Year 3, Day 21: Isaiah 37

Deliverance To The Humble

As we turn to Isaiah 37, we see the tide against the Hebrew people begin to turn.  The promised deliverance from the Assyrians actually now begins to happen.  Let’s take a look at this deliverance and see the steps that occur.

First, notice that upon receiving the words of the Rabshakeh, Hezekiah tears his clothes and puts on sackcloth.  Both of these events are a sign of mourning.  Hezekiah acknowledges that the news is bad and that he has no realistic ability to influence the outcome.  This is a sign of humility and surrender; both of these are qualities of which God approves.

Then, Hezekiah goes to the temple.  Hezekiah turns to the Lord.  Hezekiah desires to be in the presence of God.  Hezekiah doesn’t marshal the troops.  He doesn’t give some tremendous “battle-cry” speech like we see in Hollywood movies.  He doesn’t mount the battlements and survey the battlefield while deriving some brilliant strategy.  Hezekiah simply surrenders to God and seeks out the presence of the Lord.

However, Hezekiah also sends a few emissaries to Isaiah.  Hezekiah plans ahead.  Hezekiah knows that the Lord speaks through Isaiah.  So not only does Hezekiah surrender to God, he actively seeks out the voice of the Lord.  For good or for bad, Hezekiah desires to know what the Lord has in store for him and Jerusalem.

With the Rabshakeh and Isaiah giving opposing messages to Hezekiah, Hezekiah then turns to trust in the Lord.  He receives Isaiah’s word.  He believes it.  Hezekiah’s attitude of submission, seeking, and openness allows Hezekiah to receive God’s message for him.

Then Hezekiah does something that I believe is divinely inspired.  Hezekiah takes the letter and goes into the temple and gives it to God.  He bears his problem before the Lord.  But how he goes about asking the Lord for help is significant.  Hezekiah asks the Lord if they can be saved from the Lord so that the kingdoms of the earth might know that God is Lord.

The thrust of Hezekiah’s prayer is on bringing glory to God’s name.  Hezekiah doesn’t ask to be saved for his own benefit, although admittedly he does have much to gain.  Hezekiah asks so that God’s name may be praised.  Hezekiah asks so that through the story of the salvation of the Hebrew people the world might have a testimony to the greatness of the Lord.

I am truly humbled by this dynamic of Hezekiah’s leadership.  So often we as human beings focus on our own needs and our own problems.  We have a great tendency to forget that there is more to life than our safety, security, or health.  Our greatest calling and privilege in this life is to bring glory to God’s name.

How does God respond to Hezekiah’s genuine spirituality?  God tells Isaiah to deliver a message of deliverance.  Notice that this message comes because Hezekiah humbled himself in prayer before God.  Because Hezekiah genuinely turns to God for all the right reasons, God genuinely saves him and the Hebrew people.

I love the last verse of the poetic portion of the deliverance that God promises.  God promises to take Assyria by hook and drag them back the way that they came.  Assyria was known for its brutality in conquest; God would treat them the same in defeat.  I think there is a fairly subtle message here – a message to be gracious.  If we are vicious towards our enemies, God will treat us the same.  If we treat our enemies with grace, we can trust God to do the same to us.

God promises the Hebrew people a sign.  First, they will eat of the natural produce of the land this year.  Next year, they will eat of the land from that which was naturally sown this harvest.  The third year they will be plowing and tilling and planting out of the stores of their own seeds.  For a people trapped behind their own walls, I can imagine that this prophecy is music to their ears.  Could there be any better prophesy than this?

Judgment Upon The Proud

Of course, God lives up to His words.  God strikes down almost 200,000 soldiers in a supernatural manner.  Sennacherib returns to his homeland, his army defeated and shamed.  His own sons assassinate him.  What a horrible end for Sennacherib; but what a fitting end for a person who took what God asked them to do and corrupted it with his own greed, pride, and arrogance.

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