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Isaiah 37

IsaiahOld TestamentEnglish
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
  • The outline…
    • Isaiah 1-12 – the Judgment and Hope for Judah
    • Isaiah 13-23 – the TEN burdens of the Nations
    • Isaiah 24-27 – the Apocalypse [Judgment of the whole world]
    • Isaiah 28-35 – the SIX woes – and the coming King
    • Assyrian Invasion…
    • HEZEKIAH rebelled and cut off tribute to Assyria – II Kings 18:14
    • Because HEZEKIAH believed the LORD [יָהּ] was his STRENGTH [חָזַק] – II Chronicles 32:7
    • Therefore – King Sennacherib of Assyria captured ALL [כָּל] the fortified cities of Judah…
    • Until all that was left was the city of Jerusalem [neck] – Isaiah 8:8
    • The king sent RABSHAKEH to MOCK the people of Judah…
    • He would give Judah TWO thousand horses – IF they could put riders on them [no army]!
    • Terms of Surrender…
    • The THREE officials of Hezekiah BEGGED [piel] Rabshakeh to PLEASE [נָא] speak in Aramaic…
    • RABSHAKEH replied his words of warning [piel] were for EVERYONE who would SUFFER…
    • He pleaded [jussive] with Judah to NOT listen to HEZEKIAH…
    • Because the way of HEZEKIAH led to eating DUNG and drinking URINE [starvation]
    • But if the people would listen to RABSHAKEH – EVERY man would eat GRAPES and FIGS…
    • That was UNTIL the King of Assyria took them – away from the Temple [presence] of God!
  • 1st – Come to the Lord… vs. 1-7
    • 1st – Day of Trouble… vs. 1-5
      • House of the Lord… vs. 1
      • When King Hezekiah heard it that he tore his clothes – covered himself with sackcloth.
      • And went into the house of the LORD!
      • When King HEZEKIAH heard the words of RABSHAKEH…
      • The THREATS he gave to the people of Judah [eating dung and urine]
      • The DISRESPECT he had for the LORD [He was just like the other pagan gods]
      • [Sequential] he TORE is clothes [anger] – and put on SACKCLOTH [mourning]
      • And then he went into the HOUSE [בַּיִת] of the LORD [יְהוָה]!
      • HEZEKIAH did NOT reach for a SWORD – or lash out with angry WORDS…
      • Those would NOT have helped him – more likely they would have helped RABSHAKEH…
      • Because the KEY to finding VICTORY is NOT found in what we DO…
      • It comes from where we GO [house of the Lord] – WHO we run to for the solution!
      • No Strength… vs. 2-3
      • Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household – Shebna the scribe.
      • And the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth – to Isaiah the prophet – the son of Amoz.
      • They said to him: Thus says Hezekiah: This day is a day of trouble – rebuke and blasphemy.
      • For the children have come to birth – but there is no strength to bring them forth!
      • AFTER the KING had spent time with the LORD…
      • He sent his officials: Eliakim – Shebna – the Elders and Priests [no Joah]
      • They came to ISAIAH the prophet with this word from the KING:
      • This was a DAY [יוֹם] of TROUBLE [armies of Assyria] – REBUKE [for trusting in men]
      • And BLASPHEMY [because Rabshakeh compared the LORD to other gods]
      • HEZEKIAH believed there was HOPE [like a woman in labor]
      • But just did NOT have the STRENGTH to see it through to the END!
      • We BELIEVE the Lord is the God of the impossible…
      • But in the DAY of TROUBLE – it can still be overwhelming…
      • Our HOPE can seem like a distant dream – in light of our current NIGHTMARE!
      • Hear the words… vs. 4-5
      • It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh.
      • Whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God.
      • And will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard.
      • Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.
      • So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah!
      • Perhaps the LORD God [אֱלֹהֶיךָ] – might [imperfect] HEAR the words of RABSHAKEH…
      • That the King of Assyria had sent to MOCK [piel] the living God…
      • And the LORD would PUNISH him for the words that HE heard – Hebrews 4:13
      • Therefore PRAY for the REMNANT [few who are left]!
      • The solution to being OVERWHELMED – is we are NOT alone…
      • We can call out to Godly men and women around us – to PRAY with us…
      • Because while our STRENGTH might not be enough on our own…
      • Together we are STRONG enough to stand up and see the Lord give the VICTORY!
      • Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one… if they fall one will lift up his companion.”
    • 2nd – Do not fear… vs. 6-7
      • Against the Lord… vs. 6
      • Isaiah said to them: Thus you shall say to your master. Thus says the LORD:
      • Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard.
      • With which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me!
      • Isaiah had a word for HEZEKIAH – a WORD from the LORD…
      • Do NOT fear [jussive] – the words he had heard…
      • The WORDS the servants of the King of Assyria BLASPHEMED [גָּדַף] against the LORD!
      • Fear is NOT a response – it is a CHOICE – we chose based on WHO we listen to…
      • If we LISTEN to the words [blasphemy] of the WORLD – then we choose to be afraid…
      • If we LISTEN the WORD to the Lord – then by FAITH we have nothing to FEAR!
      • Rumors… vs. 7
      • Surely I will send a spirit upon him – and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land.
      • And I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land!
      • BEHOLD [הֵן] – God would send a rumor [שְׁמוּעָה] that stirred the SPIRIT [רוּחַ] of the king…
      • The RUMOR was about the king of Ethiopia coming to make war – II Kings 19:9
      • As a result the King would [sequential] return to his own land [Assyria]
      • To prepare for the BATTLE against a MAJOR regional power…
      • But while in Assyria [Nineveh] God would cause [hiphil] him to DIE by the sword!
      • We look for God to fight our battles with MIGHTY weapons…
      • Yet God can win WARS with simple RUMORS – all it takes is a WISPER…
      • And He turns the hearts [רוּחַ] of Kings to do His WILL – Proverbs 21:1
  • 2nd – Prayer of Hezekiah… vs. 8-20
    • 1st – The Threat… vs. 8-13
      • Ethiopia… vs. 8-9
      • Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah.
      • For he heard that he had departed from Lachish.
      • The king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia: He has come out to make war with you!
      • RABSHAKEH went back with the report that Jerusalem had NOT surrendered…
      • But the King of Assyria was no longer at LACHISH [invincible]
      • It had fallen – according to archeological reliefs [carvings] found in the ruins of Nineveh…
      • And the King had moved onto the city of LIBNAH [next conquest]
      • But while there he got word [rumor] about King Tirhakah [Ethiopia]!
      • Not finished… vs. 9-10
      • So when he heard it he sent messengers to Hezekiah saying:
      • Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah saying:
      • Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you saying:
      • Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria!
      • When the King heard the RUMOR – he SENT [sequential] messengers [מַלְאָךְ] to HEZEKIAH…
      • Do NOT be deceived [jussive] – by the God in whom you TRUST [בָּטַח]
      • When He says to you that Jerusalem would NOT be given into the hand of the King…
      • Hezekiah had a CHOICE – either LISTEN to the LORD and choose NOT fear [jussive]
      • Or LISTEN to the King of Assyria who told him to NOT be deceived [jussive] by the LORD!
      • Other Lands… vs. 11-13
      • Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands.
      • By utterly destroying them – and shall you be delivered?
      • Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed.
      • Gozan and Haran and Rezeph – and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?
      • Where is the king of Hamath – of Arpad – the king of the city of Sepharvaim – Hena and Ivah?
      • BEHOLD [הִנֵּה] – HEZEKIAH had heard what the KINGS [plural] of Assyria had done…
      • They had [hiphil] DESTROYED all [כֹּל] the others lands – Judah would NOT be saved [niphal]
      • They would be just like: Gozan – Haran – Rezeph – and Eden [Aramaean cities]
      • Like the KINGS of: Hamath – Arpad – Sepharvaim – Isaiah 36:19
      • Meaning the evidence suggested – Judah would be conquered and HEZEKIAH gone!
      • The world might have ALL the evidence – they might have a GOOD argument…
      • But they what they do NOT have is the POWER of God…
      • It does NOT matter what has happened in the PAST…
      • ALL that matters is what God says – if we are willing to TRUST Him!
    • 2nd – The Prayer… vs. 14-20
      • House of the Lord… vs. 14
      • Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it.
      • And Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD – and spread it before the LORD!
