B25-devotions

Isaiah 37:1-20

Devotions for Wednesday 18th June

The plot thickens! The terrible threats made by the Assyrian King’s Commander in Chief against King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem were conveyed to the King, and his response was to contact Isaiah immediately. Isaiah plays a secondary role in this part of the narrative, but it is important because it shows that King Hezekiah wanted to do what was right by seeking advice from a prophet as his forebears had done. Isaiah’s prophetic dismissal of the threat of the King of Assyria, Sennacherib, was brief and succinct (37:5-7), but from this point onwards, it is easy to become confused about what was really happening. The picture we have from chapter 36 is of the Assyrian Commander in Chief standing close by to the city of Jerusalem with a significant army nearby, and speaking in the name of the King of Assyria who was elsewhere. However, that is only half the story!

Reading from verse 8 onwards, it seems that the Commander had to leave Jerusalem hurriedly to go and assist King Sennacherib after his defeat of nearby Lachish, at a place called Libnah; and after that to deal with a threat from Ethiopia (37:9). The details of why Sennacherib let his focus slip away from Jerusalem are uncertain, and we will look at this later in the study. Despite this, however, Jerusalem was surrounded by a significant Assyrian presence controlling all the towns and regions of Judah, and with an army encamped outside Jerusalem. It is not clear in this passage whether a full scale siege was enforced, but the King of Assyria had no intention of letting Jerusalem ‘off the hook’ despite his absence, and sent a personal written message to Hezekiah repeating the threats his Commander had already made, emphasising the power of Assyria to destroy gods, lands and Kings (37:10-13). In response, Hezekiah came before the Lord in urgent prayer (37:14-20); his prayer shows Hezekiah’s piety and zeal, and the words he used show a clear understanding of his duties as a king as set out by Samuel (1 Samuel 8) and hinted at in speeches of Moses (Deut 17:13f, and 28:36f.). The passage concludes with Hezekiah’s desperate plea for salvation (37:20); for the threat from Assyria was not yet over.

Two things are worth noting. Firstly, when it comes to interpreting what was happening, the picture I have just described may seem obvious, but others see it differently! The timing of what the Commander in Chief did in verse 8 is so confusing that some people think this is contrived, and the message sent to Hezekiah by the King of Assyria (37:10-13) was but a different ‘version’ of what we read in chapter 36. Personally, I do not agree with this theory, because in the complexities of war, some confusion should be expected in the reports of what happened, and while the Assyrian troops surrounded Jerusalem, it is not surprising that several efforts were made to persuade Hezekiah to surrender.

Secondly, the most important feature of this passage is that God’s people, as represented by their King, Hezekiah, are shown to be submissive not to the worldly events which were happening around them, but to God. The city of Jerusalem was fatally weakened and relatively defenceless before its enemies, yet they did not attack. The opposing King was elsewhere, even calling his Commander in Chief to help him in other battles! Isaiah’s brief prophecy (37:6,7) was already partially fulfilled, and God was able to look after His people because they accepted His authority as their Covenant God and Creator (37:16,20). This confession of faith in the face of insuperable odds is the key to the whole narrative and their eventual salvation, and it was something which later generations of Jewish people greatly admired in Hezekiah and the people of that time. They showed a quality of faith in the face of adversity which was and is inspirational.

1 When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. 2 He sent Eliakim, Shebna, and the senior priests, to Isaiah the son of Amoz, the prophet. 3 They said, ‘Hezekiah says; “This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children are ready to be born, and there is no strength to give them birth. 4 Perhaps the Lord your God heard the words of the Commander in Chief ... so lift up your prayer for the remnant that is here.”’

5 When King Hezekiah’s servants came to Isaiah, 6 he said to them, ‘Say this to your master, “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, by which the King of Assyria’s youths have blasphemed against me. 7 Look, I will put a spirit in him, so he will hear a rumour and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”’

8 When the Commander in Chief heard that the King of Assyria had left Lachish, he returned and found the King fighting against Libnah. 9 ... (the King) sent messengers to Hezekiah to say, 10 ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you into thinking that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the King of Assyria. 11 Look, you have heard what the Kings of Assyria have done ... 12 Have the gods of the nations that my fathers destroyed saved any of them?’

14 Hezekiah received the letter and read it; then he went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 He prayed: 16 ‘O Lord of hosts, God of Israel ... you alone are the God 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; hear all the words Sennacherib has sent in order to mock the living God ... 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you are the Lord; You alone."

To read more about this passage of scripture: go to the Bible study page

To read the questions and discipleship challenges for this text: go to the discipleship page

We approach You, Almighty Lord, owing everything to You. Sometimes we forget this, and come to You unworthily, without thought, or presuming on love; please forgive us. If we are too shy because of our sensitivities; then lift us up. if we speak too boldly and too much; then remind us of our place. Change us each day for the better, we pray, through Your love in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Almighty Lord; AMEN

Weekly Theme: The Bible

Pray about the teaching of Biblical stories in schools. Some do this as a matter of course, but the subject is controversial for many people. Pray for those who seek to teach the Bible.

On-going prayers

Give thanks for the beauty of God’s world in which we are set
Pray about oil price rises which have affected the world economy
Pray for your local fire brigade

God has called His people to act with courage,

And face unflinchingly the needs of the world:

Where can the courage be found to feed the hungry?

Where can the will be found to challenge corruption?

Where can the strength be found to act for justice?

Where can the heart be found to assist the poor?

Where can the vision be found to safeguard our planet?

Where can the intellect be found to defend the truth?

Where can the bravery be found to confront all evil?

Where can the passion be found to stand for what is right?

In the Kingdom of God, we are all called to respond;

Our task is to love others, so that answers are found.

Going Deeper: (what you will find on the Bible study page)

There are a number of interesting features of this part of the story of the siege of Jerusalem. Apart from the complexities of what the Commander and King Sennacherib were doing, there is the initial response of King Hezekiah as reported to Isaiah (37:3f.), the prophecy of Isaiah itself (37:5-7), the challenge of King Sennacherib and Hezekiah’s final prayer. Each are interesting in their own right.

For the full Bible study, click link above,

or for a brief review, scroll page down.

This is a shortened version of the story. For the full text please go to the full Bible study.