This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing 
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s 
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

Hezekiah takes the throne in Judah, 
but his allegiances are divided.

He’s the first king in centuries to tear 
down the shrines that dot Judah’s landscape.

But in six years Assyria will overthrow Israel 
and test Hezekiah’s faith in the process.

Assyria’s king, Sennacherib, is a gifted tactician 
who levels several Judean fortified cities.

But instead of trusting God, Hezekiah raids God’s
temple of its silver and gold to pay off the ruthless king.

Hezekiah’s allegiance is divided, 
and Sennacherib takes advantage.

He sends a delegation of counselors to 
force a surrender to Assyria and her gods.

Cleverly, the Assyrian delegate makes 
sure to sound like an Israelite prophet.

He tells Hezekiah not to 
trust in Egypt or her horses.

He promises a land
flowing with milk and honey.

With God’s gold in their pockets they pridefully assume
God’s place and hope to demoralize Hezekiah in the process.

Distressed, Hezekiah returns to the temple.
But this time it is not to rob it, but to pray.

Despite Hezekiah’s divided allegiances, 
God responds through the prophet Isaiah

and promises that Israel will 
rise from its ashes in three years.

That same night 185,000 Assyrian 
soldiers die by God’s hand.

But before Hezekiah can experience Israel’s
renewal, he’s struck by a life-threatening illness.

And unlike previous kings on
their deathbed, he prays to God—

and God promises to heal him in three
days and extend his life by 15 years.

But true to his half-heartedness, these
gifted years are used foolishly.

Presumably to secure an
alliance against Assyria,  

Hezekiah invites delegates from 
Babylon to tour Israel’s wealth.

Isaiah calls out Hezekiah’s divided 
allegiances for what they are  

and announces that the nation he’s courting 
will plunder everything he’s shown them.

[music]

Judah will fall into Babylon’s hands 
because they fail to trust God alone.

And Hezekiah, as Judah’s king, embodied 
his nation’s divided allegiances.

Jesus says we cannot serve two masters.

Hezekiah proves divided allegiances ultimately
lead to death and exile.

Part of the message of
Hezekiah is, “Don’t be like him!”

Dividing your trust divides your rescue.
You cannot be half-saved.

You are either dead or alive,
rescued or captive, at home or exiled.

And God wants your undivided allegiance so
that he can give you undivided and eternal life.

Hezekiah tried to save his 
life by robbing the temple,

but what he needed was a willingness to lose
his life out of undivided loyalty to his God.

It did Hezekiah no good to gain peace from his 
enemies because he lost his soul in the process.

Jesus promises to reward those willing to lose 
their lives with complete rescue and resurrection.

So, don’t be like Hezekiah!

But even more significant is that Hezekiah was 
spared because of promises God made to King David.

Even when Hezekiah is divided, God is not. He was still
wholeheartedly committed to the rescue of his people,   

despite centuries of unfaithfulness
and Hezekiah’s own divided heart.

Ultimately, salvation from enemies and of 
nations relies on God’s indivisible grace alone.

Sennacherib’s propaganda is wrong.
No nation or idol can save.

The only hope of Israel was and is God alone.

Jesus has done battle with greater enemies than 
Assyria and he rose from the dead three days later.

Only the God of Israel revives on the third day!

Jesus offers resurrection 
and life—even to the divided.

Salvation comes from
God alone and by grace alone.

So, I pray that the Holy Spirit would
open your eyes to see the God of life.

And may you see Jesus as the King who 
is worthy of your undivided allegiance.