      • HEZEKIAH got the letter from the King of Assyria – and he READ it…
      • Then he went BACK into the HOUSE [בַּיִת] of the LORD [יְהוָה]
      • And he put the LETTER before the LORD [this is for you]!
      • I knew a pastor of a church that was growing rapidly…
      • The church took on massive financial obligations – that they could NOT pay…
      • The ministry was in danger of bankruptcy – being shut down…
      • The pastor was OVERWHELMED – and STRESSED as he looked at the DEBTS…
      • Then it hit him – WHOSE church was it – WHOSE responsibility…
      • The bills did NOT belong to Him – they belonged to the LORD…
      • From that day on the church did NOT have a problem with the bills!
      • Perspective… vs. 15-16
      • Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD saying: O LORD of hosts – God of Israel.
      • The One who dwells between the cherubim. You are God – You alone!
      • Of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth!
      • HEZEKIAH did NOT look to the letter – he looked up and prayed to the LORD…
      • FIRST – he saw the LORD of the armies of Heaven [צְבָאוֹת]
      • SECOND – the God of Israel who chooses to DWELL in Jerusalem [between the Cherubim]
      • THIRD – the God [הָאֱלֹהִים] ALONE – there is NO other in ALL the kingdoms of the earth…
      • FOURTH – the God who made [עָשָׂה] HEAVEN and EARTH – Genesis 1:1
      • When we come to the LORD – looking to God for the answer…
      • It may NOT change our CIRCUMSTANCES – but it will CHANGE us…
      • Because rather than seeing whatever LITTLE problem we might be facing…
      • We see our PROBLEM in the light of an INFINITE God who is GREATER than all!
      • Listen and see… vs. 17
      • Incline Your ear O LORD and hear. Open Your eyes O LORD and see.
      • Hear all the words of Sennacherib which he has sent to reproach the living God!
      • HEZEKIAH then made his request [five imperative]
      • LORD bow down [imperative] Your ear and HEAR [imperative]
      • LORD open [imperative] Your eyes and SEE [imperative]
      • HEAR [imperative] all the blasphemous words of Sennacherib [king of Assyria]!
      • The point of prayer is NOT so that we can INFORM God…
      • He already KNOWS – He has already HEARD – already SEEN…
      • It is so that we can have a change of PERSPECTIVE – so we can SEE the LORD!
      • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything – instead pray about everything.” [NLT]
      • Not gods… vs. 18-19
      • Truly LORD the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands.
      • And have cast their gods into the fire – for they were not gods – but the work of mens hands.
      • Wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them!
      • It was TRUE [אָמְנָם] that Assyria had destroyed ALL [כֹּל] the other nations…
      • They cast their gods [אֱלֹהִים] into the FIRE to be burned [rejected because they failed]
      • Because [כִּי] they were NOT [לֹא] gods – just the work of MENS hands…
      • Therefore [for that reason] – their gods were burned and their nations destroyed!
      • There is a CLARITY that comes with PRAYER…
      • We see things with from a GODLY point of view…
      • And the moment we do – the answer becomes OBVIOUS!
      • Save us… vs. 20
      • Now therefore O LORD our God – save us from his hand.
      • That all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD – You alone!
      • NOW – LORD our God [אֱלֹהֵינוּ] – SAVE us [imperative]
      • So that ALL of the kingdoms of the earth KNOW [יָדַע] – You ALONE are LORD…
      • Finally HEZEKIAH saw the meaning behind the whole war…
      • It was NEVER about the battle – it was about MAGNIFYING God!
      • Why does God allow us to go through the TRIALS – why the BATTLE…
      • It is because the LORD is trying to bring us to the place where we SURENDER…
      • Where we stop trusting in the WORK of our hands…
      • We come to the place when we finally look up and SEE – He alone is the LORD!
  • 3rd – Word of the Lord… vs. 21-34
    • 1st – Answered prayer… vs. 21-22
      • Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying: Thus says the LORD God of Israel.
      • Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria.
      • This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him!
      • Isaiah was SENT by the LORD to give a message to HEZEKIAH…
      • Thus say the LORD – God of Israel – because HEZEKIAH PRAYED…
      • This is the [הַ] WORD [singular] the LORD had SPOKEN [piel] concerning the King of Assyria…
      • The ANSWER from the LORD came – because HEZEKIAH took the time to PRAY!
