The King pt. 1

(ISAIAH 36–37)

Getting Started

From the Commentary

Except for David and Solomon, no king of Judah is given more attention or commendation in Scripture than Hezekiah. Eleven chapters are devoted to him in 2 Kings 18–20; 2 Chronicles 29–32; and Isaiah 36–39. “He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him” (2 Kings 18:5).The prophet Isaiah arranged chapters 36–39 as a “bridge” between the two parts of his book.These chapters teach us some valuable lessons about faith, prayer, and the dangers of pride. Though the setting today may be different, the problems and temptations are still the same; for Hezekiah’s history is our history, and Hezekiah’s God is our God.

Going Deeper

From the Commentary Crises often come when circumstances seem to be at their best. Hezekiah had led the nation in a great reformation, and the people were reunited in the fear of the Lord. They had put away their idols, restored the temple services, and sought the blessing of their God. But instead of receiving blessing, they found themselves facing battles! “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah” (2 Chron. 32:1 NIV).

1. Had God turned a blind eye to all Hezekiah had done? Why or why not? In what ways might the Assyrian invasion have been part of God’s plan for His people? What are other examples that illustrate how God sometimes uses crises to teach His people?

From the Commentary According to the field commander, Judah could not trust in its strategy, its military resources, or in its God. Nor could its people trust in their king (Isa. 36:13–20). The king of Assyria was a “great king,” but Hezekiah was a nobody who was deceiving the people. Instead of trusting Hezekiah’s promise of help from the Lord, the people should trust Sennacherib’s promise of a comfortable home in Assyria. The people knew that their farms, orchards, and vineyards had been ruined by the Assyrian army, and that Judah was facing a bleak future. If they stayed in Jerusalem, they might starve to death. Perhaps they should surrender and keep themselves and their families alive.Hezekiah and Isaiah had told the people to trust the Lord, but the field commander reminded the people that the gods of other nations had not succeeded in protecting or delivering them. (Hezekiah knew why; see 37:18–19.) Even Samaria was defeated, and they worshipped the same God as Judah. To the field commander, Jehovah was just another god, and Sennacherib did not need to worry about Him.

2. What do you think led the field commander to report as he did to Hezekiah? What fears might have prompted his report? What was the king’s response to the field commander? What lesson is there in this story for us today? What does this teach us about what it means to “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7)?

From the Commentary Even though the Lord had brought Assyria to chasten Judah (Isa. 7:17–25), He had determined that Jerusalem would not be taken by the enemy (10:5–34). Previous to the invasion, when Hezekiah had been deathly ill, Isaiah had assured him of deliverance (38:4–6). God’s promises are sure, but God’s people must claim them by faith before God can work. So the king sent word to Isaiah, asking him to pray, and the king himself called out to the Lord for help.

3. What was Isaiah’s response to the king’s request? What was the focus of Hezekiah’s own prayer (see 37:15–20)? How is the way the king and Isaiah responded to the Assyrian invasion an example of how prayer and faith go together?

From the Commentary The Jewish nation had an important mission to fulfill in bringing the Savior into the world, and no human army could thwart the purposes of Almighty God. Even though only a remnant of Jews might remain, God would use His people to accomplish His divine purposes and fulfill His promise to Abraham that all the world would be blessed through him (Gen. 12:1–3).

4. As you consider this section of Isaiah, what can you conclude about the various players and what they believed about God’s promise to Abraham? Why would some people question that promise in crisis? What does this teach the church today about trusting God when circumstances look dire?