And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.
And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.
So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?
Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.
And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying,
O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear; open thine eyes, O Lord, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.
Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only.
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:
This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.
I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.
Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:
For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.
By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord.
For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar–haddon his son reigned in his stead.
Isaiah 37 recounts a pivotal moment in Judah's history when King Hezekiah faced the daunting threat of the Assyrian army, led by the boastful King Sennacherib. This chapter showcases Hezekiah's faith, God's unwavering protection, and the ultimate downfall of those who defy Him.
Hezekiah's Response: Humility and Prayer
When news of Assyria's menacing threats reached King Hezekiah, his response was immediate and profound. He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the LORD’s temple (Isaiah 37:1). This act of humility serves as a powerful reminder that when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, turning to God in prayer and repentance is the first and most crucial step. Hezekiah understood that Judah's only hope lay in the power and promises of God.
Recognizing Isaiah as a true prophet of God, Hezekiah also sent representatives to seek his counsel (Isaiah 37:2). This is significant because, unlike many leaders of Israel and Judah who were swayed by false prophets, Hezekiah sought guidance from one who spoke God's word without compromise. The king's message to Isaiah revealed the deep distress of the people (Isaiah 37:3-4).
Hezekiah's use of the word "perhaps" in his message to Isaiah was not a sign of doubt in God's ability to intervene (Isaiah 37:4). Instead, it demonstrated humility, acknowledging that he would patiently await God's divine response rather than presuming to know it. Hezekiah recognized that God had heard the Assyrian commander's mocking words and had faith that God would defend His people and vindicate His name.
God's Assurance: "Do Not Be Afraid"
The Lord's response through Isaiah was swift and reassuring. Even before the king's messengers departed, Isaiah delivered God's message: "Do not be afraid" (Isaiah 37:6). This divine command, repeated throughout Scripture, serves as an exhortation to all who trust in the Lord. When we place ourselves under God's protection, we have no reason to fear. Those in Jerusalem who submitted their lives to God had nothing to fear from the Assyrians. God promised to judge King Sennacherib for his blasphemy, foretelling his assassination in his own land (Isaiah 37:6-7).
Sennacherib's Arrogance and God's Sovereignty
The prophecy began to unfold quickly. The Assyrian king withdrew from Lachish to fight at Libnah (Isaiah 37:8), a town about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem. While this withdrawal may have brought temporary relief to the people of Jerusalem, Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah with a letter, reiterating his threats (Isaiah 37:9-13).
Hezekiah, unwavering in his faith, took the enemy's letter to the temple and offered a heartfelt prayer, glorifying the Lord as the Creator and Sovereign of the world (Isaiah 37:14-19). Even though Isaiah had promised deliverance, Hezekiah did not take God's grace for granted but continued to seek Him in prayer. Hezekiah asked God to judge the Assyrians so that all the kingdoms of the earth might know that He alone is God (Isaiah 37:20).
God's response through Isaiah is a powerful, poetic rebuke of Sennacherib's arrogance and a reminder of God's absolute power. "Who is it you have mocked?" (Isaiah 37:23). The king of Assyria had mocked Judah, but ultimately, he had mocked the Lord (Isaiah 37:24), whom Sennacherib mistakenly considered no different from the gods of other nations.
It is important to note that the conquests Sennacherib boasted about were only possible because God had used him as an instrument of judgment on other nations (Isaiah 37:24-27). The king of Assyria believed he was in control of his destiny, but God was aware of his every move (Isaiah 37:28). Sennacherib was not an independent actor; God was orchestrating events according to His divine plan. Instead of continuing as a world conqueror, Sennacherib would be led back home, guided by God's sovereign hand (Isaiah 37:29).
Deliverance and Fulfillment
God assured Hezekiah that life would continue in Judah despite the Assyrian threat (Isaiah 37:30-32). Crops would be planted and harvested, even though the Assyrians had ravaged the land. By the third year, the harvest would be plentiful (Isaiah 37:30). God then declared that Sennacherib would not enter Jerusalem, much less attack it again (Isaiah 37:33-35).
The Lord had already declared that the Assyrian king would return home and be killed there (Isaiah 37:7). The fulfillment of this prophecy was swift and decisive. The angel of the LORD struck down thousands of Assyrian soldiers in their camp (Isaiah 37:36)! As a result, Sennacherib returned to his home, where he was eventually assassinated by his own sons while worshiping his god (Isaiah 37:37-38). This serves as a stark reminder that idols are powerless to deliver.
Isaiah 37 demonstrates that true faith in God, coupled with humility and prayer, is the key to overcoming even the most daunting challenges. It also shows that God is sovereign over all, using even the pride and ambition of earthly rulers to accomplish His divine purposes. This chapter offers encouragement and hope for those facing adversity, reminding us that God is always faithful to His promises.
