Slideshow image

Overview

Isaiah 37 tells of the escalating situation between Judah and Assyria. After hearing the news of Jerusalem’s imminent demise, King Hezekiah goes before the Lord, literally laying out the letter he received before YHWH. Ultimately, God answered Hezekiah’s pleas and stuck down the Assyrian army. 

Isaiah 37:1

As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. 

Hezekiah was a righteous king. One of the few. His love for YHWH comes through very clearly in verse 1. His first response to this dire situation is to “go before the Lord”. But not only that—the King of Judah tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth. This is leadership. This is a recognition of YHWH’s sovereignty. Where else should Hezekiah go? Who can help them? Only the God of Judah. 

Isaiah 37:5-7

When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”

Isaiah gives a prophetic word to the messengers of Hezekiah. This prophecy is very specific about Rabshakeh, the chief ambassador of Assyria. He will hear a rumor, return to his own land and die by the sword. But what is interesting to me is the phrase, “Behold, I will put a spirit in him…”. What does this mean? First, God is the ultimate mover of all things. Everything is under His sovereign control. Everything. Second, what does “put a spirit in him” mean? Some scholars say this is an evil spirit. Some say this could be a good angel. Some would say this is just God, through His providence, implanting a thought into Rabshakeh’s brain—Inception style (sorry, shameless movie reference). So which is it? Honestly, I don’t know. This text does not say. Personally, I tend to lean toward the messenger being demonic—but this is pure speculation. Although there are OT passages that clearly state that God, though never culpable, sends evil spirits to do His work (I Samuel 16:14; maybe 2 Chronicles 18:20, 1 Kings 22:19-23). Don’t miss the point, though. God, through whatever means, whether it be by providence or the angelic or a dream or a voice from Heaven, He will accomplish His plans. God knows the number of days left for Rabshakeh. 

Isaiah 37:26-28

“‘Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins, while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded, and have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown. “‘I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in, and your raging against me.

Wow. This is a profound truth. God is basically saying to Assyria, “You think you are in control? You think you did this without my knowledge, outside the approval of my eternal councils? I already planned this.” 

Assyria is so arrogant. Humanity is so arrogant. God knows our every move, every plan. Does this mean we don’t have free will? Obviously, we do. This is why God holds us accountable—because we chose to live outside of His will. And yet, this truth ought to bring comfort. How do you trust a God who is not able to fulfill His plans? How can you place your faith in a God who does not the beginning and the end? There is only one God. All the other gods are just basically demons dressed up in this cosmic drama. 

Isaiah 37:36-38

And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

185,000 Assyrians. That is a big number. Assyria mocked God, revealing their supreme arrogance and rebellion towards the God of Israel. And then, their leader, who holds the greatest culpability, committing the higher degree of sin, was brought down by the Kings and Kings. 

It is hard to read this text and somehow believe that our situations would be too big for God to deal with. If He can wipe out the strongest army on earth in that time, do you think He can’t come to your defense? God is perfect. God is faithful. God does not lie—if He says it, He will do it. 

So go be like King Hezekiah. Spread out your letters, your burdens, your dreams, your fears in His presence. He listens. He loves. He will respond according to His perfect will. Trust in Him today.