Isaiah 36-37 - Alliances & Allegiance

Introduction

Sometimes we read Bible stories and people try to tell us they are make believe or fables. I prepared a map so that you can seen where these real places are in our real world.

Real Places in Real History

Just as trivia, would you have any guess at the name of this body of water on the East edge of the map? Strait of Harmuz

Haran - This was the place where Abraham’s father-in-law died on the first pilgrimage to the promised land..

The Promised Land was given by God to Abraham’s descendants (we call them Jews because of the tribe of Judah). God (who created the earth) gave the land from the River to the Sea to this family and instructed them to drive out the locals. Israel’s disobedience and halfway job under Joshua is what left people called Philistines or Palestines or Palestinians who cause trouble to this day.

Years after Abraham moved to modern-day Israel, then His descendants went to Egypt, then retook the land given to them in Genesis. A neighboring kingdom began a conquest. This happens about 10 years after Jonah so we know that the revival under Jonah’s preaching was not long lasting.

Since obedience is often short-lived, bad kings of Israel prompted God to discipline the 10 Northern tribes by permitting Assyria to take them captive (today’s story). Assyria marches south through modern Lebanon along the coast of the Mediterranean right into Israel.

Ironically, If Israel had obeyed God and resisted Assyria as much as they are resisting Hezbolah today, Iran’s proxy may not even have been allowed to form a stronghold near Beirut. Perhaps memory of the invaders from the North is why Netanyahu doesn’t want to respond softly today.

Assyria did not take ALL of Abraham’s descendants away. a King named Hezekiah was tempted to form an alliance with Egypt, believing that with Egypt’s help Jerusalem could be spared from king Sennacherib’s threat.

We see in today’s text that Hezekiah listened to the prophet of God (Isaiah) and determined to trust God to defend them better than an Egyptian alliance.

History shows that God gave the Southern Tribe 130 more years in their homeland before their wickedness caused them to fall into a 70-year time of discipline in Babylon from Daniel until Nehemiah.

TRANSITION: Now that you have a mental picture of the geography and the major forces in the story, let’s look at the details and the lessons this text has for America and Cowley County.

Bravado of a Bully (Isaiah 36:1-10)

the Rabshakeh is unlikely to be a name, but was what the Assyrians called “A special Envoy”. He was trusted implicitly by the King to act on behalf of the King. Bible Encyclopedias connect what Assyrians called the Rabshakeh to what the Babylonians called “cupbearer to the King” - Nehemiah.

Just as the American envoy that is meeting in Switzerland wants to negotiate from a position of strength over the IRG, the representative in these verses wants to humiliate God’s people.

Is 36:2-3 is exactly like the Lucerne summit where the details of the MOU are being debated and edited.

Isa 36:4-9 the Rabshakeh claims to hold all the cards and that any alliance with Egypt would be futile.

Isa 36:10 refers back to Isa 10:5-6 Where God says He will use Assyria to destroy the ungodly, BUT, Sennacherib mistakenly thought this was unlimited power. Isa 36:5 begins with “woe” or “warning” because even though God would use Assyria as an instrument of discipline, the instrument would later be crushed!

Just like the Serpent used parts of God’s Words and twisted them for his own purpose with Eve, Sennacherib uses parts of Isa 10 but leaves out the inconvenient truth.

Warning to us: Don’t only take the parts of the Bible that you like, believe the whole thing!

TRANSITION: King Hezekiah’s envoy asks the Rabshakeh to us a language that they would understand, but that the commoners would not.

Broadcasted Talking Points (Isaiah 36:11-22)

Since you and I are not privilege to the negotiations in Switzerland and we don’t speak the Farsi language, we are at the mercy of news outlets to inform us of the status of what is and is not decided.

Likewise, these 3 ambassadors (Isa 36:11) do not want the commoners to develop an opinion before King Hezekiah and prophet Isaiah can come up with a plan.

Isa 36:12-20 becomes a rousing rendition of “We’ve done it before and We can do it again”.

Isa 36:21-22 the envoy does not take the bait. They don’t allow the talking point to trigger them. Rather they silently go back to their King and ask Him what He wants to do.

The application for us in 2026 is that you don’t have to argue with every yahoo on social media.

