Isaiah 37

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EXAMINATION Chapter S THIRTY-SIX AND THIRTY-SEVEN

IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION

(Identify and locate the following by telling all you know about them.)

Sennacherib

Rabshakeh

Lachish

Upper pool

Samaria

son of Amoz

Libnah

Lebanon

virgin daughter of Zion

Assyria

Hamath

Nineveh

Nisroch

Adrammelech

Sharezer

land of Ararat

Esar-haddon

Haran

MEMORIZATION

And Hezekiah prayed unto Jehovah, saying, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, that sittest above the _____, thou art the God, even thou _____, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made _____ and earth. Incline thine _____, O Jehovah, and hear; open thine _____, O Jehovah, and see; and hear all the words of _____, who hath sent to defy the living God. Of a truth, Jehovah, the kings of _____ have laid waste all the countries, and their land, and have cast their _____ into the fire: for they Were no _____, but the work of _____ hands, wood and _____; therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, _____ us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art _____ even thou only. Isaiah 37:15-20

EXPLANATION

Explain why the king of Assyria is at this particular time in history delivering an ultimatum to Hezekiah, king of Judah? (Isaiah 36:1 ff)

Explain why the representatives of Hezekiah asked the Rabshakeh to speak in Aramaic? (Isaiah 36:11)

Explain how 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were slain in one night. (Isaiah 37:36-38)

APPLICATION

(In its context every scripture has one meaningthe author’s intended meaning. How may the following be applied in the believer’s life?)

Are there times when it is best to remain silent in the face of threats by those who oppose God as Hezekiah’s representatives were before the threats of the Rabshakeh? Why? What examples of this are there in the N.T.? (Isaiah 36:21)

When Hezekiah prayed for deliverance from the threats of the Rabshakeh he made the glory of God his primary request. Should we pray that way today? What other O.T. and N.T. examples of this do we have? (Isaiah 37:20)

Can pagan rulers defy the living God and get away with it? Is God aware of their defiance? What about godless nations today who defy God’s sovereignty over the world? (Isaiah 37:21-29)

**SPECIAL STUDY

THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED FOR ALL TIME**

by Paul T. Butler INTRODUCTION

JUDE IS A MOST NEGLECTED EPISTLE OF THE N.T.

Because it is brief.

Because its language is different than most of the N.T.

Because the circumstances calling for its writing are obscure.

Many preachers have preached from Jude 1:3 but few have left it in its own context when they used it.

II.

JUDE IS A MOST RELEVANT EPISTLE OF THE N.T. FOR TODAY.

There have been times in the history of the church when Jude was the most relevant book in the N.T. Barclay

Jude’s intention

First to discuss in a treatise the common salvation of Christians

But, there arose men whose beliefs and conduct were a threat and a menace to the church.

The need was not so much to expound the faith as to rally Christians in defense of the faith.

The menace of Antinomianism

Lawless grace; grace without any conditions; what matters is not keeping a code but what’s in the heart.

Antinomians considered themselves so spiritual that sin did not exist for them. Their idea was that since salvation was by grace there need be no law.

They believed that if we love God with our heart, we can do what we want with our bodies.

They perverted the grace of God which is in essence A PERVERSION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GOD!

The menace of Gnosticism

They denied the deity of Jesus Christ.

They taught that the creator was sort of an offshoot or emanation from God because matter is evil and God could not create matter or be touched by matter (flesh) for that would make God evil.

They taught a definite dichotomy of spirit and matter.

If there was a divine Messiah He would have to be totally spirit and not fleshand since Jesus of Nazareth was flesh, He could not be the divine Messiah.

They divided mankind into two classes:

the pneumatikoi - the spiritual elite, that select few who were able to embark on the long intellectual search for God

the psuchikoi - those who had physical life, but whose spiritual life was quite inadequate ever to attain to the knowledge which was necessary to reach God.

They denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

There are two major reasons for the church today to contend for the faith.

Antinomianism - under grace we are so spiritual we cannot sin.

Gnosticism - Neo-orthodoxy: God is Wholly Other; denial of the Divine/Human nature of Jesus Christ.

BOTH ARE A PERVERSION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GOD AND JESUS.

III.

SOME OBVIOUS CONCLUSIONS FROM Jude 1:3

The faith is something delivered to us. It is not something manufactured or discovered on our own. IT IS REVEALED FROM GOD!

The faith is something once for all delivered. Each generation is obligated to relearn and rethink and reexperience it, BUT IT IS OF PERMANENT AND UNCHANGING NATURE.

The faith is something which is entrusted to God’s consecrated people. IT IS NO MAN’S PRIVATE PROPERTY!

The faith is something which must be defended or tended for. A duty such as this is the obligation of every generation of Christians.

WHAT IS THE FAITH?

According to this context, and according to the general theme of the whole Bible, THE FAITH is: THE HOLINESS OF GOD AND THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST!

Jude said contend for the faith because some were perverting the grace of God, and denying the only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The first attack upon THE FAITH was an attack upon the veracity of God in the Garden of Eden (God lied or would not be faithful to keep His word).

