St Luke's Church Eccleshill, Bradford, UK

The last days of the kingdom of Israel

2 Kings 17-19

Narr 1. This reading is condensed from the 2nd book of Kings, chapters 17 to 19.

Narr 1. In the year 732 BC, Hoshea became king of Israel in Samaria. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not as bad as the kings of Israel who came before him.

VICAR PLACES CROWN ON HOSHEA'S HEAD.

Narr 1. At that time Assyria was a powerful nation, and the kings of Israel and Judah used to pay protection money to the kings of Assyria because Assyria had threatened to invade if they didn't.

ASSYRIA DEMANDS A BAG OF MONEY FROM HOSHEA. HOSHEA PAYS HIM.

Narr 2. Three years later, Hezekiah became king of Judah in Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

VICAR PLACES CROWN ON HEZEKIAH'S HEAD.

Narr 1. In the 6th year of Hoshea's reign, the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had been secretly trying to make friends with Egypt. So the king of Assyria brought his army and attacked Israel. For three years Samaria was surrounded and under siege. In the 9th year the city fell, and the king of Assyria captured it and deported the Israelites. So the nation of Israel came to an end in 723 BC.

ASSYRIA COMES AND TAKES HOSHEA AWAY.

Narr 2. But Hezekiah trusted in the Lord his God, and he rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to pay the protection money.

ASSYRIA DEMANDS A BAG OF MONEY FROM HEZEKIAH. HEZEKIAH REFUSES.

Narr 2. So 8 years later the king of Assyria attacked Judah. He conquered the smaller towns, and then advanced on Jerusalem. He sent his messenger to challenge the people of Judah.

ASSYRIA COMES AND READS HIS MESSAGE:

Assyria. These are the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. Why do you think you can resist me? Do you think that Egypt will save you from me? Egypt didn't save Israel from me! Do you think the Lord your God will save you from me? Isn't that the same God that Israel worshipped? The Lord your God didn't save Israel from me! Haven't I conquered lots of other nations, in spite of their gods? If you surrender I will let you come out in peace. But if you resist I will destroy you. The Lord your God himself told me to march against you and destroy you.

Narr 2. Then Hezekiah went into the temple of the Lord, and he prayed to God.

HEZEKIAH GOES TO THE COMMUNION TABLE:

Hezekiah. O Lord, the God of Israel, you alone are the God of all the nations on earth. Open your ears, and listen to the words the king of Assyria has spoken, to insult you, the living God. It is true that he has conquered lots of other nations - but their gods were not real gods at all, but only images of wood and stone, made by men's hands. Deliver us from his hands, I pray, so that all nations may know that you alone are God.

Narr 2. Then the prophet Isaiah sent Hezekiah a message:

Isaiah This is the word of the Lord: "I have heard your prayers about the king of Assyria. Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, and you are mine. I will defend this city, for my sake and for the sake of my servant David."

Narr 2. Then the angel of the Lord went out to the camp of the army of Assyria, and 185,000 people died overnight. When the king got up the next morning, there were lots of dead bodies. So he withdrew his army and went back to the land of Assyria.

ASSYRIA GOES TO THE BACK OF THE CHURCH.

Narr 2. And one day, while he was worshipping the god of the Assyrians, his sons assassinated him with a sword, and another became king in his place.

ASSYRIA IS STABBED AND DIES.

Narr 2. So the nation of Judah was saved from exile, and the people believed this was because of the Lord's love for his temple.

John Hartley