Isaiah 36
Notes
Transcript
Judah is Invaded...
Judah is Invaded...
You know over the last few weeks we have been talking about the blessing that awaits those who follow the Lord and are obedient to his ways.
He has promised to punish those who have been disobedient and bring judgment upon those who have treated his people poorly like we talked about with Edom and its people.
So lets open up the text and see what the Lord is telling us in this passage this evening.
1 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
Now we do not know why Sennacherib has shown up personally in the land, expect to test them and hopefully convince the King to surrender his people and cities.
So we have the time frame, it is the 14th year of Hezekiah reign, and during this time, the king of Assyria has come up and has begun to capture those fortified cities that lead up to Jerusalem eventually.
Now from all we can tell, it is about 726bc when Hezekiah reigns along side of his evil father Ahaz, and eventually he will be king. He becomes King in 715bc and finally, 14 years later makes this 701bc.
Assyria own records says that Sennacherib laid seige to 46 of the fortified cities and conquered them.
Now verses 2-3 Isa 36:2-3
2 And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 3 And there came out to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.
So Sennacherib sends his commander and a portion of the their army to speak with Hezekiah in Jerusalem. Now we know from the biblical record that Hezekiah did not go tout to meet him personally, just as Sennacherib did not go personally to see Hezekiah.
Now we know from other accounts, there were 3 people who went up to Jerusalem. Rabshakeh, who was the chief cup bearer to the king, a very trusted position. But according to 2 Kings 18:17 there was also Tartan the Supreme commander and Rabsaris, the chief officer was there as well.
It was most likely that Rabshakeh bore the Kings message to those from Jerusalem. They come up there to the Upper pool and road going to the Washerwoman field. This is the place Isaiah met with Ahaz and challenged him to trust God (7:9).
But here the messenger from the Assyria’s is calling for Hezekiah to surrender and not to trust God.
Now Hezekiah sends his representatives out to meet with those members of the enemy. Eliakim, was the palace administer, Shebna, the secretary of the King, and third person is Joah who was the recorder or chancellor.
They have come out to meet with the enemy and see what they have to say to them as they have begun to invade their lands and cities.
Now lets look at verses 4-7 Isa 36:4-7
4 And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? 5 Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”?
So the officials of Sennacherib bring a message to the king Hezekiah.
And if you notice, Rabshakeh doesn't even refer to Hezekiah as King, but refers to Sennacherib as “The Great King.”
But the first question is on what do you place your trust? It is kind of like Sennacherib is curious and perhaps a little puzzled in the source of their trust, the plan they have devised in hope of having a plan to withstand Assyria,
But the very fact that they have marched through 46 fortified cities is a testament that what ever strategy they placed their hope in, and it was unsuccessful.
Why do the Hebrews do this, on whom where they depending...
Remember earlier chapters we saw God’s condemnation of the Kingdom i=of Judah for trying to build an alliance with Egypt instead of trusting God.
Now verse 6 tells us something unique, look at it again Isa 36:6-7
6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”?
Rabshakeh tells them, you trusted in Egypt, it is nothing more than a broken reed that will injure anyone who leans upon it. They are not trust worthy.
And if you say the Lord your God, that cannot be so since Hezekiah has removed all those items where by the people will worship…But Hezekiah brings a reform to the land, it is not God’s temple that he removed, he cut down all the altars to Baal and Asherah. He removed these false gods, even taking the altars families had placed at their homes.
2 Kings 18 verses 1-7 tells of his return to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Rabshakeh asked the people “...Why would the people follow such a heavy handed king who would ruin the true places of worship. Rabshakeh is implying, revolt against this king and surrender to Assyria.
Now lets look at verses 8-9 Isa 36:8-9
8 Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 9 How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master’s servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
Rabshakeh concludes his speech with one last plea, in the highlight of Judah’s weakness. He calls for the people to make a bargain with the King of Assyria. This is really like a sarcastic saying, Hezekiah was not in a position to demand anything in their current state...