      • If we feel like we are NOT getting an answer from the LORD…
      • It is worth asking – have we taken the time to inquire from Him…
      • Because it is NOT a matter of God being SILENT – we are just NOT seeking Him!
    • 2nd – Plan of God… vs. 22-29
      • Holy one of Israel… vs. 22-23
      • The virgin – the daughter of Zion has despised you – laughed you to scorn.
      • The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head behind your back.
      • Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice.
      • And lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel!
      • The message to Sennacherib – the King of Assyria…
      • Even the young women [virgins] of ZION mock and laugh at you…
      • Because they know whom you have MOCKED [piel] and BLASPHEMED [piel]
      • It is NOT Jerusalem – it is the HOLY [קָדוֹשׁ] one of Israel!
      • If someone were to THREATEN to harm our kids – our FAMILY…
      • What they are in fact doing in THREATENING us – and we will DEFEND them!
      • Luke 17:1 – “Woe to him through whom [offences] do come!”
      • God does not play around when it comes to stumbling His children…
      • He is a VERY protective Father – and will deal with anyone who threatens His kids!
      • Pride of Assyria… vs. 24-25
      • By your servants you have reproached the Lord and said:
      • By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains.
      • To the limits of Lebanon I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypress trees.
      • I will enter its farthest height to its fruitful forest.
      • I have dug and drunk water. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the brooks of defense!
      • Sennacherib had MOCKED the Lord [אֲדֹנָי] – the true KING [master]
      • Because he said: MY MANY chariots have lifted me up to the height of the mountains…
      • I will CUT down the mighty TREES [soldiers] of Lebanon…
      • I will come into the FRUITFUL forest of CARMEL [כַּרְמֶל]
      • I [אֲנִי] have dug wells [to drink] – and I have dried up ALL [כֹּל] rivers of fortified cities…
      • In all the King uses the pronoun I EIGHT times [in the Hebrew]!
      • Purpose of God… vs. 26-27
      • Did you not hear long ago how I made it. From ancient times that I formed it?
      • Now I brought it to pass that you should be for crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins.
      • Therefore their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and confounded.
      • They were as the grass of the field and the green herb.
      • As the grass on the housetops – and grain blighted before it is grown!
      • God asked Sennacherib had he NOT heard – this is what I [first person] did [3 times]
      • God MADE this plan long ago – He formed it in ANCIENT days…
      • So that NOW it came to pass – that the king could [hiphil] CRUSH fortified cities…
      • Therefore their people had LITTLE power [hands] – and were shattered and ashamed [בּוּשׁ]
      • They were like the GRASS of the field – ready to be MOWED down!
      • It has been well said – the ONLY word that should follow I – is CANNOT…
      • When we think we are the ONE who has brought our SUCCESS – we are ready to FALL!
      • I Corinthians 4:7 – “What do you have that you did not receive?”
      • God knows… vs. 28-29
      • I know your dwelling place. Your going out and your coming in – and your rage against Me.
      • Because your rage against Me and your tumult have come up to My ears.
      • Therefore I will put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips.
      • And I will turn you back by the way which you came!
      • The Lord also KNEW [יָדַע] where the Sennacherib lived…
      • He saw him going in and out [of his house] – and his RAGE against God…
      • Because the PRIDE [שַׁאֲנָן] of the King had come to the ears of the Lord…
      • God would put a HOOK in his NOSE – and make him [hiphil] TURN back the way he came!
      • Imagine getting a TEXT from God – I KNOW where you live…
      • I am WATCHING you – and I see your SIN [pride] – and am NOT happy!
      • We are foolish to think that we can live in PRIDE – live in SIN – without consequence…
      • God is WATCHING – He sees EVERYTHING – and He will hold us accountable!
      • Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the LORD are in every place beholding the evil and the good.”
    • 3rd – The Sign… vs. 30-35
      • Harvest… vs. 30
      • This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself.
      • And the second year what springs from the same. Also in the third year sow and reap.
      • Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them!
      • This is the SIGN [הָאוֹת] that God gave to CONFIRM His WORD to Israel…
      • What is interesting is that the SIGN was NOT the destruction of the army of Assyria…
      • Rather it was they would EAT what grew up naturally [no planting] for TWO years…
      • They then MUST [[imperative] plan and harvest in the THIRD year…
      • Because God was NOT just going to give them VICTORY – He was going to keep providing!
