Heaps – Guard Your Heart
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 05/04/2025
Foundation Scriptures:
And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. 6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps. 7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord, and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. 2 Chronicles 31:5-10 KJV
1. The Enemy Without.
a. The Assyrians came to attack Hezekiah and his people (2 Chron. 32:7-21).
b. 2 Chronicles 32:20-21 NKJV –– Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. 21 Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.
c. The Assyrians were over-confident, because they had already defeated Samaria and other cities in Judah.
d. Because Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed and cried out to Heaven, God answered and fought the enemy on their behalf.
e. God told Hezekiah, “For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake” (2 Kings 19:34).
f. Note that they never relied on the arm of the flesh alone, but on the Lord, Who is able to save to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25).
g. Always put all your hope and trust in God.
2. The Salvation of Our God.
a. The Assyrians had come against their leadership with insults and accusations—God, Himself, and Hezekiah, the king.
b. So, God sent an angel to cut down all the leaders of the Assyrians overnight, and they went home ashamed and defeated.
c. Their king, Sennacherib, was assassinated by his own sons.
d. 2 Chronicles 32:22-23 NKJV –– Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.
e. Because Hezekiah trusted in God, the nation was miraculously saved.
f. And the Lord guided them on every side.
g. Therefore, they gained great respect from the surrounding nations.
h. Rather than losing everything to the enemy, now people brought them gifts.
i. They brought gifts to the Lord and to Hezekiah.
j. And instead of being mocked and disrespected, Hezekiah was honored.
3. The Enemy Within.
a. However, Hezekiah forgot to honor God and allowed his heart to be lifted up in pride.
b. He nearly lost everything, including his life.
c. 2 Chronicles 32:24-26 NKJV –– In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
d. It is not always the attacks from outside that have the power to take us out, but the things that come from within.
e. The enemy tries to attack from without, but when God fights for you, your enemies will not prevail.
f. However, if you allow pride or other character issues to contaminate your heart, you have no defenses against the devil’s machinations.
g. Hezekiah was not perfect all the time; he made many mistakes.
h. But the Lord was very gracious to him when he repented and humbled himself.
i. In the end, in his lifetime, he and the nation prospered.
j. The Lord is infinitely gracious and forgiving to His people.
k. Do not make the mistake of taking Him for granted or forgetting to honor Him in your heart and your giving (Deut. 8:11-18).
l. His abundant blessings can be yours if you make the choice to obey and serve Him all your days, and with all your heart (Job 36:11).
m. 2 Chronicles 32:27-30 NKJV –– Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; 28 storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. 29 Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.