If Jesus could remain silent when He was lied about before Pilate, We can choose silence when maligned by uneducated individuals.

There comes a time when Jesus said, “Don’t cast pearls before swine”

A friend of mine who raised swine told me, “Never wrestle with a pig! you’ll both end up muddy and the pig will enjoy it.

Jesus told his own disciples in Mark 10:14 that sometimes it is better to just walk away and shake the dust of that village off of your feet.

TRANSITION: Prov 18:17 provides a great corrective for us—don’t form an opinion until you have all the facts. The next 13 verses describe Hezekiah getting a fuller understanding of the situation.

a king brought Low (Isaiah 37:1-13)

The Assyrian diplomat did not know the God of the Bible. He did not know how king Hezekiah would respond.

Preachers like Isaiah because He preached long sermons (called Oracles). In Isaiah’s last Oracle he gave a specific warning in Isa 30:1-3 - If you turn to Egypt which is not my plan, you will be humiliated by the result.

Hezekiah had taken notice, so Isa 37 begins with the King sending a delegation to God’s prophet to inquire how to respond to the Rabshakeh and Sennacherib.

In Isa 37:3-4 the message is “we’re desparate, we’re weak, God is the only one who can shut them up!”

In Isa 37:5-7 Isaiah tells the delegation that God has this!

In Isa 37:8-13 Sennacherib repeats the same talking point of the Rabshakeh in the previous chapter...I’m great, I’ve done it before and I can do it again, give up!

TRANSITION: The middle of Isaiah 37 is where we find the pivot point between past failures and future success. Hezekiah does not rely upon Alliances, His Allegiance is to God alone.

Belief above the Circumstances (Isaiah 37:14-20)

Today we hear about allies and parties and factions within parties. Is one team going to allow the Tea Party to hijack the whole organization? Is the other team going to permit the socialists to overthrow leadership? Do Planned Parenthood, Labor Unions, or any lobbying organization make final decisions? Some politicians (not all) spend more time listening to the NRA or the NEA than they do the BIBLE.

On the global stage we hear about NATO, the G7, the G20, the United Nations, the Abraham Accords, the Board of Peace, the European Union, and others. But NONE of these alliances are more powerful than the sovereign will of the God who created, sustains and rules this world, Amen?

Isa 37:14-15 describes what Hezekiah does

Isa 37:16-20 describes what Hezekiah prays

He doesn’t pray for healing, to bless the food, or for “the missionaries”

He starts with who God is - Creator enthroned above all angelic creatures and earthly kingdoms.

Hezekiah describes those who lie about who God is. - this isn’t new information for God, it is the King aligning his perception of things with who God is.

Hezekiah asks for deliverance. - admits our need

Hezekiah asks that the enemies of God would be revealed.

Conclusion:

Knowing that we are in need and that God provides the only remedy points us directly to the event memorialized by this cross. We can repeat these same 4 requests of Hezekiah

He is ruler, not me

I have believed lies about my goodness and your grace.

I need your forgiveness

Glorify yourself by making me different than the enemies of the Cross

In about 6 weeks, Kansans will vote on an amendment to our state constitution. I wish I could give you a slam dunk, here’s the chapter and verse where God has spoken about how to cast this ballot.

Our current system of state Supreme Court selection relies upon a small group to make a proposal is decided by one person. What was the outcome when a small group advised Pilate what to do with Jesus?

The proposed system takes the influence out of the small group and gives it to the people. What happened when God people selected Israel’s first king? Saul was the people’s choice, but he was not God’s choice. What happened when Pilate asked the crowd, “Jesus or Barabas?” Sometimes the crowd gets it wrong. Remember what happened when the statewide election was held on “Value them Both”?

Neither method is foolproof, so I can’t tell you “thus saith the Lord... “

My best advice for each of us is to follow Hezekiah’s example in Isa 37:15

Isaiah 37:15 ESV:2016

And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord:

and ask Him to reveal to you which method is in alignment with His will and is most likely to result in truth and justice for the people whom God has placed in the World’s breadbasket.

Regardless of your ballot on August 4, I can say with absolute authority of God’s word as recorded in 1 Tim 2:1-2

1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV:2016

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Response Song #364.....He Leadeth Me

Benediction:(Eph 3:20-21) - 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.