Can reliance on God overcome intense opposition? Do we have to concede to the lingering presence of a threat? Let's see what happens in King Hezekiah's experience! -> Read II Kings 19:20-37 <- After Hezekiah prays to God in the temple, the prophet Isaiah sends a message to Hezekiah reporting God’s response to his prayer. “I’ve heard your prayer about King Sennacherib of Assyria. This is what I have to say about him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and laughed you

Can we turn whole-heartedly to God in what seem like impossible situations? What if we think we've messed up? Do we have to convince God to help us? The people of Judah find out! -> Read II Kings 19:1-19 <- When Eliakim and Shebna reach the prophet Isaiah, they convey a message from king Hezekiah: “We’re like a mother who has carried her child to term, but doesn’t have the strength to give birth to it. But maybe, God will be so outraged at what Rab-shakeh said, that He will

Do we have to give in to intimidation? Can we really see it as having no power? What if we're afraid? The story of King Hezekiah offers some practical illustrations for us! Read Part 1: Hezekiah Rules! Hezekiah Rules! -> Read II Kings 18:18-19:2 <- Emerging from the vast Assyrian army and drawing near to Jerusalem, three ambassadors approach. Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rab-shakeh call for King Hezekiah. But rather than talking to them himself, Hezekiah sends three of his officials

How do you deal with outside threats to your reliance on God? How do you recover after faltering in your trust? The Bible's account of King Hezekiah offers some valuable and practical lessons for us! -> Read II Kings 18:1-18 <- King Hezekiah of Judah. What a guy! When he takes the throne at age 25, he sets to rooting out the rampant idolatry which had proliferated in his kingdom under his father Ahaz’s rule. He succeeds, and even asserts his independence from the king of Assy

As I worked with a recent Bible Lesson from The Christian Science Quarterly, I had a little trouble following the story involving King Hezekiah and the Assyrians, so I dug into the two chapters in II Kings (18 & 19) from which the Bible Lesson citations were drawn. It turns out it’s an object-lesson in the subtle ways we may inadvertently trespass the First Commandment, the results of that, and how to get ourselves back on track—not to mention an illustration of how animal ma