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 [warning Judah to trust in the Lord]
- Day of the Lord…
- The NATIONS [גוֹיִם] must listen – because [כִּי] the WRATH of God is against them ALL [כֹּל]
- The LORD will [perfect] wipe out [hiphil] the ARMIES of men [Armageddon] – Revelation 16:16
- Because [כִּי] it is the DAY [יוֹם] of the VENGEANCE of the LORD…
- It is the YEAR when God will REPAY [שִׁלּוּם] the enemies of ZION [Jerusalem]
- After the FIRE will NEVER go out – and the SMOKE will come up FOREVER [Lake of Fire]
- Therefore search the BOOK of the Lord [Bible] – and be READY!
- Highway to Holiness…
- In the AFTERMATH of the Day of the Lord – the JUDGMENT of God…
- The WILDERNESS – the DESERT – will blossom [imperfect] like [כַּ] a ROSE…
- In that day the LAND will BLOSSOM – and the people will rejoice with JOY and SINGING [piel]
- The Lord will make a HIGHWAY [lifted up] – only here in OT…
- Then those who are RANSOMED by the LORD will come back to ZION!
- 1st – Assyrian Invasion… vs. 1-10
- 1st – Siege of Jerusalem… vs. 1-2
- King Hezekiah… vs. 1
- Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of Assyria!
- The book of Isaiah has been building for THIRTY five chapters…
- As the prophet warned Judah through FOUR kings: Uzziah – Jotham – Ahaz – Hezekiah
- Giving confidence that Judah would NOT fall to Syria and Israel [Immanuel] – Isaiah 7:14
- But he warned them that there was a GREATER threat coming…
- God would allow Assyria to come like a FLOOD that would wash over Judah – Isaiah 8:7-8
- SIXTH year of Hezekiah – King Shalmaneser [Assyria] attacked Samaria [Israel]
- Because they did not obey the voice of the Lord – or obey His commands…
- And Israel was taken into captivity [722 B.C.] – II Kings 18:10
- FOURTEENTH year of Hezekiah – Sennacherib [son of Sargon] attacked Judah [701 B.C.]
- 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
- Fall of Judah… vs. 1-2
- Came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
- The king of Assyria sent the 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 Fullers Field!
- King Sennacherib 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 while he laying siege to the city of Lachish [invincible]
- RABSHAKEH [chief cupbearer] – is thought to be a TITLE [royal official]
- He came to the AQUEDUCT by the UPPER pool – by the FULLERS field [water source]
- The exact place Isaiah had met with King Ahaz [33 years earlier] – Isaiah 7:3
- Where God had promised the King that Jerusalem would NOT fall!
- The most important thing during a SIEGE was to PROTECT the WATER source…
- Hezekiah carved a TUNNEL for the Gihon spring into the city – II Kings 20:20
- And then stopped up all the other water sources outside the city – II Chronicles 32:4
- When we step out in faith – reject the WORLD – TRUSTING God as our STRENGTH…
- That does NOT mean that everything will go SMOOTHLY…
- Things might get INTENSE [fall of Judah] – water coming up to our NECK…
- But God does NOT change – just as He provided in the past [Immanuel]
- He will also take care of us TODAY – we just need to keep our eyes on Him!
- II Corinthians 12:9 – “His grace is sufficient… for His strength is made perfect in weakness.”
- 2nd – Trust of Hezekiah… vs. 3-7
- The Leaders… vs. 3
- 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!
- Three OFFICIALS from Jerusalem came out to meet with RABSHAKEH…
- SHEBNA – who had previously been DEMOTED [from steward to scribe] – Isaiah 22:15
- JOAH – who was the SECRETARY [kept the records]
- ELIAKIM – who replaced SHEBNA as the STEWARD [key of David] – Isaiah 22:22
- Words… vs. 4-5
- 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?
- I say you speak of having plans and power for war – but they are mere words.
- Now in whom do you trust – that you rebel against me?
- RABSHAKEH demanded [imperative] they give this message to HEZEKIAH…
- The GREAT king [Assyria] – wanted to know where was he putting his TRUST [בָּטַח]
- What gave him CONFIDENCE [בָּטַח] to REBEL against Assyria [three options]
- FIRST – did he think WORDS [plans for war] could give him VICTORY!
- Egypt… vs. 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!
- SECOND – had HEZEKIAH put [perfect] his TRUST [בָּטַח] in EGYPT…
- A BROKEN staff – that pierces the hand of those who lean on them…
- ANYONE who trust in Pharoah would only HURT themselves!
