Download The Story 16 The Beginning of the End

THE STORY
THE BIBLE AS ONE CONTINUOUS STORY OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE
Redeemer Sunday Study 2013-2014
Chapter
Part IV
— The Beginning of the End —
16
The Prophets
Historical Book: 2 Kings 17-19;
Prophetical Book: Isaiah 3; 6; 13-14; 49; 53
I AM the Truth
Introduction
Watch the chapter summary
Chapter 16
Ezekiel to Babylon
597 BC
Isaiah’s ministry
740-681 BC
Elijah’s ministry
875-848 BC
950
900
850
800
700
Fall of Israel
722 BC
Divided Kingdom Ahab’s reign
930 BC
874-856 BC
David’s reign
1010-970 BC
750
Jeremiah
626-586 BC
650
600
550
Fall of Jerusalem
586 BC
Hezekiah’s reign
715-686 BC
2nd
Coming
0
A.D.
Jesus
?
Jesus
Low points when people distanced themselves from God and the resulting consequences
Church’s
Trials
1st
Coming
500
Ezra
Greek"
Roman rule
Remnant
Returns
1000
David
Divided
Kingdom"
Exile
Empire
1500
Moses
Judges
Exodus
2000
Abraham
Slavery
Patriarchs
Noah
Apostasy
Flood
B.C.
Adam
The Fall
Creation
High points of God’s interaction with and rescue of his people through human history.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ahaz - Thirteenth king of Judah; know for disastrous religious, military, and diplomatic ventures. Prophecy of virgin birth of Messiah given
to him by Isaiah.
Eliakim. - Son of Hilkiah; palace administrator
under Hezekiah; name means “resurrection of
God.”
Esarhaddon - Son of Sennacherib, succeeded
him as king; one of the greatest kings of Assyria.
Hezekiah– Twelfth king of Judah; stood strong
in faith against the armies of Assyria and its
supreme commander; name means “strength
of the Lord.”
Hoshea - son of Elah; king of Israel in Samaria;
betrayed his alliance with Assyria, turning to
Egypt; captured and imprisoned by Shalmaneser; did evil in the Lord’s eyes; name means
“deliverer.
Isaiah - Major prophet to Judah for more than
sixty years; began prophetic calling under
Uzziah, king of Judah, and ministered eight
years into the reign of Manasseh; gave detailed
prophecies of the coming Messiah; spoke out
against Israel’s idolatry; called the “prince of
the prophets”; name means “salvation of God.”
Joah - Son of Asaph; recorder under Hezekiah.
Sargon II - King of Assyria; deported twentyseven thousand people from Israel
Sennacharib – King of Assyria; attempted to
intimidate Hezekiah; blasphemed the Lord,
“daring” Hezekiah to rely on God; assassinate
by his own sons, Adrammelek and Sharezer;
while worshiping his god Nisrok.
Shalmaneser - King of Assyria; attacked Israel
and deported a large number of Israelites in
721 B.C.
A. The Fall of Israel (2 Kings 17)
In 721 B.C. the last king of Israel faced the full wrath of the
Assyrian Empire and the armies of Sargon II. For years Israel had
paid tribute to Assyria, but in a foolish play for independence, King
Hoshea forged a secret alliance with Egypt. In response, the Assyrians attacked.
Standard Assyrian policy was to deport vanquished enemies.
This spread the conquered foe throughout the empire and destroyed their sense of national identity. Carvings on the walls of
Assyrian ruins depict what would happen to those who fell in defeat. Assyria brutally tortured and humiliated the people they conquered. Friezes display soldiers piling severed heads, impaling
bodies on spears, skinning people alive, and for the survivors, forcing steel hooks through the noses and leading them into exile like
oxen, often with severed hands, feet, tongues, or ears.
Israel was too hard-hearted to realize that the real reason for
their downfall had nothing to do with politics gone wrong. They
were not victims of poor statesmanship. No, they had tolerated an
unbroken strong of nineteen idolatrous kings. For the wealthy and
powerful among the Israelite elite, a healthy economy had kept
them content in their spiritual adultery—until the Assyrian army
arrived, knocking on their door, and it was too late to change.
1. Despite a long series of ungodly kings, the kingdom of Israel often enjoyed long stretches of economic prosperity.
When is prosperity more of a curse than a blessing?
2. Make a list of the spiritual reasons for the Israelites’ destruction according to 2 Kings chapter 17 (The Story pp
219-220).
3. The northern tribes were never heard from again. The
people who would live in the middle section of the Promised Land by the time of Jesus would be known as Samaritans. What is the background of the Samaritan people?
Shebna - Secretary under Hezekiah
So - Egyptian pharaoh
Tirhakah– King of Cush
Uzziah - Also called Azariah; king of Judah;
struck by leprosy while performing the duties of
a priest; reigned fifty-two years; name means
“the Lord has helped.”
