Isaiah, Week 7, Day 1: Isaiah 26, 2 Kings 18:1-16

Day One: Read Isaiah 36 and 2 Kings 18:1-16 

The BKC describes Isaiah 36 as a historical interlude that shows the fulfillment of some of Isaiah's prior predictions:

"The historical material in these chapters concerns two events which are foundational to a proper understanding of Isaiah’s theology and Judah’s history. The first event (chaps. 36-37) concerns the Assyrian threat which God miraculously dissipated. This event climaxes Isaiah’s argument in chapters 1-35. In those chapters he had argued that God brought the Assyrians into Judah as a punishment for Judah’s sins and as a catalyst to turn them back to Him. However, he had prophesied that Jerusalem would not fall to the Assyrians and that God would miraculously destroy the Assyrian army because of their pride."

"The second event (chaps. 38-39) concerned Hezekiah’s breach of the covenant when he was delivered by God from death but then allowed pride to enter his heart. This event serves as a foundation for chapters 40-66 which speak of the deliverance from the Babylonian Captivity prophesied in Isa_39:5-8."

This attack occurred in 701 b.c. This was the 14th year of… Hezekiah’s sole reign (cf. 2Ki_18:13), which began in 715. Some scholars have proposed that Sennacherib (705-681) made several attacks against Jerusalem, but extrabiblical evidence does not seem to support that view. Sennacherib boasted of taking 46 walled villages in Judah. He went from the north along the coast defeating (among others) the towns of Aphek, Timnah, Ekron, and Lachish. Lachish was then his staging area for attacking a number of other towns. From Lachish he sent a large army against Jerusalem to surround it and to demand its surrender.

The Assyrian commander stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. Besides setting the stage geographically, that information has theological significance. Ahaz had faced the Aram-Israel challenge at that same place (Isa_7:3). Isaiah had told Ahaz that he would not fall to his enemy, that the Lord would deliver him. But Ahaz had refused to believe the man of God. Now Hezekiah was also confronted with a message of deliverance from the same man of God. The geographic notation heightened the tension over the question of whether Hezekiah would respond positively to the Word of God. Eliakim… Shebna… and Joah (cf. Isa_22:20; Isa_36:11, Isa_36:22; Isa_37:2) were chosen to negotiate with the Assyrians. These men, in important positions, were trusted by Hezekiah.

 1. From the passage in 2 Kings, what were Hezekiah's actions in the first 13 years of his reign?
He was 25 when he began to reign and reigned for 29 years.  "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" v 3.  He removed the high places and broke the bronze serpent Moses had made." v 4

 2. What important questions did Rabshakeh ask in Isaiah 36:4,5 that are relevant today?

He asks, "On what do you rest this trust of yours?"

 3. What did Rabshakeh say to taunt the men of Jerusalem in:

Verses 14,15--Don't let Hezekiah deceive you, as he cannot deliver you.  Don't believe him if he says the Lord will deliver us.

Verse 16--You should join Assyria, accept their offer of peace and life will be good (land, water, and good life).

Verse 18--Don't believe Hezekiah's claim that your God will save you.  Has any God yet saved their people from Assyria?

4. a. What important choice did these men have to make that people still must make today?

To trust God or the voices of others/their own fears/ taunts of enemy.

 b. Have you trusted (relied upon) God, in the person of Jesus Christ, to save you?

Yes.