2 Kings 16–25: Lesson 86
2 Kings 18–19
Trusting the Lord God of Israel
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and will help us as we put our trust in Them. After the Assyrians conquered Samaria, they began attacking Judah. King Hezekiah and his people turned to the Lord for strength and protection. This lesson can help increase your trust that the Lord will help you face your challenges.
Study the Scriptures
Overwhelmed. Helpless. Discouraged. Fearful. Doubtful.
When have you felt one of these emotions? When you experience these emotions, where do you turn for help?
This lesson will focus on how Hezekiah, the king of Judah, chose to turn to the Lord for help when he and his people faced great challenges.
Read 2 Kings 18:3–7. Mark what made Hezekiah a great king. (Note: High places and groves were places to worship false gods.)
Destroying the brazen serpent. God commanded Moses to create the brazen (brass) serpent. Originally, it was a symbol of Jesus Christ; He being the true source of healing (see Numbers 21:4–9; John 3:14–15). However, later, people began worshipping it instead of God. King Hezekiah called the serpent nehushtan, which means “a thing of brass.” This term showed that looking to the serpent no longer represented looking to Christ. Hezekiah destroyed the serpent to redirect the people’s focus back to God.
Israel, the nation on Judah’s northern border, was conquered by Assyria. Then, the Assyrians attacked Hezekiah’s people and captured all the fortified cities in their kingdom (see 2 Kings 18:9–13). Assyrian messengers then came to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, to deliver a warning to Hezekiah and his people. Their message was clear: Surrender or be conquered.
Look back at the emotions listed at the beginning of the lesson. Which emotions do you think the people of Jerusalem might have been feeling?
After Assyria began to conquer parts of Judah, Hezekiah encouraged his people to trust God.
Read 2 Chronicles 32:7–8, and tag what he told the people as “trusting God.”
Just as Hezekiah prophesied, the Lord did fight their battles.
Read 2 Kings 19:32–35. Mark the promises the Lord made to Hezekiah in one color. Mark how He fulfilled them in a different color.
Make a note next to verse 35, summarizing what you learned from the story of Hezekiah about trusting God.
Option A
What does trusting God look like?
The scriptures are filled with examples of people who overcame challenges by trusting the Lord. Read three or more of the following five examples. Tag each passage you read as “trusting God.”
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Daniel 3:16–18—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are threatened with death if they continue to worship God.
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1 Samuel 17:45–49—David comes face to face Goliath, a giant enemy warrior.
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2 Kings 5:13–14—The prophet Elisha instructs the leper Naaman to wash in the Jordan River to be healed.
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Matthew 14:28–31—Peter turns to Christ during a storm at sea.
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Ether 6:4–5, 11–12—The Jaredites enter the barges that have no rudders.
If available, watch the video “Heavenly Father Knows Me” (3:18) for a modern example of trusting God.
Option B
How well do you know your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Think about the people you trust the most. How does your level of familiarity with someone affect how much you trust them? How well do you know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, former Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, taught:
May I suggest three ways to increase our knowledge of and trust in the Savior. …
First, we can come to know the Lord and trust Him as we “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” [2 Nephi 32:3]. …
Second, we can come to know the Lord and trust Him through prayer. What a blessing to be able to pray to our God! … As we make a habit of approaching Heavenly Father in prayer, we will come to know the Savior. We will come to trust Him. Our desires will become more like His. …
Third, we can come to know the Lord and trust Him as we serve others. (“Trust in the Lord and Lean Not,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 6–7)
Choose one or more things you think would help you come to know God better. In your notebook, write a sentence or two about how those things could help you trust God more in your life.
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help increase your trust that the Lord will help you face your challenges.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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Your favorite scripture example of trusting God and why it’s your favorite.
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Your notebook entry about coming to know and trust God.
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?