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Isaiah 37

38 verses

TL;DR

Hezekiah, troubled by Assyrian invasion, seeks Isaiah’s counsel; Isaiah assures God will deliver Jerusalem, and a divine angel annihilates the Assyrian army, sparing the city.

Summary

Hezekiah, alarmed by the Assyrian threat, weeps and covers himself with sackcloth, then sends officials and priests to consult Isaiah. Isaiah rebukes the Assyrian envoys, declares that the LORD will bring a destructive blast upon them, and warns Hezekiah that God will defend Jerusalem. Hezekiah reads the letter, prays fervently, and Isaiah delivers a prophetic declaration that the Assyrian king will be struck down. The angel of the LORD then kills 45,000 Assyrians, leaving the survivors to return to Nineveh. Sennacherib retreats, later is killed by his own sons, and Esarhaddon succeeds him. The narrative emphasizes God’s sovereign protection over Judah and the futility of foreign power. It ends with the affirmation that Jerusalem will endure and that the LORD will keep his promise to David’s line.

Outline
  1. Hezekiah’s distress and consultation with Isaiah
  2. Isaiah’s prophetic assurance and the divine plan for Sennacherib
  3. Divine intervention: angelic attack, Assyrian defeat, and subsequent events
Themes
Divine protection over IsraelThe role of prophecy as mediator between God and peopleThe impotence of human power against divine sovereignty
Keywords
SackclothHezekiahIsaiahSennacheribAssyriaprophecyangelJerusalemblasphemydeliverance
People
HezekiahIsaiahEliakimShebnaRabshakehSennacheribTirhakahAdrammelechSharezerEsarhaddon
Places
JerusalemJudahAssyriaNinevehNisrochArmeniaLibnahLachish
Things
sackclothangel of the LORDblast45,000 corpsesprophetic message
Key Verses
  • Isaiah 37:36: Depicts the angelic attack that annihilates the Assyrian army.
  • Isaiah 37:34: Affirms that the city will not be invaded or destroyed.
  • Isaiah 37:15: Shows Hezekiah’s heartfelt prayer and reliance on God.
Questions
  • Why did Hezekiah choose sackcloth and prayer instead of military action?
  • What does Isaiah’s rebuke of Rabshakeh reveal about the nature of prophetic authority?
  • How does the angelic intervention alter the political and spiritual landscape of Judah?
  • In what ways does this chapter affirm the concept of divine sovereignty over human affairs?
  • What lessons can modern readers draw from the contrast between fear and faith presented here?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter moves from lament and fear to hope and divine deliverance.