SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 37:1-20
OBSERVATION:
God’s people are being punished for rejecting Him. Now they are in trouble and are repenting. Read Deuteronomy 30:1-10. Through Isaiah God declares that He will return and help them.
God will not allow His Name to be dishonoured forever, He will punish those who defy Him (see Acts 12:19b-23).Hezekiah lays out the letter from Sennacherib before the Lord and presents his desperate requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7).
Hezekiah is appealing to God for mercy by describing Him as “enthroned between the cherubim”. The lid of the Ark of the Covenant had two cherubim on it (called the Mercy Seat or Atonement Cover), this was where the priest would yearly bring sacrificial blood for forgiveness.
APPLICATION:
God’s help comes in the context of His purpose. When Israel rejected that purpose, He let them experience the consequences. Repentance is the key to His deliverance.
How do we pray when we get desperate? Do we affirm God’s goodness and authority, despite our circumstances, or do we despair and give up? Listen to Hezekiah’s prayer, and then to the words that we speak in those difficult times?
Do we truly want to surrender our lives to the Lord, or are we just looking for protection and eternal life insurance – enough God to get us through, but no more
We need “Isaiahs” to remind us of God’s purpose, power and mercy.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to repent where I have failed You. When I get desperate, help me to turn to You and not blame or sun away from You. Thank You for the “Isaiahs” in my life who keep reminding me that You will triumph in the end! Amen.
Observation:
After hearing the report of Rabshakeh’s tauntings, here is King Hezekiah’s response;
– tore his clothes
– covered himself with sackcloth
– entered the house of the Lord
– sent Eliakim, Shebna and the elders of the priests to Isaiah the prophet
Isaiah’s responds by giving God’s word of encouragement;
“Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the King of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Behold … I will make him fall by the sword in his own hand”
Rabshakeh writes a letter to King Hezekiah (perhaps to make it more clear to make him afraid) taunting him more about the doom of Judah.
Hezekiah’s response:
– he reads it
– goes up to the house of the Lord
– spreads the letter out before the Lord
– prays and seeks God’s deliverance
Isaiah sends encouragement to King Hezekiah concerning the Assyrians;
“He shall not come to this city … for I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake”
End Result:
– an angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in the night dead in their camp.
– the King of Assyria is murdered by two of his own sons
Application:
Wow , eh? Commit your situations to the Lord. It is amazing how He will confirm it by His own promises and by godly people around you. Let God take the vengence and be your defender.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to remember to respond first by dropping to my knees in acknowledging you as my Lord and Saviour and committing the many situations in my life to you. You will respond back – give me eyes to see your response in the various people and circumstances in my life. Let me always be reminded of your precious promises to me in my time of need.