The Bible, from beginning to end, is one majestic, historical account of the FAITHFULNESS OF GOD (historical demonstrations of God’s mighty and powerful fulfillments of His promises) finally demonstrated in The Son.

The Bible is also God’s revelation of guidelines and commandments on the proper human responses to that FAITHFULNESS.

The FAITH is not what man must do, however; it is what God has done! The FAITH is not our response systematized.. THE FAITH IS NOT baptism, Lord’s Supper, prayer, stewardship. THESE ARE OUR RESPONSES TO THE FAITH! THEY ARE OBEDIENCES TO THE FAITH. (Incidentally, THE FAITH is not a particular political philosophy, theological system, evangelistic method, nor an emotion).

Our faith, our trust, is not in our response, BUT IN THE PERSON OF GOD AND JESUS. IT IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP.. NOT A SYSTEM.

Systems may offer guidelines and opportunities within which we may express this personal relationship, BUT IF WE GET TO PREACHING THE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF THE PERSON, WE WILL DEPERSONALIZE THE RELATIONSHIP!

I like the way Leroy Garrett says it: The Faith is response to the fact that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the Lord of life. It is the acceptance of the Lordship of Christ, the yielded life. All else is peripheral. The faith is that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and Lord of all our lives.

Carl Ketcherside says it this way: When you have skimmed off all the theological wranglings and interpretations, and strained out all the gnats, the opinions and deductions of men, the one faith is Jesus. He is the center of it. He is also the circumference of it.

O.T. Prophets, faced with materialistic, immoral, flippant inhumane society focused their preaching on GOD’S HOLINESS, JUSTICE, FAITHFULNESS, LOVE AND JUDGMENT. If they were ever to redirect those people it would be in responsenot to budgets, buildings and banquetsbut to God who is holy, faithful and just.

Isaiah 30:9-11 Preach to us smooth things, illusions; speak no more of the Holy One of Israel.

The Woman at the Wellneeded not a social program but to know and trust Jesus.

The 5000 in Galileeneeded not to be fed but to assimilate the very nature of Jesus into their minds.

The churches of Asia Minor, at the close of the first century, faced the onslaught of political oppression, false teaching and carnal materialism. How DID JESUS TELL JOHN TO PREPARE THEM FOR THIS? REPENT!! MOTIVATION FOR REPENTANCE? VISION OF THE GLORIFIED, FAITHFUL, OMNIPOTENT LORD JESUS.. AND SOVEREIGN, RULING THRONE OF GOD.

When Jesus took the 12 aside to crystalize their faith in preparation for the coming crucible of His arrest, trial and crucifixion, HE DID NOT TRY TO ENTERTAIN THEM, ORGANIZE THEM INTO COMMITTEES. HE SAID, WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?!

On the day of questioning in His final encounter with the Jewish nation during the last week of His ministry MANY ASKED HIM RELEVANT SOCIAL, THEOLOGICAL AND MORAL QUESTIONS. BUT THEY DIDN-‘T EVEN KNOW THE RIGHT QUESTION TO ASK!

THE RIGHT QUESTION IS: WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST; WHOSE SON IS HE? That is the burning issue. Always has beenalways will be! That is the faith!

B. What is the Church doing about THE FAITH?

I think she has neglected The Faith and put too much emphasis on response.

Too much emphasis on sharing, caring, experiencing, feeling. and NOT ENOUGH ON WHO GOD IS, WHO CHRIST IS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!

Too often the church has assumed everyone (including believers) have all the depth and width and breadth and height they need in knowing God!

There is no way to know God except as we learn of His deeds in history and in the historical personage, Christ.

Too many Christians want to talk about knowing God through main-street existentialism called my feeling, my experience.

We cannot assimilate the faithfulness of God, His justice, holiness, righteousness EXCEPT THROUGH BELIEVING, TRUSTING THE DIVINE RECORD OF HIS NATURE. THE BIBLE.

We dare not trust our feelings or experiences! FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES VACILLATE.

A man does not know he is saved and forgiven because he feels good after he is baptized! He may only feel wet, cold, half-drowned. He knows he is saved and forgiven because GOD IS WHO HE IS AND GOD KEEPS HIS WORD AND GOD HAS SAID IT! THAT MAY MAKE HIM FEEL GOOD, BUT IT IS THE VERACITY OF GOD THAT MAKES HIM FORGIVEN!

Let me make some suggestions:

Preachers, Bible school teachers, take the great book of Isaiah and preach through itteach through it, chapter by chapter. I guarantee you you-’ll meet THE HOLY, FAITHFUL, RIGHTEOUS GOD. The problems those O.T. prophets faced are as relevant as your morning newspaper. and they met them by preaching WHO GOD IS!

Preach through the book of Revelation. WHAT THE CHURCH FACED THEN IS WHAT THE CHURCH FACES NOW. THE ANSWER FOR THE CHURCH NOW!

Preach and teach through the book of Hebrews, chapter by chapter. The humanity of Christ, Christ conquering sin in the flesh, earning our redemption through His absolute faithfulness, is one of the grandest themes of the N.T. But not much is ever heard about it!

