Day 206—We are in the SEVENTH month of Bible reading. We’re continuing in Isaiah.

    Day 206 – Isaiah 37 – 39, Psalm 76. (Hezekiah’s strengths and weaknesses, God’s gracious help)

Chapter 37 covers the incidents in 2 Chronicles 32, where Hezekiah in Jerusalem is confronted by the strength of Assyria, first with the king’s commander, Rabshakeh (who ridiculed the God of Israel), then King Sennacherib.  Hezekiah sends his servants to Isaiah about the terrible situation and asks him to pray to the LORD.

Isaiah sends hope back to the king, saying Rabshakeh will be recalled to Assyria and killed with the sword. The very thing happens. 

Next, the King of Assyria sends a message to Hezekiah, saying he has no hope of victory, for Assyria has defeated every nation around them. “Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the King of Assyria.”

Hezekiah takes the letter, reads it, and immediately goes to the house of the LORD, where he SPREADS IT BEFORE THE LORD. He acknowledges God’s glory and strength and asks that He hear the words of Sennacherib and “save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that YOU alone are the LORD.” 

God sends a beautiful promise of Israel’s future through the prophet Isaiah and the news that the king of Assyria would not even send an arrow into the city but would return home. “For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”

That night, the angel of the LORD went through the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrians.  When the people of Jerusalem awoke, they saw all the dead bodies. And Sennacherib departed and returned to Nineveh, where two of his sons killed him as he was worshiping his pagan god. 

Chapter 38 tells about Hezekiah getting sick and coming to the point of death.  Isaiah recounted God’s words that he should get his house in order.  But Hezekiah turned to the wall and earnestly prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.

Surprisingly, Isaiah returns with another word from the LORD, saying He heard Hezekiah’s prayer and that he would have 15 additional years to live.  He even gives Hezekiah a sign – He will make the shadow on the sundial go back 10 steps. (Reversing time?) The two-fold miracle happens, the sun retreats, and Hezekiah recovers.  Hezekiah’s song of praise follows. 

Chapter 39.  Weirdly, Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon, hears of his miraculous recovery and sends the king a gift. Hezekiah welcomes them to Jerusalem and shows them all his treasure, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory…all that was found in his storehouses.  

WHAT??? Are you crazy, Hezekiah??

Isaiah was astonished too, and told Hezekiah that ALL he showed the Babylonians would be carried away to Babylon. Some of his own sons would also be taken and made eunuchs. 

Hezekiah shrugs and shows his new arrogance.  “Oh, well, at least it won’t happen in my own day.”  

Psalm 76 shows that God is willing to use His power for his people (as He did for Jerusalem in Hezekiah’s time).

“There, He broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Glorious are You, more majestic than the mountains of prey. The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands. At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.”