Remember that Isaiah, the whole Book, is clearly sectioned into chapters 1-39 … then chapters 40-66. Sort of a “Law” versus “Grace” scenario. (Comparable to the old Testament, with 39 Books … and the New Testament … with 27 Books!)

So we are nearing the “break,” ending the harsher chapters and segueing into the brighter chapters. And chapters 38-39, that Unit of the Prophecy, is critical, closing one division and yet in a way introducing the next segment.

Both are historical, too … 100% accurate and divinely inspired.

In chapter 38 we shall study a (terminal) sickness encountered by good King Hezekiah. And another of his powerful prayers, or perhaps intense faith in God. (Miracles attend that prayer!)

But chapter 39 is as “negative” as 38 was “positive!” (The King responds wrongly to a delegation from Babylon.) A situation in which Hezekiah experiences a lapse in that faith!

Get ready to experience “tons” of vital counsel on living for God! Even (hopefully) learning some “pitfalls” to avoid.

All of which will begin, the Lord willing, tomorrow morning.

Stay with us.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Between the next-to-last verse and the last verse in Isaiah chapter 37 a twenty year space of time lapses. At least that’s the consensus among fundamental Bible scholars.

For two decades, after the massive military defeat of Isaiah 37:36-37, King Sennacherib of Assyria does not even go near Judah!

I guess he had learned his lesson!

But because of all his Jew hatred, his animosity toward God’s chosen people, plus a pretty hefty dose of greed (wanting to extract even more silver and gold from Judah) … the man was doomed!

Now, to that last verse I mentioned … “And it came to pass, as he (King Sennacherib) was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.” Isaiah 37:38

Well!

“Behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Murdered by his own sons!

While engaged in heathen, idol worship!

(I guess his god could not protect him … not like Hezekiah’s God protected him!)

God long ago had said/commanded: “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” 1 Chronicles 16:22

History … proving theology!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Twenty years later, after his inhumane aggression against Judah! God judged this wicked man.

God does not have to hurry!

I am amazed!

.

It was a simple request. “Now therefore, O LORD our God, SAVE us from his hand (the wicked King of Assyria’s hand), that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.” King Hezekiah prayed thus, trusting God implicitly. (Our gracious God loves that little word “save!”)

Then God sent word to Hezekiah through is Prophet Isaiah: “Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” Isaiah 37:33-35

Wow!

Then comes the miracle! “Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and SMOTE in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all DEAD corpses.” Verse 36, some day I want to meet that “Angel of the Lord!” Though in reality, I think I know him already, personally so. (This is likely a pre-incarnation appearance of the Son of God, of the Second Person of the Trinity, of Jesus Christ our Lord!)

Dead: 185,000 enemy soldiers! Who had been encamped around Jerusalem for some time. (Sounds like the “Death Angel” flew once again! Remember Passover Night!)

Yes, when the Israelites arose earth the next morning, they found all those dead bodies littering their cityscape!

But alas, a small “handful” of soldiers (purposely, on God’s part, I think) escaped!

“So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.” Verse 37, not suggesting that Sennacherib personally was there, but that his “high ranking” officers (representing him) were allowed of God to rush back “home” and report the great defeat!

God has, historically, once more kept His Word!

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; he (any enemy) that toucheth you (the Jewish people) toucheth the apple of his (God’s) eye.” Zechariah 2:8, what a promise! Demonstrably true!

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram … I will make of thee a great nation … and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

And Israel yet (again) in the future (ultimately in the Tribulation) will face numerous fierce foes (of which Assyria is merely a foreshadowing) … to remarkably find that God still protects His people!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

After first being verbally threatened, then receiving a letter of even more demeaning and diabolical plans (from the King of Assyria) … godly King Hezekiah of Judah simply prayed!

He turned all his problems over to the Lord!

Read with me: “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah PRAYED unto the LORD, saying, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent TO REPROACH the living God.” Isaiah 37:14-17 (I personally love that expression, “spread it before the Lord.”As in “Tell it to Jesus!”)

By the way, that last verb “reproach” means “to taunt, upbraid, blaspheme!” Once in the King James Version, “to put in jeopardy!” (Judges 5:18)

Talk about obeying 1 Peter 5:7, before it was ever written! “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

But after “sharing” with the Lord all these troubles … Hezekiah (properly) asks for something! Here “lament” becomes “petition.”

Verse 20: “Now therefore, O LORD our God, SAVE US from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.” Note that key verb “save!”

Save us, not just for our sakes … but Lord, for Thy name’s Sake too!

That’s good praying!

What an example this King left us.

And, as we shall learn tomorrow … GOD DID ANSWER THE KING’S PRAYER! Dramatically so!

After all, this is the Lord who has invited us to … “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

“Psychological warfare,” that’s what it is. And Rabshakeh is an expert. Trying to intimidate King Hezekiah, the citizenry of Jerusalem, and maybe even Isaiah the Prophet!

The Assyrian “mouthpiece” prances and prats at the very same place (geographically, at Jerusalem) where God commanded Isaiah tell King Ahaz about the coming Virgin Birth of our Saviour! (Who could ever forget Isaiah 7:14?) Specifically … “He stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field.” Isaiah 36:2

In that regard Rabshakeh made his “great mistake,” I suspect. His “unpardonable sin.” He “crossed the line” with Almighty God.

He boasts: “Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath 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 Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?” Isaiah 36:18-20, blasphemy against the Honor (and Power) of God!

“Don’t trust your God (the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob) for safety!”

He is no bigger or better or stronger than the gods of the other nations we’ve conquered,” he brags.

He surely went “too far” then!

“Be not deceived. God is not mocked!”

And so … within just a few days … Rabshakeh is dead!

And Assyria decimated, or at least 185,000 of their troops are rotting as dead bodies do!

And Rabshakeh … proud heart and all … was included in that mass of dead Assyrians!

Let’s read ahead into next chapter … “Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they (the Jews) arose early in the morning, behold, they (the Assyrian infantrymen) were all dead corpses.” Amazing, Isaiah 37:36

Numbers 32:23 … “Behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Just as well put his name, Rabshakeh, at the beginning of this verse!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.