IF EVER WE NEED TO TAKE THE PULSE OF LOST HUMANITY IT IS NOW. THAT PULSE BEAT CRIES OUT. Is THERE SOMEONE I CAN TRUST ABSOLUTELY? IS ANYONE WISE, FAITHFUL AND JUST IN CHARGE OF THIS CHAOTIC WORLD OF OURS? WILL JUSTICE EVER BE DONE? WILL GOOD TRIUMPH? IS THERE AN ABSOLUTE BEING? THE PULSE BEAT OF HUMANITY IS IN ITS LITERATURE AND MUSICMODERN LITERATURE AND MUSIC SAYS NOTHING SOLID, ABSOLUTE, DEPENDABLE, HONEST.

Peter tells us that (2 Peter 1:3-4) through His precious and very great promises, we escape from the corruption that is in the world and become partakers of the divine nature.

A most significant passage is in 2 Corinthians 1:20. All the promises of God find their -Yes-’ in him.

In other words, men need above all else to hold on to the veracity of God.. and the whole work of Jesus was to establish beyond any reasonable doubt the veracity of God!

The great need of the church of the fist century was not to find God in their own experience, but to remember the veracity of God confirmed by the resurrected Christ. Too OFTEN THERE IS NOT MUCH IN OUR OWN EXPERIENCE WHERE GOD MAY BE FOUND!

Governments betray us; friends betray us, even the human heart is deceitful above all things.

The great apostle Paul, dealing with the frustration of men when they experience the unfaithfulness of their fellow men, advised, What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every man be false. Romans 3:4

When David Livingstone sailed for Africa the first time a group of his friends accompanied him to the pier to wish him Bon Voyage. Some of them, concerned for the safety of the missionary, reminded him of the dangers which would confront him in the dark land to which he was journeying. In fact, one man urged Livingstone to remain in England. In response, David Livingstone opened his Bible and read aloud the portion of our Lord’s last recorded words in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 28: Lo, I am with you always. Turning to the one who would have prevented his going, the missionary said: That, my friend, is the word of a Gentleman. So let us be going.

The world tries to motivate people and change people into peace-loving, caring, helping individuals by programming, entertaining, indulging, feasting, organizing, working, legislating themAND IT HASN-‘T WORKED YET!

I fear that in some places the church has tried to copy the world.. BUT LIFE’S GREATEST CRISES AND PROBLEMS CANNOT BE DEALT WITH BY ORGANIZATION, ENTERTAINMENT.

THE ONLY SURE THING UPON WHICH TO CLING IN THE STORMS AND DARKNESSES IS THE FAITHFULNESS, HOLINESS, JUSTICE, MERCY OF GOD.. THIS IS SURE WHETHER WE FEEL GOOD OR HAPPY, OR WHETHER WE ARE FED OR HUNGRY, AND WHETHER WE CAN DO ANY WORK OR NOT!

When this fleshly light begins to go outall I want to know is: WHO IS GOD? WHO IS CHRIST? Do THEY KEEP THEIR WORD?

It would be comforting, should I linger at death to have friends and family reassure me of their love and concern.. BUT WHAT I WILL REALLY BE CRYING OUT IN THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL, IS, Is JESUS WHO HE CLAIMEDWILL HE MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISESWILL I GO ON LIVINGWILL I STAND BEFORE HIM JUSTIFIED. It certainly won-’t be, Was my program rightdid I do enough for Him EVERYBODY WANTS SOMEBODY TO CARE. Isaiah cared, Daniel cared, Ezekiel cared, Paul cared, John cared, BUT WHAT THEY PREACHED WAS THE FAITHFULNESS AND MERCIFULNESS OF GOD, MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH IN JESUS CHRIST. Lots of people cared about Mary and Martha and Lazarus at the graveyard. Lots of people were trying to comfort them by sharing in their suffering. BUT WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED. THE REALLY CRITICAL QUESTION. THE FOCAL POINT OF THEIR VERY BEING WAS. IS JESUS REALLY THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE! WHO IS THIS JESUS?!

J. B. Phillips, author of the famous Phillips N.T., wrote, Your God Is Too Small. In it he says:

The trouble with many people today is that they have not found a God big enough for modern needs. While their experience of life has grown in a score of directions, and their mental horizons have been expanded. their ideas of God have remained largely static. It is obviously impossible for an adult to worship the conception of God that exists in the mind of a child of Sunday school age, unless he is prepared to deny his own experience of life.. if he tries it he worships or serves a God who is really too small to command his adult loyalty and cooperation. Then he goes on to list 13 Unreal Gods which are too small. YOU OUGHT TO READ THIS BOOK!

It seemed as if all seven hundred reporters from newspapers, radio stations, and TV networks wanted to talk to Wernher von Braun following the launching of the mighty Saturn V. The Cape Kennedy noise was at a high decibel range. And von Braun wanted to escape it all for the moment. He grabbed the arm of a newspaper friend, Adon Taft. Come on, let’s get away where we can talk. Taft, religion writer of the Miami Herald, pushed away from the crowd with the space scientist and made his way toward the shoreline. Pacing rapidly back and forth, von Braun seemed to be in deep thought. Taft waited for his companion to speak. We must learn to consider God as creator of the universe and master of everything, von Braun began. We need a greater Lord than we have had in the past.

