King Hezekiah

OBJECTIVE

The objective for this module is to help students understand the figures and messages of the Old Testament. The particular objective for this grade is to teach students about trusting in the Lord, using examples from Old Testament figures. This lesson will focus on King Hezekiah and his trust in the Lord. The students will learn about the power of prayer and how God is the source of our strength. We can pray confidently because God hears all our prayers.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Hook - Lightning Questions

  • Start by asking the students what an impulse is. An impulse is something you do without thinking first. It's automatically the first thing that comes to mind to do or say in a certain situation. Ask the students the following questions and ask them to blurt out the first answer that comes to mind without pausing after they hear the question. (The servant may add to or modify the questions below as needed)
    • Favorite day of the week?
    • Cake or pie?
    • Favorite place to go?
    • Lakers or Clippers?
    • Fruits or vegetables?
    • Favorite saint?
    • Favorite book in the Bible?
    • Favorite holiday/feast?
    • Would you rather read the Bible in the morning or at night?
    • If you were scared, what would you do?
  • The purpose of this hook is to help the students identify some of their own fears. In this lesson, we learn about King Hezekiah and his fears/reactions when he was faced with challenging situations.
  • After King David reigned, the kingdom of Judah had a series of many kings, most of whom were considered to be ungodly. However, Hezekiah was one of the few good kings of Judah. The Bible tells us in 2 Kings 18:5-6 that there wasn't any other king of Judah before or after him that was like him.
  • Display this Old Testament timeline and ask the students to identify where King Hezekiah falls in the timeline.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Relevant Chapters: 2 Kings 18-20, Isaiah 38 (specific verses referenced below)

Memory Verse: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you" (2 Kings 20:5)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 20 Minutes

  • Hezekiah Becomes King
    • At the time of Hezekiah, the Isrealites were worshipping idols, and had forgotten about God. Hezekiah's father, Ahaz, who was king before him, did not do anything about the matter and allowed the people to continue worshipping idols.
    • After his father died, Hezekiah became king at age 25. King Hezekiah followed God's word and commandments and wanted his people to do the same.
    • He destroyed the idols that the people had been worshipping.
      • God had told Moses to make a bronze serpent for the people to look at when they were bitten by a snake while they were in the wilderness. But, over time, the people started to worship it, and forgot that it was God who had healed them
    • He restored, purified, and opened the temple and brought back the priests and Levites so that everyone could return to worshipping and offering sacrifices to God, and not the idols
    • Overall, the kingdom flourished during his reign in civil and spiritual aspects
    • King Hezekiah trusted God. Hezekiah stayed faithful to God, always following Him. He kept God's commandments that had been given to Moses. The Lord was with King Hezekiah and he prospered (did well) everywhere he went. Two major events happened to King Hezekiah.
  • The Assyrians Threaten Jerusalem
    • The Assyrians were a very strong empire, and wanted to conquer Judah
    • They were led by a king named Sennacherib who sent a large army to surround Jerusalem
    • King Hezekiah received a letter threatening to attack if he didn't surrender the city -- Judah's army was nowhere near the size of the Assyrian army
    • King Hezekiah trusted in God and immediately went to the temple and prayed asking God to save the people. He asked his servants to find the prophet Isaiah.
    • God told Isaiah that the King of Assyria would not fight in their city. (Read 2 Kings 9:32)
    • The Lord was pleased with King Hezekiah, so he helped him overcome his enemies through many miraculous deeds. His guardian angel killed 185,000 of his enemies and King Sennacherib returned to Assyria. (2 Kings 18, 19).
  • King Hezekiah Falls Ill
    • During his reign, Hezekiah became sick and close to death
    • Isaiah the prophet went to see him to give him a message from God: "Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live." (2 Kings 20:1)
    • When Hezekiah heard this, rather than becoming angry at Isaiah or, worse, angry with God, the first thing he did was pray.
      • "Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." (2 Kings 20:3)
    • As Isaiah was leaving, God told him to give Hezekiah another message:
      • "Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen years." (2 Kings 20:5-6)
    • Isaiah also told Hezekiah to make a paste of figs and put it on the boil on his skin and he recovered
    • Hezekiah told Isaiah that he wanted a sign from the Lord that he would really live for 15 more years, to be sure that he should go to the temple in three days.
    • Isaiah said that God will have the sun's shadow move forward or backwards ten degrees
    • Hezekaiah answered: "It is easy for a shadow to go forward, so let it go backwards ten degrees"
    • So, Hezekiah looked out to a staircase, which was used as a sundial, and saw that God brought back the shadow on the sundial ten degrees as a sign of His promise.
    • Hezekiah thanked the Lord and lived 15 more years as God had promised, and continued to live a righteous life helping the Israelites grow closer to God.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

As a class, read an excerpt from Hezekiah's Prayer for Thanksgiving in Isaiah 38:17-20.

  • How did King Hezekiah react when Isaiah gave him the bad news that he would die? How would you have reacted? (He prayed to God right away, rather than being angry).
  • What sign did God give Hezekiah to show that he would get well? (He caused the sun's shadow to move backwards)
  • Imagine that you were told that you only had 2 weeks to live...what would you do in those two weeks? Are those things that we should be doing more of in our daily lives?
    • How can we use the time that God has given us? (Use it in a righteous way to serve God).
  • Have you ever been in a situation where you were faced with a challenge that seemed too big for you to handle? (like Hezekiah and the Assyrian army) How did you react?
    • (Emphasize that Hezekiah's solution was to ask God for help through prayer)
  • When God answered Hezekiah's prayer, what did he do? (He thanked God immediately).

LIFE APPLICATION - 10 Minutes

  • Remember that life is a gift from God and time shouldn't be taken for granted.
  • Always devote time for God and remember to thank Him, during the good and bad times
  • Remember to pray for one another in our daily prayers, as Isaiah prayed for Hezekiah
    • Additionally, we pray for our brothers and sisters in the church during the Sacrament of the Unction of the Sick. The priest anoints the person with the holy oil from which they obtain the grace of remedy from God.
  • When faced with a difficult situation - first instinct = PRAY. Prayer is the key to fulfilling God's purpose in our lives.
    • One way to model our daily personal prayers is to use the acronym. T.R.U.S.T (See attachment below for a printable bookmark for the students)
      • Thanksgiving - Thanking God for who He is and all He has done
      • Repent - from our sins and things we have neglected to do
      • Unburden - casting your burdens on God and asking Him for help
        - > Needs of others, and your needs
      • Surrender - to God's answers, yielding your will to God's will
      • Trust - in God's power

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Option 1: "Good King Hezekiah" Memory Game

Option 1: Make a Sundial Isaiah 38:7-8

  • While the sundial mentioned in the story of Hezekiah was more of a staircase (each step corresponding to a time), the students can create round sundials out of paper plates to remind them of how God keeps His promises.

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Provide each student with a copy of the attached T.R.U.S.T bookmark below. Ask each one to practice using this during their personal prayers during the week

Song: King Hezekiah's Prayer

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 6 Week 2 Bookmark.pdf

Old Testament Timeline & Summary.pdf