- The Lord had warned Judah NOT to go down to EGYPT…
- Why trust in CHARIOTS and HORSES when they had the LORD – Isaiah 31:1
- The Lord… vs. 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?
- THIRD – had Judah put [perfect] their TRUST [בָּטַח] in the LORD their God…
- But RABSHAKEH countered HEZEKIAH had taken away His HIGH places and ALTARS…
- And insisted Israel WORSHIP before the ALTAR in Jerusalem!
- HEZEKIAH was a king who did what was RIGHT in the sight of the LORD…
- That included tearing down the HIGH places [pagan worship] – II Kings 18:4
- We are all going to put our TRUST [faith] in something…
- While faith in WORDS – or in the POWER of men [Egypt] – will always fail…
- And even RELIGION [high places] has NO ability to help us…
- But what the world FAILS to discern – is that FAITH in the LORD is different…
- Because the one who has ALL the POWER – is now fighting for us!
- 3rd – Mocking Judah… vs. 8-10
- No Army… vs. 8-9
- 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.
- How then will you repel one captain of the least of my masters servants.
- And put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
- RABSHAKEH gave Judah a PLEDGE from his MASTER – the king of Assyria [Sennacherib]
- He would give Judah TWO thousand horses – IF they could put riders on them…
- It was meant to MOCK them – pointing out they had limited SOLDIERS…
- And if Judah was that WEAK – even IF Egypt did give them horses and chariots…
- How could they defeat even the LEAST of the Assyrian captains!
- Command of God… vs. 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!
- RABSHAKEH then took aim at their FAITH in the LORD…
- He questioned how had Assyria been able to come up to DESTROY the land…
- He said it was because the LORD [יְהֹוָה] commanded [imperative] him to do it!
- Be careful when someone invokes the THUS SAYS THE LORD…
- Because people LIKE to bring God into their arguments to try and END a debate…
- Or they try to justify their CHOICES – the LORD told them to do it…
- We need to take the time and EXAMINE what someone SAYS – see if it is TRUE…
- God does NOT contradict Himself – and He does NOT change His mind – Numbers 23:9
- We know if what someone SAYS was from God – because it happens…
- And because what was said lines up with His WORD!
- I John 4:1 – “Beloved do not believe every spirit Test the spirits – whether they are of God!”
- 1st – Siege of Jerusalem… vs. 1-2
- 2nd – Terms of Surrender … vs. 11-22
- 1st – No Secrets… vs. 11-12
- Aramaic… vs. 11
- Eliakim – Shebna – Joah said to the Rabshakeh: Please speak to your servants in Aramaic.
- We understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.
- The THREE officials BEGGED [piel imperative] Rabshakeh to PLEASE [נָא] speak in Aramaic…
- And to NOT speak [jussive] in Hebrew – because other Jews were listening [on the wall]
- They did NOT want the disheartening words of RABSHAKEH to be heard by anyone else!
- Parents often will keep things from their kids [difficult topics]
- We used to switch over to Ilonggo when we wanted to keep things from our daughter…
- Because we do NOT want her to be BURDENED by things she cannot control!
- Tell everyone… vs. 12
- 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?
- RABSHAKEH replied that his MASTER had NOT sent him just to the officials…
- His words of warning [piel] were for EVERYONE who would SUFFER…
- Those who would [because of the siege] eat their own DUNG and drink their URINE!
- The problem with NOT telling other what we are going through [especially our kids]
- Is that they are EFFECTED by the TRIALS we are facing…
- But if we SHARE with them – they can STAND with us [in prayer]
- And then when God does a WORK – when the MIRACLES happen…
- They get to share in the VICTORY – and give GLORY to God!
- 2nd – No Hope… vs. 13-15
- In Hezekiah… vs. 13-14
- 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!
- Thus says the king: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you – for he will not be able to deliver you!
- RABSHAKEH then cried out with a LOUD [גָּדוֹל] voice in HEBREW…
- The people had [imperative] to listen to the words of the GREAT [הַגָּדוֹל] King of Assyria…
- They should NOT [jussive] let themselves by deceived by HEZEKIAH…
- Because he did NOT have the POWER to SAVE them!
- We need to be careful NOT to put anyone on a PEDESTAL…
- We would much rather look to someone we can touch and see…
- Therefore we are much more inclined to trust in a man than God…
- The problem is men are LIMITED – and cannot always help those who look to them…
- The problem is they are a VERY poor substitute for Jesus!
- In the Lord… vs. 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!
