Consultation With Isaiah
April 29, 2022
Commentary
Horrified by the demands of the Assyrians, King Hezekiah “rent his clothes” and “went into the house of the Lord” (v. 1) showing symbolically that the nation could do nothing on their own that their destruction was completely up to God. Hezekiah’s kingdom was in danger of extermination, and he fully realized that only God could intervene to spare them. He then sent two of his top leaders along with the leading priests to Isaiah for consultation and to inform him of the situation (v. 2). He told them how this was a difficult and disgraceful time (v. 3) and to please pray (v. 4). In contrast to the fear of everyone else, Isaiah spoke with great confidence, urging the people to “Be not afraid of the words that thou has heard.” (vv. 5-6), because the king is going to die a violent death (v. 7).
In the meantime, Sennacherib had left Lachish and was at Libnah about five miles north of Lachish (v. 8). When the Assyrian officers found him, they learned that an Egyptian army was on its way to help defend Hezekiah (v. 9). Sennacherib did not want to fight a war on two fronts, so he put pressure on Jerusalem to surrender immediately. He sent a threatening letter to Hezekiah telling him how they had wiped out other nations (vv. 10-13). When this was delivered to Hezekiah, he took it to the temple and “spread it before the Lord.” (v. 14) This was a symbolic action of his dependence upon God. He began his prayer with praise (vv 15-16). In a humble way he asks God to “save us so that the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord” (vv. 17-20). He did not want deliverance for the people’s sake, but that God might be glorified.
Application
Isaiah 37:1– 20 (NET)
1 When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the Lord’s temple. 2 Eliakim the palace supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, clothed in sackcloth, sent this message to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz: 3 “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘This is a day of distress, insults, and humiliation, as when a baby is ready to leave the birth canal, but the mother lacks the strength to push it through. 4 Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all these things the chief adviser has spoken on behalf of his master, the king of Assyria, who sent him to taunt the living God. When the Lord your God hears, perhaps he will punish him for the things he has said. So pray for this remnant that remains.’”
5 When King Hezekiah’s servants came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master this: ‘This is what the Lord has said: “Don’t be afraid because of the things you have heard—these insults the king of Assyria’s servants have hurled against me. 7 Look, I will take control of his mind; he will receive a report and return to his own land. I will cut him down with a sword in his own land.”’”
8 When the chief adviser heard the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish, he left and went to Libnah, where the king was campaigning. 9 The king heard that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was marching out to fight him. He again sent messengers to Hezekiah, ordering them: 10 “Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this: ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says, “Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.” 11 Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued? 12 Were the nations whom my predecessors destroyed—the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Telassar—rescued by their gods? 13 Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad or the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”
14 Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to the Lord’s temple and spread it out before the Lord. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: 16 “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, O God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth. 17 Pay attention, Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to this entire message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God! 18 It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the nations and their lands. 19 They have burned the gods of the nations, for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them. 20 Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”