Hezekiah Makes a Decision

King Hezekiah now has a decision to make.  Will Jerusalem surrender to the Assyrians? Join forces with Egypt? Or stand her ground and fight?  Hezekiah is under great pressure.  He goes to Jehovah's temple, while dispatching Eliakim and Shebna, along with the older men of the priests, to inquire of Jehovah through the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 37:1, 2) Dressed in sackcloth, the king's emissaries approach Isaiah, saying:  "This day is a day of distress and of rebuke and of scornful insolence . . .Perhaps Jehovah your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his lord sent to taunt the living God and he will actually call him to account for the words that Jehovah your God has heard."  (Isaiah 37:3, 5) Yes, the Assyrians are challenging the living God!  Will Jehovah give attention to their taunts?  Through Isaiah, Jehovah reassures the Jews:  "Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard with which the attendants of the king of Assyria spoke abusively of me.  Here I am putting a spirit in him, and he must hear a report and return to his own land ; and I shall certainly cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." -Isaiah 37:6, 7.

Meanwhile, Rabshakeh is called away to be at Sennacherib's side while the king wages war at Libnah.  Sennacherib will deal with Jerusalem later.  (Isaiah 37:8) Still, Rabshakeh's departure brings no let up of pressure on Hezekiah.  Sennacherib sends threatening letters describing what the inhabitants of Jerusalem can expect if they refuse to surrender: "You yourself have heard what the kings of Assyria  did to all the lands by devoting them to destruction, and will you yourself be delivered?  Have the gods of the nations that my forefathers brought to ruin delivered them? . . .Where is the king of Habath and the king of Arpad and the king of Sepharvaim-of Hena and of Ivvah?" (Isaiah 37:9-13)  Basically, the Assyrian is saying that it is senseless to resist -resistance will only bring more trouble!

Deeply concerned about the consequences of the decision he must make, Hezekiah spreads Sennacherib's letter out before Jehovah in the temple. (Isaiah 37:14) In heartfelt prayer he implores Jehovah to give ear to the Assyrian's threats, concluding his prayer with the words:  "And now, O Jehovah our God, save us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth  may know that you, O Jehovah, are God alone."  (Isaiah 37:15-20)  From this  it is clear that Hezekiah is primarily  concerned, not with his own deliverance, but with the reproach that will be heaped upon Jehovah's name if Assyria defeats Jerusalem.

Jehovah's answer to Hezekiah's prayer comes through Isaiah. Jerusalem must not surrender to Assyria; she must stand her ground.  Speaking to Sennacherib, Isaiah boldly states Jehovah's message to the Assyrians: "The virgin daughter of Zion despised you, she had held you in derision.  Behind you the daughter of Jerusalem has wagged her head. [mockingly]."  (Isaiah 37:21, 22)  Jehovah then adds, in effect:  'Who are you to taunt the Holy One of Israel? I  know your deeds.  You have great ambitions; you make great boasts.  You have trusted in your military power and have conquered much land.  But you are not invincible, I will frustrate your plans. I will conquer you.  Then I will do to you as you have done to others.  I will put a hook in your nose and lead you back to Assyria!' -Isaiah 37:23-29.

Next time: "This Will Be the Sign for You"

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000