希西家的考驗
列王紀下十八章13至16節
13希西家王十四年，亞述王西拿基立上來攻擊猶大的一切堅固城，將城攻取。
14猶大王希西家差人往拉吉去見亞述王說：“我有罪了！求你離開我，凡你罰我的，我必承當。”於是，亞述王罰猶大王希西家銀子三百他連得，金子三十他連得。
15希西家就把耶和華殿裡和王宮府庫裡所有的銀子都給了他。
16那時，猶大王希西家將耶和華殿門上的金子和他自己包在柱上的金子都刮下來，給了亞述王。
十九章14至20節
14希西家從使者手裡接過書信來，看完了，就上耶和華的殿，將書信在耶和華面前展開。
15希西家向耶和華禱告說：“坐在二基路伯上耶和華以色列的神啊，你是天下萬國的神！你曾創造天地。
16耶和華啊，求你側耳而聽！耶和華啊，求你睜眼而看！要聽西拿基立打發使者來辱罵永生神的話。
17“耶和華啊！亞述諸王果然使列國和列國之地變為荒涼，
18將列國的神像都扔在火裡，因為它本不是神，乃是人手所造的，是木頭石頭的，所以滅絕它。
19耶和華我們的神啊，現在求你救我們脫離亞述王的手，使天下萬國都知道惟獨你耶和華是神！”
20亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞就打發人去見希西家說：“耶和華以色列的神如此說：‘你既然求我攻擊亞述王西拿基立，我已聽見了。’
信息分享
希西家的考驗，是來自亞述王西拿基立，他成了撒但的工具。西拿基立攻佔了猶大的幾座城，希西家非常恐慌；可是，他沒有求神的幫助，反而將聖殿裡的寶物和金子作為貢物，送給西拿基立求和。
然而，西拿基立卻沒有就此罷手。他派使者去到希西家面前，威脅要奪取耶路撒冷。他說的話，徹底地褻瀆神（十八19-35）。他隨後還寫了一封信，重申他的威脅。
希西家這次讀完信後，便跑到聖殿裡，在耶和華面前展開此信（14節）。他這個行動，可能是因為先知以賽亞的提示。以賽亞主要是在希西家在位年間作先知的事奉。
神的回應非常特殊（20節）。祂說祂會親自攻擊亞述人；結果，亞述大軍死亡大半，並隨即撤退。
我們從這些歷史事件中學到甚麼功課呢？首先，是在領受祝福之後，要準備接受考驗。基督在受洗後也接受試探。父神曾親自對祂說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」撒但隨即在曠野中抓住這點來試探祂說：「你若是神的兒子……」
我們面對的考驗可能非常嚴峻。要緊靠神，祂是信實的，必與你一起經歷試煉。
無論甚麼事情臨到，都不要妥協。趕快來到神的面前，在禱告中向祂陳明一切，並將一切交托給祂。請翻閱哥林多前書十章13節，神必不叫我們受試探過於所能受的，且應許必給我們開一條出路。因此，不管發生甚麼事，都要緊緊倚靠祂。
THE TESTING OF HEZEKIAH
2 Kings 18:13-16 and 19:14-20
13 And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house.
16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.
15 Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
16 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.
17 Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,
18 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.
19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone.”
20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.’
Message
In Hezekiah's case, Sennacherib, king of Assyria was the tool used. He attacked several cities of Judah and conquered them. Hezekiah panicked. Instead of asking God for help he stripped the sacred temple of its treasures and gold and sent it all to Sennacherib as a peace offering.
But Sennacherib wasn't to be put off. He sent messengers to Hezekiah threatening the seizure of Jerusalem. His words were utterly blasphemous (2 Kings 18:19-35). Later he sent a letter repeating his threats.
This time Hezekiah took the letter and went into the temple and spread it before the Lord! (v.14). He may have been influenced by the prophet Isaiah whose ministry covered much of Hezekiah’s reign.
God answered in a remarkable way (v.20). He said he would deal personally with the Assyrians. The result was the death of most of their army and their subsequent retreat.
What does all the history say to us? First, be prepared for testing after blessing. It happened to Christ after His baptism. The Father had said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. Satan attacked Christ on that point immediately. His first words were, “If you are the Son of God...”
Testing can be very severe. Hold on to God. He is faithful and will stand with you through the test.
Whatever comes, do not compromise. Take the circumstances to God in prayer and leave it all with Him. Read again 1 Corinthians 10:13 and see what God will allow and look for the promised way of escape. Stay in touch with Him no matter what happens.