33; 2 Cor 6:11-18).
C. Many try to baptize politics, mongrelizing Christianity in our own age.
II. HEZEKIAH TRUSTED THE LORD (V.5)
A. The test of trust is not in his bold act but in
his steadfastness in the face of taunts (2 Kgs 18:17-19:20).
B. The Psalms on trust (20:6-8; 37:5; 62:7-9; 119:42).
III. HEZEKIAH HELD FAST TO THE LORD (V.6)
A. To hold fast to the Lord is to keep his word.
B. We are reminded of the words of Jesus and of his brother James (Matt 7:21-23; Jam 2:14-26)
CONCLUSION
A. Our text is but a snapshot of Hezekiah’s life. He, like David, to whom he is compared, stumbled. Whereas David’s was a sin of passion, Hezekiah’s was a sin of doubt.
B. Being honest and open about the failings of God’s heroes helps ordinary people like you and me realize that God is not seeking perfect specimens for his collection but people who don’t give up.
