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Isaiah 36 Commentary

Assyria Threatens Jerusalem

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KEY THOUGHT: Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? [Isaiah 36:18b NKJV]

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Isaiah 36 NKJV
Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord

36 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 Then the king of Assyria sent the [a]Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field. 3 And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to him.

4 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust? 5 I say you speak of having plans and power for war; but they are [b]mere words. Now in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? 6 Look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

7 “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?” ’ 8 Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them! 9 How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 10 Have I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’ ”

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in [c]Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”

12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?”

13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and said, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you; 15 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” ’ 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make peace with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’ ”

21 But they [d]held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” 22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Footnotes

a. Isaiah 36:2 A title, probably Chief of Staff or Governor
b. Isaiah 36:5 Lit. a word of the lips
c. Isaiah 36:11 Lit. Judean
d. Isaiah 36:21 were silent

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Isaiah 36 Commentary

The scattering begins. Assyria attacks Judah. By the end of the day, only Jerusalem is standing. Judah is now nothing more than a city-state. Judah’s punishment is nearly complete, save for the important events recorded here and in the Book of Kings as well as the Book of Chronicles.

The Book of Isaiah is both an institution and the physical man whose intervention during this critical moment for the nation is recorded here. The other character is yet another physical man, King Hezekiah.

“Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria?” Assyria is mocking the LORD God, the God of Israel. We have chapters 37 through 39 for King Hezekiah’s response. But for now, we can look at Assyria’s arrogance and irreverence against the LORD Almighty.

Yes, Hezekiah will pray and the prophet Isaiah will intercede. But probably, the greatest weapon against Assyria is her own pride and taunts against the Most High. The LORD would defend His name, and Jerusalem would be saved, but only temporarily.

Yes, Jerusalem would eventually fall, but it won’t happen by a man who raises his fist against the LORD. King Sennacherib’s attitude toward the God of Jacob and His servant Isaiah caused his failure.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s attitude toward the God of Jacob was respectful, and his view of God’s servant, Jeremiah, was admirable. He was a better tool in God’s hand than King Sennacherib.

Don’t raise your fist against the LORD God. It would be an easy pick from this chapter. But that is for the wicked! The saint wants to learn how to react in times of crisis and doubt.

Keep quiet and say nothing. Turn to the LORD God in prayer. Say it in the LORD’s presence. Let your fears be known to the LORD. That’s what King Hezekiah will do, but that is for tomorrow.

The closing chapters of the first logical partition of Isaiah (ch 1-39) carry the story of Jerusalem’s deliverance. It says everything about the purpose of God’s word. Yes, they are prophecies given by the LORD. They are solid, cast in concrete! Rigid and tightly timed.

But behind each prophecy is a divine hope that God’s creation would say yes to obedience and avoid trouble.

Yes, Hezekiah’s intercession saved the day. He stands in the shoes of yet another king – the King with the government upon His shoulder. His perfection, intercession, innocence, compassion, and mediation save whoever calls upon His name. Yes, the name of Jesus.

Loving Scripture….

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25 thoughts on “Home”

  1. It has been exciting learning how God can make things happen to his choosen one, God workout something wonderful and fulfils the promises he made to the father of Joseph.

    God’s words remains true so are his promises and indeed it has been God working out the salvation of man Kind by Grace through Faith alone.

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  11. Profound. My life needs a new introduction to God. Not that I have been right, but because God desires to help me… I see an amazing Grace here. Having broken the first commandment, still God looks for me and helps me to build up with him… And live for him. A littles knowledge of the Lord will ignite my passion and desire to serve him. This morning I pledge to seek, live and serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His purposes everyday of my life.
    Beautiful lesson

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  12. The Lord reintroduces himself and shows Israel, He is all they need. Some boast in horses and others in chariots but we’ll boast in the Lord. He is able and the only one worthy of our trust. Lord teach me how to always look up to you at all times and not focus on my strength or capabilities. This is my prayer

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  14. This far too common today. Just do something that seems like true worship yet it’s intent and actual practice is not even close to the set standard by the Lord. I personally feel challenged of some things we do in our personal lives, the focus of many churches and ministries today. We’ll need to realize the Lord must be worship as he has personally guided. Provides a good start of my reflection today

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  15. In those days when there was no King everyone did as they pleased. This is a good reminder to us that we are on own when the King of Kings isn’t leading our lives we’ll be doing what is not right and the results will show clearly how life without Christ looks like. We thank God that even when it looks like he’s not there, he’s behind the scenes working. I have learnt to trust in the Lord always.

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  16. Iam seeing this being stressed… There was no King in Israel… So lawlessness is the order of the day. This shows how heartless and wicked man can be with out the right King in his life. He can do anything. May the Lord help us to allow Christ in our lives that every aspect of our lives is changed and we yield ourselves to him alone.

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  17. I’m sure as the two daughters in-law stayed in Naomi’s home they learned about the God of Israel and appreciated His works among his people. Ruth’s determination and what she says moves my heart. She’s convinced she must go with Naomi and wants to spend her life with her, this relationship was strong especially between a mother inlaw and a daughter in-law. Yet Ruth stays and how she puts it shows the depth of her heart, I’ll go with with you, your people will be my people, your God will be my God…

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