Hard Lessons from Promising Times: 2 Kings #23
This is an exposition of 2 Kings 18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 8, 2017.
Intro:
Christianity is no fairytale. By that I mean it is a story rooted in the soil of reality. It does not begin with, “Once upon a time.” It is no myth. It is not a morality tale. Our faith is the story of how God created the world perfect, beautiful and holy. The story of man made in the image and likeness of God as the crowning achievement of creation. Man made to fellowship with God. It is the story of how that holy creation was ruined by an act of rebellion. Told to not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – that is exactly what Adam did. As a result sin and death interred the world. Adam and Eve had been told if they eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil death would come. Spiritual death, separation from God, came immediately. Physical death would follow. Yet God, in mercy and grace, came calling, “Adam where are you?” The call would continue through Noah, Abraham, the deliverance from Egyptian bondage. God continued to call through the law, the tabernacle, the sacrificial system and the prophets. God continued to call until he came in the person of the Lord Jesus to secure our redemption. Christ came, lived, suffered and died to restore what was lost that tragic day in the Garden. Now by faith we enter into a new reality because of Christ. Our redemption is complete. It is a present reality yet we await the final restoration of all things. We wait until our Lord comes again.
This is important because biblical faith is not magic. Again, it is not a fairytale in which one believes and then lives happily ever after. We still live in a fallen world. A world that is broken and corrupt. Every hospital, every cemetery is a reminder of that. Contrary to what you might hear on “Christian radio” or read in a “Christian book” life for the people of God is often hard. It is often filled with struggle and heartache. In this world we will have tribulation. Thus we live as pilgrims here longing for home. The Christian life is not always lived on the mountain top. There are the valleys. Times of darkness and despair. Yet always there is hope. Hope of a better day. Assurance of a glorious future.
Thus as God has given us His Word He has not sugarcoated the message. The Scriptures are clear about life in this fallen world. Note how often the people of God lived as outcasts. Despised, mistreated and treated as suspect by the general culture. Feared and maligned by those who do not believe. As we work through the Scriptures we often come across hard lessons even during promising times. Our text this evening is found in the 18th chapter of 2 Kings.
Text: 2 Kings 18:1-37
Context:
The Northern Kingdom of Israel has fallen – 722 bc.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah is entering her last days.
Things had gotten particularly dark in Judah during the reign of Ahaz.
His son, Hezekiah comes to power and the clouds part.
A time of refreshment or revival comes to the nation.
It is a time for celebration and great joy as God’s hand is on this choice servant.
Yet during his reign dark clouds appear again.
Reminding us that…
Thesis: God’s surprising grace today is no assurance of a cloudless tomorrow.
We are not immune from struggle, heartache and pain. There always has been, there are and there will always be those who despise the LORD and His people. No amount of faith is going to change that. That is why our LORD said, “They hated me, they will hate you.” We are not better than our Master. This is why the saints through the ages have considered it a great honor to suffer for the Name. To suffer for the LORD.
As we work through Kings 18, I want to point out three (3) things.
- God sometimes brings times of great refreshing (or revival) for which our only response can be gratitude. (18:1-8)
- Such times of refreshment are no guarantee against heartache and calamity. (18:9-25)
Your faith may cave in – (18:13-16)
Your loyalty can be misplaced – (18:17-25)
A devastating blow – (18:26-35) - Even genuine faith can be overwhelmed by a sense of dread and devastation. (18:36-37)
Conclusion:
We must not rush too quickly from Kings 18. We would do well to sit here awhile and consider. We ought to consider what it means to live for Christ in this world. Consider what we have been promised and what we’ve not been promised. We’ve not be promised only sunshine and no rain. We’ve not been promised a life without sorrow, pain or suffering. We have been promised the presence of a sympathetic high priest who understands our weakness. Who promises his abiding presence no matter what comes. Who has promised his grace is sufficient. Who promises a future resurrection and glory – and such is sufficient!For this light, momentary afflictions do not even begin to compare to the glory that awaits us.
Take heart child of God.
Take heart weary pilgrim.
There is untold glory on the other side and that is to be our focus in this sin-cursed world.