The offer of 2000 horses is a ploy to make fun to the kingdom, in their current state they couldn’t even find riders for them if they gave them to start with...
Rabshakeh arrogantly asks a rhetorical question, How could the weak army of Judah defeat even one of the weakest commanders of Sennacherib’s army.
They had no chance in defeating them.... even if they had the help of Egypt’s chariots, they would have no success.
What a sad state to find themselves in as God’s people. But it all could have been avoided if the Kings of Judah had followed the Lord.
Surrendering all of life, mind, body and soul will ensure we will walk and follow the Lord Jesus in this life.
The same is true for us, we would have (not the absence of problems) but the ability to stand, have peace in the midst of any storm.
He brings perfect peace...
Now lets look at verse 10 Isa 36:10
10 Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.” ’ ”
This final argument is theological in nature. Did not God allow Sennacherib to come up against His people? He claims God told him to destroy the land.
Now lets think about this.... it was traditional for kings to justify their action by claiming that their God had directed them to vanquish them and conquer a territory
Think of Cyrus, the king of the Medo-Persian empire, he claimed God lead him to release the people, the Hebrews from exile. Listen to it..
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem.
I have seen the written record of His words to release the people… it sits in the Vatican museum in Rome.
Sennacherib thought God had given him the right to destroy his people, but God had promised to spare His holy City and protect it agaisnt Assyria.
Now, verses 11-21 brings us to the second portion of the challenge Sennacherib brings to the nation and its people.
Look at verses 11-12 Isa 36:11-12
11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”
The Hebrew officials realize that the Assyrian spokesmen are doing their best to discourage them, especially the people within ear shod to be discouraged.
Rabshakeh was unwilling to change his approach, He intends to inflict as much psychological damage as people, he tells these servants of Hezekiah they are all doomed, when destruction comes, there will be nothing left except fo the people to eat their own dung and drink their own urine.
This is not very encouraging to anyone, if the people do not surrender, they will face such destruction.
Now look at verses 13-15 Isa 36:13-15
13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”
Wow, he even calls out to warn the people, do not trust in the king (Hezekiah) not his plans, for they are doomed.
He says in particular, Hezekiah will not be able to deliver them. Sennacherib was trying to drive a wedge between God and these people and what they believed.
Hezekiah will lie to you, he will try to get you to trust, but it will do you all no good.
Now Verses 16-17 Isa 36:16-17
16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
Rabshakeh now moves to tell the people of Sennacherib alternative plan. The King of Assyria are asking the people to make peace with them. The King of Assyria will make peace and will treat them well.
For a while, he will allow them to return to their own homes, allowing them to enjoy a time of prosperity . The the King of Assyria will exile them to a good land, to a life not much different than their own life as they know it right now.
You know the enemy always uses lies to lead people astray. It is a good land, with grain and wine.. abundance provided. It always looks good for a moment in time but in truth sadness, death and adversity is all that await them.
Now lets look at verses 18-20 Isa 36:18-20
18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’ ”
This final plea calls for the people to trust the call of Sennacherib over Hezekiah and his God. Hezekiah may think the God of his forefathers, will deliver the people of Judah but the people should beware… he will mislead them.
Rabshakeh calls for them consider, has the gods of these other lands or cities been able to stop them? He mentions the land of Samaria that butted up to Judah and Israel, they could not stand and fight against Assyria, neither will you be able.
Verse 20 calls for them to especially realize there is no hope. can the Lord really deliver you out of my hand?
Finally the last poriton
verse 21
21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
But they did not answer him. They were only there to hear his words, to see what Sennacherib had to say to them at this time.
The call or command from Hezekiah was do not answer him.
Verse 22 Isa 36:22
22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
So these servants of Hezekiah came to report what has been said to them. They are in a spirit of mourning. they tore their clothes.... They see that ruin and death awaits if God does not intervene.
They are devastated knowing death may await them, there is an opportunity though that we dont talk about here.
They could look to self or they could look to God. Victory always lies in the hand of God, nothing else. Will they trust Him.