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B. Taking a Stand (2 Kings 18-19)
In sharp contrast to Israel, Judah chose the Lord as their ally.
When Sargon II’s successor, Sennacherib, camped outside the
walls of Jerusalem, Judah might have sensed their doom was near.
In pride the Assyrian ruler proclaimed that no god could save God’s
people.
But Hezekiah knew that God alone would determine the outcome
of that conflict. He went in the temple and “spread [Sennacherib’s
threatening letter] out before the LORD” (19:14). In many ways, his
actions here were reminiscent of Moses’. How many times had that
leader, when the people gathered together in mutiny, fallen on his
face and asked the LORD to intervene? The Lord heard Hezekiah’s
prayer. Without lifting a sword, Judah saw a hundred an eighty-five
thousand soldiers of Assyria die at the hand of the Lord’s avenging
angel. Shortly after this Sennacherib, the greatest of the Assyrian
kings, was assassinated in the temple of his god.
4. What did Hezekiah do to show his love for the Lord? (The
Story p. 220)
5. Evaluate each of the points in the Assyrian commander’s
statement before the walls of Jerusalem.
Verses 19-21
Verse 22
Verses 23,24
Verse 25
Verses 28-30
Verses 31,32a
Verses 32b-35
6. What strategies do God’s enemies employ today to try to dismantle the truths of Christianity?
7. When might you need to bring humble prayers to God for protection or rescue as Hezekiah did?
C. Isaiah’s Call (Isaiah 6)
8. The holiness of God not only reveals sin but is also able to
cure sin. How does the Holy One deal with Isaiah’s sin? How
has he dealt with our sin?
9. In verse 5, Isaiah is filled with fear. In verse 8 he is eager to
serve. What caused this change?
The map and sidelight are from Dr. John
Lawrenz’ study, TCM Old Testament by
NPH, now out of print
SIDELIGHTS
HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL—Ancient cities had to
worry about adequate supplies of food and
water when attacked by an enemy. Jerusalem’s main spring was the Gihon (“gusher”)
located in the Kidron Valley just outside the
eastern wall of the city. Hezekiah ordered a
1748 ft. long tunnel to be cut into the rock
beneath the city. The tunnel channeled water under the walls to the Siloam Pool inside
the city. Hezekiah’s workers began at both
ends and met in the middle. This accomplishment is mentioned in the Bible (2
Chronicles 32:30). It is also recorded in an
inscription that was once in the tunnel, but
is today in a museum in Istanbul. Another
famous text that duplicates a story found in
the Bible is the Moabite Stone. It records
the revolt of King Mesha of Moab after the
death of Ahab (2 Kings 1:1 & 3:4-5). The
Moabite Stone is in the Louvre in Paris today.
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10. Verses 9 and 10 are quoted six times in the New Testament. What would be the result of Isaiah’s
preaching?
11. Would Isaiah have been considered a successful preacher today? Explain.
D. The Very Bad News (Isaiah 13)
Even as they witnessed the Lord’s mighty power, the people of Judah continued in rebellious idolatry.
Although kings like Hezekiah attempted to cleanse the nation of idols, removing shrines and knocking down
idols, the hearts of the people did not turn fully to the Lord. Isaiah proclaims the bad news to the people: the
Lord himself will gather an army to destroy Jerusalem.
12. The day of the Lord often refers to the day of his judgment. In the context of verse 1,
what is “the day of the LORD” (verse 6) that is drawing near?
13. Who forms the army the Lord “is mustering” (verse 4) that comes from “faraway lands” (verse 5)?
(Hint: See verse 17.)
14. In verses 9-13, the scene seems to shift. What does the scene sound like to you? Why does this scene
fit into the day of the Lord on Babylon?
15. In verse 14, the writer shifts his focus back to Babylon. What does Isaiah prophesy about Babylon in
verses 17-22?
16. Babylon never was rebuilt after its destruction. How can we use fulfilled prophecy like this in our witnessing to unbelievers?
E. The Very Good News (Isaiah 14, 49, 53)
Like no other prophet, Isaiah spoke of a future when not only Israel, but people from many nations would
join together to worship the Lord in the new Jerusalem. These people would be set free from oppression.
The God who brought punishment and sent them into exile would one day bring them back home! And he
would do even more than free them from exile. He would provide a Servant to free them from the weight of
sin. These questions will focus on chapter 53 (The Story pp. 228-230).
17. What does Isaiah complain about in 53:1?
18. The content of verses 2-6 is familiar to us and describes the work of the Messiah. Why did the Messiah come in such a humble manner? Why did people despise him?
19. We are told in verse 4 that people thought God was punishing Jesus. The correct evaluation of these
events is found in verse 10. What is that?
20. Verses 11 and 12 speak of Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation. Explain.
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