The text for this week will be 2nd Kings 21:1-16, where we see a snapshot of the downward spiral that eventually led to the destruction of Israel and Judah. But we’ll also see the alternative – that we are called to trust God rather than idols or men or stuff. So the visual theme will be (downward) spirals but the worship theme will be “Trust in the Lord Alone.”
Here is the link to the YouTube Playlist: 161113 Heart Prep
Prelude:
Cause me to hear Thy Lovingkindness (no Youtube video, sadly)
Medley O Worship The King
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Note on the Scripture reading: The central topic of the message is the behavior of Israel and Judah’s kings, which led the people into idolatry and other sins and eventually brought about the downfall of the kingdoms. But the worship is about trust, and this Scripture reading is a counter-example from the life of another king, Hezekiah, showing the power of trust and faith.
2 Kings 18:17, 28-31 And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Washer’s Field. . . . 28Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand. 30Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ 31Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me.
2 Kings 19:15-19 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 16Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 17Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands 18and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 19So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”
Benediction
Hast Thou Heard Him, Seen Him, Known Hima
