Class Notes on Isaiah 36:4-11

Previously, we see Judah looking every way but to God for help. Since Ahaz's reign ended in chapter 10, these must have been some early mis-steps by Hezekiah. But at some point, Hezekiah has a spiritual awakening, because he begins to stand boldly for God

1. In 14th year of Hezekiah, Sennacherib attacks Judah and forces cities and Jerusalem to pay tribute
2. Sometime later, Sennacherib returns and besieges Lachish, while Rabshakeh (the field commander) besieges Jerusalem
3. After R gives his message to Judah, Sennacherib heads to Libnah, where he hears of Ethiopia coming to attack (Egypt having been defeated earlier)
4. Mysteriously, Sennacherib's Army of 185,000 is destroyed
5. Sennacherib returns to Assyria, where he is slain by his two children

2 Kings 18:1-8 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) // 5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory. NIV

• Observations:
  • He did what was right
  • He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake
    • Note how a good thing (bronze snake) can become an evil thing
    • There are a lot of good things in the church that can become evil things (eg. song about worship -- it's all about you Lord)
  • He trusted and held fast to God
  • He kept the commands (no one like him before or after)
  • He turned back the Philistines

• APPLICATION: Have I turned a good thing into an evil thing by worshipping the thing or activity instead of the person, God

Isa 36:4-11 The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah, // "'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? 5 You say you have strategy and military strength — but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 6 Look now, you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces a man's hand and wounds him if he leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 7 And if you say to me, "We are depending on the Lord our God" — isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar"? // 8 "'Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses — if you can put riders on them! 9 How then can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 10 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.'" // 11 Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall." NIV

• What are some of the field commander's misperceptions?
  • Israel was depending on Egypt. Actually, Hezekiah has stopped that approach and was now trusting God
  • Hezekiah had removed places of worship for God. Actually, Hezekiah had focused the people back on God and off of idols
  • Israel needed horses and chariots. Actually, it will turn out that Israel didn't need a single thing. God would do all their fighting for them
  • God had sent Assyria to destroy Judah. Actually, while God did send Assyria, it was not to destroy Judah, that assignment would go to Babylon

• APPLICATION: The field commander only looked at things from a surface point of view. God sees the heart. God does not have any misperceptions, nor is God fooled