2 Kings 18:7-12 – Trusting God brings blessing

Let’s have a brief recall of the background. In 2 Kings 16, we learn that Assyria at this point was the dominant power and was menacing the surrounding nations. King Pekah of Israel and King Rezin of Aram invited King Ahaz of Judah to join them in their alliance against Assyria. But he turned down, so the two of them then came against Judah.  It was then that Ahaz sought the help of Assyria. Second Kings 16:8 said that  “he took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent a present to the king of Assyria.”  Judah then became a vassal state to Assyria and had to pay yearly tribute to them.

When Hezekiah came to the throne, he started on the right footing and began to reform  Judah. The Lord was with Him for he trusted and clung to Him. Being confident in the Lord, Hezekiah experienced success and prosperity. He then rebelled against Assyria and was no longer willing to subject to her demands. Besides not cowing down to Assyria, Hezekiah also “defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.”

While Judah under Hezekiah was experiencing success and gaining ground, Israel, on the other hand, was suffering defeat. Second King 18:7-12, show us the contrasting experience. Verse 9 says that it all took place during the fourth year of  Hezekiah’s reign of Judah and the seventh year when King Hoshea’s reign of Israel. Assyria under King Shalmaneser came up against Israel and besieged it and after three years was able to capture it.  He then carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled the people  “in Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” The reason is given in verse 12. It says that it was because “they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded; they would neither listen nor do it.”

Here we see two contrasting situations. Two nations with two kings. One led the nation to experience success and prosperity and the other got the nation captured and taken not captivity. What made the difference for them was how the nation had related with God, their covenant Lord. Here is the takeaway: One determining factor for whether we will experience success or failure is how we relate with God. When we trust and cling to the Lord and take heed to His voice, we can anticipate success and blessing. If we will not, then be prepared to experience failure and misery.