The Climax Of The Assyrian Threat (37:1-38)
Neal Pollard
So much of the first part of Isaiah has built toward the realization of this threat. Assyria was the subject of the prophet’s inspired warnings, even when the prophets and priests were not listening. Now, with the righteous king Hezekiah on the throne and trusting God, His moment of deliverance has come with which He will show His weak and wayward people that He is trustworthy even when they are not.
THE PRESSURE (1-13). Assyria intensifies its intimidation campaign by reiterating its threats in written form. After the oral threat is relayed to Hezekiah and they convey to Isaiah the distress and disgrace of it all, the prophet reassures him through his message to his envoy that all will be well. Meanwhile, the Rabshakeh reunites with the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, where the latter composes the letter which is dispatched to Hezekiah. Hezekiah takes it and spreads it before the Lord (14). This is undoubtedly the lowest point for the holed up people of Judah, bracing for a deadly siege. The more powerful Assyrians, ravaging nations and now cities within their territory, is on the doorsteps of Jerusalem and the temple.
THE PRAYER (14-20). Hezekiah acknowledges God’s power as Creator (16), His compassion and deliverance (17), His inclination for justice (18-19), and His ability to save (20). It is full of pleading, as the king calls God “O Lord” five times in these five verses, in addition to “God” three times. It is full of pleas, like “incline,” “hear,” “open your eyes,” “see,” and “save.” It is a call for God to vindicate Himself. The king’s heart and emotion are on full display, as is his total dependence. It is an incredible, if brief, prayer.
THE PROPHESY (21-35). It is harrowing and horrific to imagine what it would be like to be Sennacherib. God turns the attention of His fury on the wicked king who thought to destroy His children! In essence, He says that the pagan potentate attacked Him in going after them (22-23). God noted his mockery and threats (24). He determined his destruction with perfect foreknowledge (24-27). He saw his wicked ways before Him and would turn him back from Jerusalem (28-29). There is also a sign for Hezekiah and Judah; it “is not of the sort which comes before the event in order to create faith for the event, but rather after the fact to demonstrate that God was indeed at work” (Oswalt, NICOT, 664). When they saw Assyria retreat rather than invade, they would know that God did this (30-35). When they saw their life return to normal and prosperity, they would have opportunity to give credit where it was due.
THE PUNISHMENT (36-38). The state of affairs change abruptly for Assyria and its ill-fated king. That very night, 185,000 soldiers of the Assyrians are annihilated by the angel of the Lord (36). Sennacherib slinks home, where he is promptly assassinated by his own sons in the act of practicing idolatry (38). Another son, Esarhaddon, takes his place.
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