This is life eternal that they know theethe only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. John 17:3

II.

WHY MUST WE CONTEND FOR THE FAITH?

Because evil homilia corrupts good morals 1 Corinthians 15:33

The false teaching that denied the resurrection was corrupting the morals of the Corinthian Christians.

It was the false teaching in the church that prompted Jude to exhort the brethren to contend for the faith.

The symbolically representative churches of Asia Minor in the book of Revelation had one great problem above all othersfalse teachers.

The first line of attack for the church is not in the area of doingbut in the area of thinking. The doing will never be right until the thinking is right.

In a very small but dynamic book, John Stott’s Your Mind Matters, the author says, The battle is nearly always won in the mind. It is by the renewal of our mind that our character and behavior become transformed. He says further, … there must be solid content in our evangelistic proclamation of Christ. It is our responsibility to set Jesus Christ forth in the fullness of his divine-human person and saving work so that through this. God may arouse faith in the hearer. Such evangelistic preaching is far removed from its tragic caricature, all too common today, namely an emotional, anti-intellectual appeal for -decisions-’ when the hearers have but the haziest notion what they are to decide about or why.

Brethren, short-term, high-pressure, emotional-manipulation of men and women is not only contrary to scriptural principlesand not only fails to bring true and lasting discipleshipthe sheer superficiality of it makes enemies of the faith, those who have been dishonestly manipulated.

One minister wrote in to Christianity Today, Motivational talks. are not needed. Supply techniques. Please show us the -tricks of the trade.-’

It is imperative that the church get serious about its whole teaching program. Sermons, Bible school classes, mid-week Bible studies, youth programs ALL MUST BECOME GEARED AND FOCUSED ON PLANTING THE WORD OF GOD CONSTANTLY ON THE CONSCIOUS MINDS OF CHRISTIANS! The church must become an intense, thorough, honest educational organism! It’s program must be Biblical with continuity. Not just a verse here and there, BUT WHOLE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE IN CONTINUITY.

A startling, shocking book was written two years ago. Subliminal Seduction: Ad Media’s manipulation of a Not So Innocent America, by Wilson Bryan Key.

A reviewer in Christianity Today, 1-31-75, says: Quite disturbing from the Christian point of view, is Key’s assertion that -no significant belief or attitude held by any individual is apparently made on the basis of consciously perceived data.-’

The word subliminal is derived from the Latin sub, (below) plus limen (lintel or threshold). Thus below the threshold of consciousness.

Satan is wise enough to know that most people will not consciously do evil. HE SEEKS TO BYPASS OUR CONSCIOUS MINDS.

THERE IS A WIDE-SPREAD CONSPIRACY OF SATAN AND HIS ARMY OF HELPERS TO BYPASS THE RATIONAL FACULTIES OF MEN AND WOMEN TODAY. PRACTICALLY UNNOTICED AND UNCHALLENGED, HE IS SLIPPING FALSE INFORMATION, UNHOLY SUGGESTIONS INTO MEN’S SUBCONSCIOUS MINDS AT THE RATE OF LITERALLY 1000’S OF STIMULI DAILY! AND THE TRAGEDY OF TRAGEDIES IS IN MANY PLACES THE CHURCH IS UNWITTINGLY AIDING AND ABETTING THE ENEMY BY ITS HALF-HEARTED, SUPERFICIAL, EMOTIONAL, ENTERTAINMENT-ORIENTED PROGRAM.

The reviewer mentioned earlier, states: Satan now seems to be making extensive use of the merely emotional as his special ploy. Satan, the author of imbalance and disharmony, is responsible for the current pendulum-swing away from God-ordained reason toward a mindless emotionalism, from thought to -touchy-feely-’ sensation, from the reasonableness of sound doctrine to the intuition of visionary experience. WHAT’S THE ANSWER? Listen: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts (lintel) of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

CHRISTIANS MUST DAILY, CONSTANTLY, SPRINKLE THE THRESHOLDS OF THEIR MINDS WITH THE POWERFUL WORD OF GOD TO GUARD AGAINST UNHOLY STIMULI THAT WOULD ENTER UNNOTICED BELOW THE THRESHOLD. INTO THE SUBLIMINAL!

Satan was trying to destroy the church in Jude’s day by scoffers, those who rejected Christ’s authority, false teachers attempting to subvert the veracity of God and Christ.

What the church must do is contend mightily for the authority and veracity of God and Christ.

The church has been fighting the diversionary actions of Satan. We get all excited and spend our energies on the more immediate, spectacular symptoms of man’s problem. BUT THE REAL BATTLE IS WHERE, PRACTICALLY UNNOTICED AND UNCHALLENGED, SATAN IS PLANTING UNBELIEF IN THE SUBLIMINAL!

Evolutionism in our public schools and on TVnot only in science classes but in literature classes. The constant barrage of destructive teaching made respectable by calling it scientific. is subliminally planting attacks upon the veracity of God and the authority of Christ.

Passover Plotnationwide best-seller at one time. Destroyed the veracity of the word of God.

Life magazine, December, 1964whole issue devoted to destroying the veracity of the Bible and of God.

