Year 3, Day 23: Isaiah 39

Historical Context

Isaiah 39 gives us another story of Hezekiah.  As I mentioned yesterday, this chapter historically occurs before the Lord deals with Assyria as recounted in Isaiah 36-37.  We know this because Sennacherib’s invasion of Jerusalem occurred in 701 B.C. and Merodach-baladan is off the political scene in 701 BC.

Since this is a short chapter and the history is pretty interesting, let’s take a brief side trip down the history.  In 722 B.C. the king of Assyrian, Shalmaneser V, died.  This gave Merodach-baladan the perfect opportunity to try and retake the Babylonian capitol and free a portion of his people from Assyrian rule.  He was successful in doing this and Merodach-baladan reigned for 10 years.  Eventually the new king of Assyria, Sargon II, conquered Babylon for a second time and took possession of Babylon from the Assyrians.  Sargon II died in 705 B.C. and this gave Merodach-baladan a second opportunity to drive the Assyrians out of Babylon.  They were successful, and in 702 B.C. Merodach-baladan began a second Babylonian reign.  He reigned in Babylon for 9 more months.  After those 9 months, the new king of Assyria, Sennacherib, came to power and by 701 B.C. took care of Merodach-baladan for good.  This means that Sennacherib took care of Merodach-baladan in the same year as he invades and conquers much of Judah.

Because of this historical account, it is likely that Isaiah 39 tells an account that happens during these 9 brief months of Merodach-baladan’s second reign.  From a political perspective, what is likely happening is that Merodach-baladan comes into power and immediately begins looking for allies against the Assyrian war machine.  He knows that the Assyrians will attempt to recapture Babylon, which they do.  Naturally, he turns to Hezekiah in Judah.  Judah is already struggling with the coming Assyrians, so they would be natural allies for the Babylonian rebellion.

The Dangerous Liaison

In this chapter, we see that Hezekiah completely understands this logic.  Hezekiah wants this alliance to happen.  We know from prior chapters that he has been grasping at straws (Egypt, Edom, etc) to find any kind of help against Assyria.  He’s turning over any rock to find any kind of ally with any sort of strength.  Hezekiah welcomes the envoy.  After all, Babylon had just managed to pull off a revolt.  Logically, that makes them a great choice for an alliance, right?

God has other thoughts.  God doesn’t see this as prudence, but we in the world could make a great case for this being a prudent move on Hezekiah’s part.  God sees this as rebellion, just like He sees an alliance with Egypt as an act of rebellion.  Every time Hezekiah turns to another human source of strength it reinforces with God just how much Hezekiah is not depending on Him.  Hezekiah has a much more natural tendency to lean upon the chariots and horses and spears and swords of the other nations than the supernatural might of the God who created the universe.

Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?  When I phrase it like that, it sounds utterly ridiculous.  Why would anyone trust in things that moth and rust will destroy more than they trust in God?  Why would anyone trust in a human life that can be snuffed out in a single instant more than they would trust in God?  From the perspective of faith, it is utterly ridiculous.

Why indeed.

But do we not do this every day of our life?  In our core, is any single one of us any different than Hezekiah?  How many times does God have to come crashing into our life and say, “Hey, I’m over here!”  I don’t know about you, but I am no different than Hezekiah.

So what does God say to Hezekiah?  Yes, the people of Judah left in Jerusalem will be spared from the Assyrians.  We had that part of the story earlier in Isaiah 36-37.  Yes, they will live in some sort of peace for a time.  But because Hezekiah was so willing to rely upon the Babylonians then the Babylonians will drag them off into slavery.  If Hezekiah wants to forge an alliance with mankind so badly, then God will allow the fruit of that relationship to blossom to its full human capacity.  The Hebrew people will discover what the true depths of human alliances can bring about.  They will be dragged into captivity until there is a new generation that is willing to return to the Lord.

I love Hezekiah’s response.  “What you have said is good.”  Hezekiah realizes his mistake.  He is humble.  Would I have been so gracious had Isaiah come and said those things to me?

<><