- The people should also NOT [jussive] let HEZEKIAH make [hiphil] them TRUST in the LORD…
- By saying the LORD would NOT let the city be given into the hand of the Assyrian King…
- Yet that is EXACTLY what HEZEKIAH did RIGHT…
- He did NOT point people to HIMSELF – his confidence was in the LORD!
- II Chronicles 32:7 – “Be strong and courageous – do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria – nor before all the multitude that is with him. For there are more with us than with him.”
- We are NOT the solution to the problems people are going through…
- But we do KNOW who is – and we can point others to Him…
- No matter what TRIALS or TRIBULATION someone might be facing…
- If they are willing to come to the LORD – they do NOT need to be afraid…
- Because with God on our side – there is NO way we can lose!
- 3rd – Surrender… vs. 16-17
- Better choice… vs. 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.
- 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!
- RABSHAKEH pleaded [jussive] with Judah to NOT listen to HEZEKIAH…
- In the Hebrew [Masoretic] there is a BREAK here [ס] – pause for dramatic effect…
- Because the way of HEZEKIAH led to eating DUNG and drinking URINE [starvation]
- But if the people would listen to RABSHAKEH – he would give them a BETTER way…
- If they gave ALLEGIANCE [blessed] to the King of Assyria – and surrendered [imperative]
- Then EVERY man would eat GRAPES and FIGS – and drink WATER from their wells!
- When Jesus told the people they had to EAT his flesh and DRINK his blood…
- MOST of them [including disciples] walked away – John 6:66
- Then Jesus turned to the TWELVE and asked if they would also LEAVE!
- John 6:68 – “Simon Peter answered Him: Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
- The world [enemy] is always trying to convince us they have a BETTER way…
- It is TOO hard to follow Jesus – the cost is TOO high…
- But the truth is – ONLY Jesus has the words that give us ETERNAL life!
- Captivity… vs. 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!
- The people would EAT and DRINK – till the King of Assyria took them…
- He would place them in a DIFFERENT land – that he argued was just like Israel…
- But the problem was it was NOT the PROMISED land!
- When we sign a CONTRACT – we know it is important to read the FINE print…
- Everything might seem great – but make sure to get ALL the details!
- The world might SEEM like is has a better offer to give to us…
- But we need to make sure to check the FINE print…
- What the world wants to do – it take us away from the PROMISED land [Jesus]
- So they can bring us into BONDAGE [to sin] – Romans 6:16
- 4th – Other gods… vs. 18-20
- Beware… vs. 18-19
- 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?
- Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim?
- Indeed have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
- RABSHAKEH gives a FINAL warning to the people of Jerusalem…
- BEWARE – do not let HEZEKIAH convince you the LORD will SAVE…
- Had ANY of the other gods of the nations [הַגּוֹיִם] SAVED them from the King of Assyria…
- He gave examples: Hamath – Arpad – and Sepharvaim [all conquered cities]
- And SAMARIA – who worshiped the same God – and was also CONQUERED [722 B.C.]
- It was true that the SAMARIA had fallen – but NOT because the LORD could not save them…
- They had FALLEN because they rejected and refused to LISTEN to the LORD!
- II Kings 17:18 – “Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight. There was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.”
- Not the same… vs. 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?
- Who among ALL [כָל] the gods could SAVE their people from the King of Assyria…
- Therefore – NEITHER could the LORD save Jerusalem from his hand!
- If someone tried one HUNDRED extension chords – and none of them worked…
- It would be easy to see why they could conclude NONE of them had power…
- But if one of those chords got PLUGGED in – they would be in for a SHOCK!
- It is true that there is NO power in any of the RELIGIONS of the world…
- The problem is people are putting their FAITH into something that has no POWER…
- The difference with Jesus – is He has ALL [πᾶς] the POWER [κράτος] – Revelation 1:8
- 5th – No answer… vs. 21-22
- They held their peace and answered him not a word.
- For the kings commandment was: Do not answer him.
- 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!
- The THREE Jewish officials did NOT answer RABSHAKEH – not even ONE word…
- Because HEZEKIAH had given them instructions to say NOTHING…
- But they came to HEZEKIAH – with TORN clothes [sign of grief]
- And told him EVERY word that RABSHAKEH had said!
- When the BATTLES comes knocking at our door…
- And the ENEMY taunts us with our lack of POWER – Romans 7:24
- Trying to TEMP us to give up – surrender – and go into CAPTIVITY…
- Do NOT answer him – instead coming running to the KING…
- Come and tell Jesus [every word] – and we will see what real POWER look!
- 1st – No Secrets… vs. 11-12