Isaiah 37:1-20
Q.1. What steps did Hezekiah take in the midst of Judah’s peril? How did Isaiah encourage the king? Why was God about to remove the threat of Assyria? – (Isa.37:1-7)
King Hezekiah responded in the cultural way (i.e. tore his clothes and put on sackcloth), when he recognised the immense peril that he and Judah faced (Isa.37:1). He then sent his chief leaders on a mission to the prophet Isaiah, acknowledging their vulnerable position (Isa.37:2-3). They hoped that the insults of Assyria’s army chief would be challenged by the Lord God. They asked for the prophet to intercede for them (Isa.37:4-5). Isaiah sent them back with an encouraging message from God – 6 … Thus you shall say to your master, `Thus says the Lord, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumour and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”(Isa.37:6-7). It is a dangerous thing to blaspheme against the Lord. Might is not always right and is no match for the living God.
Q.2. How long did the threat last? What did Hezekiah do with Rabshakeh’s message? How did Hezekiah address God? What was his key reason for wanting God to intervene? – (Isa.37:8-20)
Hezekiah had a promise from the prophet that all would end well for Judah, but disastrously for Rabshakeh (Isa.37:6-7). However, the faith and resolve of the king was sorely tested. How? Because the giving of the promise was followed by a deepening of the trial. Rabshakeh continued to rant against Hezekiah, and insult God – 10 “Thus you shall say to Hezekiah king of Judah, `Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, destroying them completely. So will you be spared? (Isa.37:10-11). In pride, he boasted of his accomplishments against the nations, along with all their gods, whom he had conquered. (Isa.37:12-13). It is dangerous to bring the living God down to the level of man-made gods. However, Hezekiah would not cave into this propaganda – Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord (Isa.37:14). His prayer to the Lord is classic. – 16 “O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God (Isa.37:16-17). He acknowledged that the Assyrians had devastated many nations (Isa.18-19). However, he concluded – Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God (Isa.37:20). Hezekiah was concerned for God’s name. This should always characterise our approach to God in prayer.