      • God does NOT just promise to take care of us TODAY…
      • His promise is that He will take care of us EVERY day – Matthew 6:33
      • Remnant… vs. 31-32
      • And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah.
      • Shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.
      • For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant – and those who escape from Mount Zion.
      • The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
      • Then [sequential] – those REMNANT of Judah would take ROOT and be FRUITFUL…
      • Those who are under SIEGE in Jerusalem – will be set FREE [escape] from ZION…
      • Not because they WON the battle – but by the ZEAL of the LORD of Hosts [צְבָאוֹת]
      • God will Defend… vs. 33-35
      • Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
      • He shall not come into this city. Nor shoot an arrow there. Nor come before it with shield.
      • Nor build a siege mound against it. By the way that he came – by the same shall he return.
      • And he shall not come into this city – says the LORD.
      • For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake – and for My servant Davids sake!
      • YES [כֵּן] thus says the LORD to the King – he will NOT [לֹא] come into Jerusalem…
      • He will NOT even shoot ONE [singular] arrow at the city…
      • He would NOT raise ONE shield [singular] – or ONE siege mound [singular]
      • Instead he would go back the way he came – DECLARED [נְאֻם] the LORD…
      • God would DEFEND the city – to SAVE [hiphil] for His sake [and for his promise to David]!
      • Hezekiah came into the House of the LORD with a heavy heart…
      • But after hearing from the Lord – it was the King of Assyria that was AFRAID…
      • Because once we see God is the once FIGHTING for us – we know how the story will end!
    • 4th – Angel of the Lord… vs. 36-38
      • All dead… vs. 36
      • Then the angel of the LORD went out and killed in the camp of the Assyrians.
      • One hundred and eighty-five thousand – and when people arose early in the morning.
      • There were the corpses – all dead!
      • AND [וַ] – and ANGEL of the LORD was sent out STRIKE the camp of ASSYRIA…
      • In ONE night he KILLED 185 thousand soldiers – in the morning they were ALL [כֹּל] dead [מוּת]
      • It only took ONE angel to defeat an ENTIRE army – God has COUNTLESS – Hebrews 12:22
      • This would have represented a LARGE portion of their army…
      • That kind of collapse of the MAJOR military power should have historical EVIDENCE…
      • Herodotus [historian] records a tradition of a sudden disaster affecting Assyrian troops…
      • But more compelling is what is NOT recorded by the ASSYRIANS…
      • While there is NO record of the DEFEAT – loss of soldiers [common NOT to record bad news]
      • The Assyrians consistently recorded their VICTORIES [including the Judean campaign]
      • Yet there is NO record of the FALL of Jerusalem – or capture of Hezekiah…
      • Rather the glaring ABSENCE of the fall of the CAPITOL of Judea!
      • The defeat of Sennacherib is also found in – II Chronicles 32:21 and II Kings 19:35
      • God does NOT stutter – He is not interested in wasting time or space in the Bible…
      • If God repeats Himself – it means what is being said is VERY important [pay attention]
      • God wants us to know we have no reason to worry – He is on our side!
      • Sennacherib… vs. 37-38
      • Sennacherib king of Assyria departed – went away – returned home and remained at Nineveh.
      • Now it came to pass as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god.
      • That his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword.
      • And they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place!
      • The [sequential] Sennacherib went back [שׁוּב] the way he came [to Nineveh]
      • And as he was WORSHIPING his god [אֱלֹהִים] his sons killed him [sword]!
      • According to Midrashich tradition [Sanhedrin 96a]
      • Sennacherib took a piece of WOOD [נֶסֶר] from the boat of Noah – and made an IDOL [נִסְרֹךְ]
      • He was trying to make [with his hands] a God that was as powerful as the LORD…
      • And according to the Rabbis [Yalkut Shimoni] he made plans to sacrifice two of his sons…
      • Believing that if he did followed Abraham [Akedah] – he would have VICTORY…
      • When his sons found out – they killed him – and fled to the land of Ararat!
      • It is easy for us to forget and think of our FAITH as a RITUAL…
      • But when we get caught up in methods – we forget it is all about Jesus…
      • The VICTORY comes when we remember to lay it all down before the LORD!