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.
And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.
So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?
Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.
And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying,
O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear; open thine eyes, O Lord, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.
Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only.
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:
This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.
I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.
Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:
For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.
By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord.
For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar–haddon his son reigned in his stead.
Isaiah 37 recounts a pivotal moment in Judah's history when King Hezekiah faced the daunting threat of the Assyrian army, led by the boastful King Sennacherib. This chapter showcases Hezekiah's faith, God's unwavering protection, and the ultimate downfall of those who defy Him.
Hezekiah's Response: Humility and Prayer
When news of Assyria's menacing threats reached King Hezekiah, his response was immediate and profound. He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the LORD’s temple (Isaiah 37:1). This act of humility serves as a powerful reminder that when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, turning to God in prayer and repentance is the first and most crucial step. Hezekiah understood that Judah's only hope lay in the power and promises of God.
Recognizing Isaiah as a true prophet of God, Hezekiah also sent representatives to seek his counsel (Isaiah 37:2). This is significant because, unlike many leaders of Israel and Judah who were swayed by false prophets, Hezekiah sought guidance from one who spoke God's word without compromise. The king's message to Isaiah revealed the deep distress of the people (Isaiah 37:3-4).
Hezekiah's use of the word "perhaps" in his message to Isaiah was not a sign of doubt in God's ability to intervene (Isaiah 37:4). Instead, it demonstrated humility, acknowledging that he would patiently await God's divine response rather than presuming to know it. Hezekiah recognized that God had heard the Assyrian commander's mocking words and had faith that God would defend His people and vindicate His name.
God's Assurance: "Do Not Be Afraid"
The Lord's response through Isaiah was swift and reassuring. Even before the king's messengers departed, Isaiah delivered God's message: "Do not be afraid" (Isaiah 37:6). This divine command, repeated throughout Scripture, serves as an exhortation to all who trust in the Lord. When we place ourselves under God's protection, we have no reason to fear. Those in Jerusalem who submitted their lives to God had nothing to fear from the Assyrians. God promised to judge King Sennacherib for his blasphemy, foretelling his assassination in his own land (Isaiah 37:6-7).
Sennacherib's Arrogance and God's Sovereignty
The prophecy began to unfold quickly. The Assyrian king withdrew from Lachish to fight at Libnah (Isaiah 37:8), a town about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem. While this withdrawal may have brought temporary relief to the people of Jerusalem, Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah with a letter, reiterating his threats (Isaiah 37:9-13).
Hezekiah, unwavering in his faith, took the enemy's letter to the temple and offered a heartfelt prayer, glorifying the Lord as the Creator and Sovereign of the world (Isaiah 37:14-19). Even though Isaiah had promised deliverance, Hezekiah did not take God's grace for granted but continued to seek Him in prayer. Hezekiah asked God to judge the Assyrians so that all the kingdoms of the earth might know that He alone is God (Isaiah 37:20).
God's response through Isaiah is a powerful, poetic rebuke of Sennacherib's arrogance and a reminder of God's absolute power. "Who is it you have mocked?" (Isaiah 37:23). The king of Assyria had mocked Judah, but ultimately, he had mocked the Lord (Isaiah 37:24), whom Sennacherib mistakenly considered no different from the gods of other nations.
It is important to note that the conquests Sennacherib boasted about were only possible because God had used him as an instrument of judgment on other nations (Isaiah 37:24-27). The king of Assyria believed he was in control of his destiny, but God was aware of his every move (Isaiah 37:28). Sennacherib was not an independent actor; God was orchestrating events according to His divine plan. Instead of continuing as a world conqueror, Sennacherib would be led back home, guided by God's sovereign hand (Isaiah 37:29).
Deliverance and Fulfillment
God assured Hezekiah that life would continue in Judah despite the Assyrian threat (Isaiah 37:30-32). Crops would be planted and harvested, even though the Assyrians had ravaged the land. By the third year, the harvest would be plentiful (Isaiah 37:30). God then declared that Sennacherib would not enter Jerusalem, much less attack it again (Isaiah 37:33-35).
The Lord had already declared that the Assyrian king would return home and be killed there (Isaiah 37:7). The fulfillment of this prophecy was swift and decisive. The angel of the LORD struck down thousands of Assyrian soldiers in their camp (Isaiah 37:36)! As a result, Sennacherib returned to his home, where he was eventually assassinated by his own sons while worshiping his god (Isaiah 37:37-38). This serves as a stark reminder that idols are powerless to deliver.
Isaiah 37 demonstrates that true faith in God, coupled with humility and prayer, is the key to overcoming even the most daunting challenges. It also shows that God is sovereign over all, using even the pride and ambition of earthly rulers to accomplish His divine purposes. This chapter offers encouragement and hope for those facing adversity, reminding us that God is always faithful to His promises.