The superficiality of some of our church programsentertaining people, programming people, contesting peoplePLANTS SUBLIMINALLY IN THINKING PEOPLE’S MINDS THAT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ALL THAT SERIOUS. GOD IS NOT ALL THAT HOLY OR ALL THAT HONEST (IF THE CHURCH MANIPULATES PEOPLE, WHAT ABOUT GOD?)

The very core of false teaching is denial of the veracity, sovereignty and authority of Christ and the Bible. The very essence of a powerless church is not smallness in number but non-existent curriculum of training in Bible evidence and exposition!!

When we reduce God to a program or contest or entertainment, we get back only what we have put inwe get back programmed people, contested people, entertained people.

HOW MANY PREACHERS, SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, PARENTS, ARE READY TO DEFEND AGAINST EVOLUTION, PASSOVER PLOT, DEMYTHOLOGIZING THE SCRIPTURES? DON-‘T THINK YOUR CHURCH MEMBERS, YOUR CHILDREN AND THE WHOLE WORLD ISN-‘T BEING SUBLIMINALLY ATTACKED! SOME CHURCH EDUCATION, PREACHING-TEACHING PROGRAMS ARE SHALLOW AND SUPERFICIAL, AND SO. MEN AND WOMEN GET THE SUBLIMINAL IMPRESSION THAT THE CHURCH IS NOT REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT IT. THAT IT REALLY DOESN-‘T MATTER WHETHER WE PUT IN OUR MINDS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS AS LONG AS WE GET TO SERVICES, BE SPECTATORS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS PER WEEK, AND GO HOME FEELING GOOD!

Serious, constant, thorough, contextual Bible exposition is the answer.

We want men and women to take on the nature of Christ And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another. 2 Corinthians 3:18

We want men and women to be able to check the indulgences of the flesh.

human regulations and systems have an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.. Set your minds on things that are above. seek the things that are above. Colossians 2:23 to Colossians 3:2

We want men and women to serve Christ. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

IGNORANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN SATAN’S SUBLIMINAL SEDUCTION. WE DARE NOT ABANDON THE MIND OF MAN. ESPECIALLY THE SUBCONSCIOUS. TO THE ENEMY. THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE.

One of the most profound statements in all scripture is Hosea 9:10. They came to Baal-Peor and consecrated themselves to Baal, etc.

Men inevitably assimilate and take on the nature of that which they worship, adore, enthrone, place supreme value upon.

There is no such thing as detachment in worship.

When men adore or worship the god of deception, they will become deceitful; materialismthey will become materialistic; sensualitythey will become sensual.

If they worship a god of religion, they will become religious; a god of superficialities, they will become superficial.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTEND FOR THE HOLINESS AND FAITHFULNESS, AND HONESTY AND PURITY OF GOD IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO BECOME HOLY, FAITHFUL, HONEST AND PURE!

III.

HOW SHALL WE CONTEND FOR THE FAITH, ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED? (Jude’s answer)

Study the Scriptures, Jude 1:17, remember the predictions of the apostles.

The reason Christian preachers and Christian Bible school teachers and Christian families are not contending for the faith once for all delivered, IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT STUDYING!

Why not?

Too busy organizing

Too busy committeeing

Too busy going, going, going

Too busy watching the TV

Too difficult to really put to practice the disciplines of hermeneutics and exegesis (contextual relationships, word studies, background studies, original language studies)

Paul told Timothy to give himself to, or attend to, the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching,. to devote himself to them.

Jesus relied totally on His knowledge of and trust in the Scriptures to overcome the temptations of the devil.

A PREACHER OR A CHURCH THAT IS NOT SERIOUS AND INTENSELY DEVOTED TO A PROGRAM OF THOROUGH BIBLE STUDY IS NEVER GOING TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH! THERE MAY BE STATISTICS TO QUOTE, BUT WHAT DO STATISTICS PROVE.. ANYTHING YOU WANT THEM TO!

FIVE OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR (REVELATION) HAD GOOD STATISTICS BUT WERE TOLD TO REPENT OF THE FALSE TEACHING AND IMMORALITY RAMPANT IN THEM LEST THEIR CANDLE-STICK BE REMOVED. TWO OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR WERE STATISTICALLY POOR AND POWERLESS BUT CHRIST SAID THEY WERE RICH AND HAD AN OPEN DOOR SET BEFORE THEM!

The teachings of the apostles cannot be remembered if they are not constantly and thoroughly studied!

If you dare, give your church members the Bible Knowledge Test we give our freshmen when they come to OBC! SHOULD WE EXPECT TO DEVOTE OUR MINDS AND ENERGIES TO LEARNING TO REMEMBER HOW TO FRAME A HOUSE, ASSEMBLE AN AUTO, OPERATE ON THE HUMAN BODY.. AND NOT DEVOTE OUR MINDS AND ENERGIES TO LEARNING IN ORDER TO REMEMBER THE FAITH ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED! MAY GOD HAVE MERCY UPON US!

Preaching, Teaching, Jude 1:20-22 … build yourselves up (edify) on your most holy faith. And convince some, who doubt.

