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Overview

Isaiah 36 begins a narrative portion of the book of Isaiah. Sennacherib, King of Assyria, shows up, invades Judah and conquers the fortified cities. Then the representatives from each country meet, just outside of Jerusalem. The Assyrians try to scare and bully the Judean people. The chapter ends with silence. King Hezekiah commanded his people to not answer the Assyrian envoy. 

Isaiah 36:1

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

Scholars put the date of the Assyrian invasion around 700 B.C. This is the first time since Isaiah 1:1 that King Hezekiah is mentioned. 2 Kings 19-20 gives a detailed account of this event. But the truth is—Isaiah 1-35 always kept the Assyrian conflict in the background. This political instability has been causing a great deal of fear, specifically from 722 B.C. on, because that was the year when the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was conquered by Assyria. 

Isaiah 36:13-20

Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “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. Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”

Notice Rabshakeh knows the language of Judah. It is curious how he knows Hebrew, but however he does, it is a strong ploy to bring fear into the people of Judah. But the most interesting part is Rabshakeh’s argumentation. His skills for debate are impressive. He knows that King Hezekiah will try to bring confidence to the people. He knows Hezekiah will try to convince the people of the power of YHWH. So he takes a brilliant approach. Rabshakeh basically says, “Listen, no gods has stopped us yet. Even your God didn’t save Samaria (the capital of the Northern kingdom) 22 years ago. If God couldn’t save Israel, what evidence would tell you that your god will save you? I admit—that is a strong, logical argument. 

Many scholars would say that this is often the approach of Satan—convinces us that God doesn’t seem to care, but if He did—He would save us from our circumstances. Is it possible Satan is speaking through Rabshakeh? Certainly. Satan loves to cultivate fear in the hearts of God’s people. It is his mission. It is his sole purpose until God throws him into the Lake of Fire. 

Friends, don’t be ignorant to the schemes of the Devil. He is relentless. He is smart and diabolical. But he is still on a leash. In a sense, he is God’s devil. And because the Devil is limited, we are promised that if we resist, through the power of the Spirit—the Devil MUST flee. 

Isaiah 36:21-22

But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.” Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

The Judean representatives obeyed King Hezekiah. They did not respond. Yet it broke them to their core. The text said they entered into the King’s presence with their clothes torn. This is a response of repentance, brokenness and probably an admission of the profound despair residing in their hearts. 

Without question the situation was bleak for Judah. Assyria is outside the city walls. They outnumber Judah. They can cut off their water source. They can starve them out. From a human perspective, they are already defeated. Surrender was likely a very realistic and logical response. 

Is there something haunted you beyond the walls of your family, your home, your heart? Is there an overwhelming situation, waiting to overtake you? Do not be afraid. God is with you. You will soon see in Isaiah 37—God is about to show up big. There is no army, no conflict, no struggle that is bigger than God’s power. Believe that. Trust in Him. He won’t fail you.