Lesson 104

2 Kings 14–20

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remove any potential distractions. Try to be calm and put all worries and troubles aside. Doing so can help invite the Holy Ghost to help you learn.

Begin your study with prayer.

Where do you turn to find peace when you encounter the storms of life?

Listen as Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches how you can find strength and safety in a world that will be in commotion until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

How Are We Protected?

Take a moment to think about some of the dangers and temptations you feel you need to be protected from.

What are some protections the gospel offers us?

As you study 2 Kings 14–17, look for how our actions can influence whether we receive protection from the Lord.

The Assyrians

We learn in 2 Kings 14–16 about various rulers of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. A very wicked man named Ahaz became king of Judah. He worshipped idols and rejected the counsel of the prophet Isaiah (see Isaiah 7:3–9). He sought an alliance with the kingdom of Assyria, giving the king of Assyria silver and gold from the temple in Jerusalem as a present. He also made unauthorized changes to temple ordinances.

The kings of Israel were wicked like King Ahaz of Judah. From 2 Kings 17:4–5 we learn that Hoshea, the king of Israel, offended an Assyrian king and was put in prison. His people were under siege from the Assyrians for three years.

Read 2 Kings 17:6, looking for what the king of Assyria did to the people of Israel after conquering Samaria, which was the capital of the Northern Kingdom.

The Scattering of Israel

When the Assyrians carried away the people of Israel, it was the beginning of the scattering of the ten tribes of Israel. We learn in 2 Kings 17:7–23 why the Israelites lost the Lord’s protection and were taken captive and scattered.

Read 2 Kings 17:9–18, looking for why the Israelites lost the Lord’s protection.

Quiz 1

1. According to verses 9–12, what did Israel choose to do?

   1. Ignore the Sabbath day

   2. Build places of worship for and serve idols

   3. Harvest crops without feeding the poor

2. According to verses 13–14, how did the Israelites respond to the warnings and commandments the Lord gave them through prophets?

   1. They obeyed all the words of the prophets.

   2. They softened their hearts and repented.

   3. They would not listen to the Lord’s prophets.

3. According to verse 15, what did the Israelites follow?

   1. The opinions of well-known people in the kingdom

   2. Vanity

   3. Their hearts

The Lord’s Protection

From 2 Kings 17:9–18 we learn that we lose the promise of the Lord’s protection when we, through vanity and hardened hearts, reject His commandments and follow the ways of the world.

1. Complete the following:

• Think of an example of how people today might choose to reject the Lord’s commandments and follow the ways of the world. How does this behavior cause them to lose the Lord’s protection?

• When have you, someone you know, or someone in the scriptures been protected by obeying the Lord’s commandments?

Concerns or Fears

What concerns or fears do you have about the next five years of your life? How might those challenges or fears test your faith in the Lord?

We learn in 2 Kings 18–20 about the challenges and fears of Hezekiah, who became the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah after Ahaz died. As you study these chapters, look for principles that can help you with your own challenges and fears.

King Hezekiah

Unlike his father, Ahaz, Hezekiah was a righteous king. He destroyed the places of idol worship throughout the land of Judah. (See 2 Kings 18:1–4.)

Read 2 Kings 18:5–8, looking for other good things King Hezekiah did.

What principle can we identify from Hezekiah’s example and the blessings he received for his righteousness?

The Lord with Us

From Hezekiah’s example we can identify the principle that if we trust in the Lord and keep His commandments, then He will be with us.

In what ways do we benefit from having the Lord with us? When have you felt the Lord was with you? What effect did that have on you?

Hezekiah’s Faith

About eight years after the Assyrian king conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and carried the people away into captivity, Sennacherib, the new Assyrian king, invaded Judah (see 2 Kings 18:9–13). The prophet Isaiah prophesied that Assyria would conquer numerous cities in Judah but would not conquer Jerusalem (see Isaiah 10:24–34). The book of 2 Chronicles contains important details about how Hezekiah led his people during this time.

Read 2 Chronicles 32:6–8, looking for what Hezekiah told the people of Jerusalem.

How did Hezekiah act in faith at this time? How do Hezekiah’s words strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ?

Rab-shakeh

Just as Isaiah prophesied, the Assyrian army arrived outside of Jerusalem after conquering the cities along the way. Rab-shakeh, an Assyrian negotiator, spoke with Hezekiah’s representatives outside the city walls. Rab-shakeh scoffed at Judah’s alliance with Egypt and mocked the Lord. Hezekiah’s representatives asked Rab-shakeh to speak in a different language so that the people who were listening from atop the city walls could not understand him. However, wishing to create fear in the hearts of the people, Rab-shakeh refused. Instead, he addressed the people “with a loud voice in the Jews’ language” (verse 28) so that they could hear and understand his threats. (See 2 Kings 18:17–35.)

Read 2 Kings 18:28–36, looking for what Rab-shakeh said to try to convince the people of Jerusalem to surrender.

How might Rab-shakeh’s words have persuaded some people in Jerusalem to not trust in the Lord?

Hezekiah’s Actions

Let’s look at how Hezekiah chose to turn to the Lord for help.

Quiz 2

Match the verses to the description of how Hezekiah turned to the Lord.

2 Kings 19:1, 14	He went to the temple.
2 Kings 19:5–7	He prayed to God.
2 Kings 19:15–19	He sought the counsel of the prophet.

Reassurance from Isaiah

As recorded in 2 Kings 19:20–34, Isaiah reassured Hezekiah that the Lord would defend Jerusalem against the Assyrian army.

Read 2 Kings 19:35–37, looking for what happened to the Assyrian army and their king, Sennacherib.

What principles can we identify from this account?

The Lord’s Help

One principle we can identify from Hezekiah’s example of choosing to turn to the Lord is this: If we turn to the Lord in faith, then He can help us overcome our fears and challenges.

2. Answer one or both of the following questions:

• What are some ways we can turn to the Lord?

• When have you turned to the Lord for help with a fear or challenge? How did the Lord help you?

An Invitation to Act in Faith

The following truths were identified in this lesson:

• We lose the promise of the Lord’s protection when we, through vanity and hardened hearts, reject His commandments and follow the ways of the world.

• If we trust in the Lord and keep His commandments, then He will be with us.

• If we turn to the Lord in faith, then He can help us overcome our fears and challenges.

Think about how you can apply these principles. Commit to act in faith when you face challenges or fears.

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) b; (2) c; (3) b

Quiz 2: (1) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b