Preaching is persuasion. This concept has fallen on hard times. Too many have the idea that preaching is emotionalism or entertainment. I-’m not denying there is an element of emotion in persuasion. BUT I DESPISE AND RESIST ANY EFFORT TO BYPASS REASON TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE BY PLAYING UPON EMOTIONS SO THAT THEIR CHOICE OR COMMITTMENT IS DEPENDENT UPON THE FEELINGS AND NOT UPON THE FACTS!

I-’m a strong advocate of Alexander Campbell’s formula, FACT, TESTIMONY, FAITH, FEELING. in that order.

The work of the Holy Spirit is not to give us an exhilarating, mind-by-passing, feeling.. IT IS TO CONVICT, CONVINCE, PERSUADE! John 16

Paul went into the synagogues and reasoned daily with them from the scriptures.. Paul said, Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. Jesus was a Master logician.

In a little book entitled, Your Emotions and Your Faith, by Franklin M. Segler, the author says:

The efficacy of faith depends not upon the faith but upon the object of faith, namely Christ.

EMOTIONS ARE NOT CONSTANT.. CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT CONSTANT.. BUT GOD IS CONSTANT! OUR PREACHING AND TEACHING, IF IT IS TO BE EDIFYING, IF IT IS TO BUILD CONSTANCY AND SOLIDNESS INTO PEOPLE’S LIVES, MUST BE PERSUASIVE.

Discipline, Jude 1:23, save some by snatching them out of the fire.

College cheating is astonishingly high according to a report of an experiment in Intellectual Digest. When teachers appealed to students-’ consciences, cheating increased! Threatening punishment was discovered to be the only way to cut down on the dishonesty!

Discipline is another concept that has fallen on hard times, both in the home, in the school and in the church. Discipline is correction. People do not like to be corrected. None of us. Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

What else could Jude mean here? No ONE HAS EVER BEEN SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE GENTLY OR TENDERLY OR PAINLESSLY!

Psychologists all over the country are changing their tune about permissiveness. Reader’s Digest, February, 1975, article Back To Basics In The Schoolhouse: N.Y. psychiatrist Richard Robertiello. has rethought his once-permissive policies on child rearing. The children of permissiveness who are now his psychiatric patients, he says, are -warm, loving and lovable,-’ but they can-’t hang on to anything, they can-’t master anything.

Jesus was firm, almost rough, with His mother, His disciples, His hard-headed countrymen.

The apostles were firm with one another (Paul with Peter). with their converts and with those who would oppose their preaching.

Jesus was firm and rough with the seven churches of Asia Minor in snatching them from the fire of Roman worldliness. He admonished them to wake up and repent. He threatened them!

BRETHREN, THERE CAN BE NO DISCIPLESHIP WITHOUT DISCIPLINE. THERE CAN BE NO CONVERSION WITHOUT CORRECTION. NOT FOR ANY OF US! IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH IN A WORLD DEDICATED TO DECEIT, DECADANCE AND DESTRUCTION, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE FIRM, RESOLUTE, AND CONSTANT. SOME ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SNATCHED FROM THE CONSUMING FIRE OF UNBELIEF AND IMMORALITY!

Listen to a characterization of these people Jude had to deal with.

defiling the flesh in their dreams

rejecting authority

reviling glorious things and persons

acting on instincts like animals

walking in the way of Cain

abandoning themselves for the sake of gain

boldly carousing together h. looking after themselves

waterless clouds (empty) carried along by winds

fruitless trees

wild as the waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame

wandering stars, out of orbit

grumblers, malcontents, loud-mouthed boasters

flattering people to gain advantage

scoffers

those who cause divisions

ENTERTAINMENT, PARTIES, CONTESTS.. FRIEND, IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THAT TO DEAL WITH THAT LIST!

Compassion, on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:23

There are some whom we must pity and fear at once and the same time.

Sinners are in danger. But, sometimes, so are the rescuers.

Before a man can rescue others, he must himself be strong in the faith. His own feet must be firm on the dry land before he can throw a life-jacket to the man who is being swept away.

THE OLD SAYING IS TRUE; WE OUGHT TO LOVE THE SINNER AND HATE THE SIN.

C. S. Lewis said that troubled him unceasingly about Christianity until he realized he had been doing it all his life. HIMSELF HE LOVED BUT HATED HIS SIN!

We are not prepared to have true, saving compassion on a man if, while loving the man, we do not hate his sin. COMPASSION WILL NOT HELP A MAN COMPROMISE WITH SIN. JESUS NEVER DID!

The essence of mercy is to treat a man or woman as you would want to be treated were you in their difficulty.

THE SINNER IS NOT GOING TO BE MERCIFULLY RESCUED BY A LIBERAL, WATERED-DOWN GOSPEL WHICH DENIES THE DEITY OF JESUS, THE HOLINESS OF GOD OR THE AUTHORITY OF HIS WORD! BRETHREN, TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH IS TO BE MERCIFUL!

CONCLUSION

BRETHREN, WE MUST CONTEND, EARNESTLY, INTENTLY, AGONIZINGLY.

The Greek word epagonizesthai means agonize, struggle, wrestle.

Paul said, We wrestle not against flesh and blood.

He said, The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

We are in a struggle.. this is not a game that matters not whether we win or lose. IT IS A LIFE OR DEATH STRUGGLE.

We must put on the whole armor and take up the sword of the Spirit.

We must bring every thought into captivity unto Christ,

We must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices.

Vance Havner tells this incident; A minister asked a famous actor once, Why do you draw out crowds to see you act while very few come to hear me preach? The answer came back, I act my fiction as though it were fact; you preach your facts as though they were fiction!

BRETHREN, NOWHERE IS IT EASIER TO PLAY WITH THE GOSPEL THAN IN THE MINISTRY. WITH A PLEASING PERSONALITY, A GIFT OF ELOQUENCE, ADEPTNESS AT EMOTIONALISM, AND PLENTY OF BUSINESS SENSE, ONE CAN TAKE THE GOSPEL FOR A FOOTBALL AND MAKE A FEW SCORES FOR THE SPECTATORS.

BUT CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH IS NO GAME, AND WOE UNTO HIM WHO PLAYS AT IT!

II.

BRETHREN, THE FAITH WE MUST AGONIZE FOR IS ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.

It is the sovereign grace of an absolutely faithful God accomplished in and demonstrated by the Incarnate GodJesus Christ. The Faith is the Divine Person and Authority of Jesus Christ.

Our appropriation of The Faith is by a personal response of faith and obedience to His authoritative commandments.

WE NEED CONTEND FOR NOTHING ELSE.

Is there any word from the Lord? Zedekiah asked Jeremiah that (Jeremiah 37:17) after Jeremiah had been preaching for 23 years the word from the Lord! SURE THERE WAS A WORD FROM THE LORD. BUT ZEDEKIAH WANTED A WORD THAT WOULD SUIT HIS CARNAL, WORLDLY PURPOSES!

AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION TODAY SEEKS A SIGN. ANOTHER WORD FROM THE LORD.. THE WORD HAS ONCE FOR ALL BEEN DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS! One of the most significant statements of this generation, in my opinion, was made by Edward John Carnell, when he said, IF IT IS TRUE THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS TO SAVE SINNERS, HAVE WE ANY RIGHT TO SAY THAT WE LOVE SINNERS IF WE FAIL TO CONFRONT THEM WITH THIS TRUTH? AND WHERE CAN WE FIND A DIVINELY VALIDATED ACCOUNT OF THIS TRUTH APART FROM SCRIPTURE? IN SUM, WE CAN EXPRESS NO HIGHER LOVE TO LOST HUMANITY THAN TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE PRECISE FORM IN WHICH GOD HAS BEEN PLEASED TO REVEAL IT! MAY GOD HELP HIS CHURCH TO CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS!

Isaiah 37:1-7

B. PERSEVERANCE, CHAPTER 37

THE PLEA

TEXT: Isaiah 37:1-7

And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah.

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah, the prophet the son of Amoz.

And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.

So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Jehovah, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear tidings, and shall return unto his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

QUERIES

What is a day of contumely?

Why say, children are come to the birth. etc.?

When did the king of Assyria return to his own land?

PARAPHRASE

When King Hezekiah listened to the report of the men sent to meet with Rabshakeh, he tore his robes indicating his anguish of soul, put on camel’S-hair clothing indicating his penitence and went into the Temple to humble himself before the Lord. Just before doing this he had sent Eliakim, his chief administrator, and Shebna, his royal scribe, and the chief priestsall in camel’S-hair clothing of humilityto Isaiah, the prophet of God, son of Amoz. They were sent to Isaiah with this message from King Hezekiah: This is a day of distress and anguish, punishment and rebuke, reproach and rejection from the Lordit is a day from which only a miracle can deliver us like a day when children are ready to be born but the mothers-’ wombs will not open! So I am hoping, Isaiah, your God will take note of the defiant, insulting words of the Rabshakeh, who was sent by the king of Assyria for that very purpose and will punish him for the words He has heard the Rabshakeh speak. So pray, Isaiah, for those of us remaining, as many as we can find. So, they came to Isaiah with this message. And this was Isaiah’s reply to them: Say this to Hezekiah, your master; Jehovah’s word is, Do not be afraid of the threats and insults of the men sent by the king of Assyria, because I will dispose the king of Assyria to leave Judah through a report that will come to him from his homeland that he is needed back there at once, and he will return to his own land, and he will eventually die a violent death by the hand of his own people.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 37:1-5 WORSHIP: It is significant that Hezekiah, upon hearing the report of Rabshakeh’s scoffing intimidation and insulting blasphemy of Jehovah, turned immediately to worship God in penitence and sent to get God’s word from God’s prophet. Happy is any nation whose ruler turns in penitence to worship Jehovah and seek His word in national crises. It was a Hebrew custom in times of great stress and turmoil, sorrow and remorse to both rend the clothing and put on sackcloth (cf. Genesis 27:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 1 Kings 21:27; Esther 4:1, etc.). In addition to all this Hezekiah went into the Temple (the house of the Lord) undoubtedly to pray. He did not pray to have the Lord’s will revealed directly to himselffor that he sent to the messenger of God, Isaiah. His prayer was probably one of penitence.

Not only did Hezekiah devote himself to penitence and seeking the Lord’s will, but he instructed his officials to do so also. Most political potentates are accustomed to depend too much on their own power and expertise and consult God’s spokesmen only on matters of morality and religion. Many potentates have made that mistake (Saul, Ahaz, Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, the Caesars, ad infinitum). Then he sent them to Isaiah. He did not order Isaiah to come to him, as many rulers would have done. Respecting God’s prophet shows Hezekiah’s deep reverence for God! There was no question in Hezekiah’s mind who was the King of the UniverseJehovah. This is true worship, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and seeking His will. King Hezekiah sends Isaiah his analysis of the current political-military crisis. It is dark and foreboding. The following Hebrew words are used by Hezekiah to describe the situation: tzar (trouble, anguish, distress, oppression); thokekhah (rebuke, correction, punishment); natzah (contumely, contempt, blasphemy). It was a day so dire and catastrophic that it was like a woman in labor struggling to give birth and her womb will not open to deliver. Unless some extraordinary help is forthcoming death will be the result. Hezekiah realizes Judah is at this critical juncture.

Hezekiah’s It may be Jehovah. will hear is like the Who knows whether he will not turn and repent. of Joe 2:14 and Jonah 3:9, etc. It is not a guess! It is an expression of hope that God will intervene based upon known deeds of God in the past (see our comments, Minor Prophets, College Press, pg. 176, 249, 250, 251). Hezekiah’s description of the day, trouble, rebuke, contempt, indicates his persuasion that their circumstances were by the permissive will of God to correct them for their trouble, rebuke and contempt of God. Their circumstances were designed to bring them back to God and Hezekiah was one of the first to recognize and admit it. It is no wonder God compared Hezekiah to Davidafter God’s own heart.

So, the good king commits the defiance of the Rab-shakeh to the Living God who is being defied. The Hebrew word translated defy is lekharek and means literally to reproach and blasphemeto insult and scoff at. Hezekiah requests Isaiah to pray for the shariyth (remnant) that is nimetzaah (findable, or remaining). Apparently the king is referring to besieged Jerusalem as all that is left of Judah. So Hezekiah’s servants brought his request to Isaiah.

Isaiah 37:6-7 WORD: Isaiah’s answer is authoritative, direct and simple. It is as simple as Thus saith the Lord. The answer is simple but the application of it (be not afraid) may be difficult in view of the present circumstances. This is where man’s faith is put to the test. If faith fails then he is by his own choice not of the nature fit to companion with God. Isaiah told Ahaz (Isaiah 7:4) not to fear the enemies of the covenant people earlier, but Ahaz failed in faith.

The Lord promises, through Isaiah, to put a spirit in the king of Assyria. The Hebrew word is ruakh which is usually translated spirit but literally means breath or wind. It is sometimes translated mind (Ezekiel 11:5; Ezekiel 20:32) and sometimes means an emotion (Proverbs 29:11; Genesis 26:35). Just how God puts a spirit, mind, emotion, disposition in a pagan ruler to return to his homeland when he seems of a mind to do something other must remain one of the mysteries of the Infinite and Omnipotent God. We are told in other places of such action by God (Isaiah 10:5-19; Isaiah 44:28 to Isaiah 45:6; Jeremiah 51:20-23; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4). God is capable of speaking to pagan rulers in dreams and visions (as He did to Nebuchadnezzar) or stirring up their spirits (as He did to Cyrus). It does not appear that God gave Sennacherib a vision. He heard something from his own land that caused him to return, and 20 years later he was violently slain by his own sons. We will document this event in later comments. It should be noted here Isaiah does not predict Sennacherib’s death immediately upon his arrival back in Assyria. It is not the prophet’s purpose to predict all the detailsonly those which are essential to Hezekiah’s trust in the Lord.

QUIZ

Why did Hezekiah rend his clothes and put on sackcloth?

How drastic had the political-military situation of Judah become?

What is the remnant that is left?

What is the character of Isaiah’s reply?

How did God put a spirit in the king of Assyria?

Why did the king of Assyria return to his own land?

Isaiah 37:8-13

THE POTENTATE

TEXT: Isaiah 37:8-13

So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopa, He is come out to fight against thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?

Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Talassar?

Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?

QUERIES

Why is Tirhakah attacking the Assyrian forces?

Who were the children of Eden?

PARAPHRASE

So the Assyrian army general left Jerusalem and returned to his king. But he found his king waging war on Libnah, having already departed from Lachish. Then the king of Assyria received an intelligence report that Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, was marching toward southern Palestine to fight against him. Immediately, the king of Assyria sent messengers with a warning to Hezekiah, saying to him, Do not be fooled with any oracle from your God that Jerusalem will be delivered from my handif you trust in your God you will be deceived. Let me remind you that the reports of Assyrian destruction and victory over all the world are not exaggerated. Now, what makes you think you will be delivered? None of the gods of the different peoples of the world, such as those of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, or the gods of territories like Beth-eden or Telassar, have been able to deliver them from Assyrian conquestdo you think yours shall deliver you? Where are the kings of nations like Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? They are gonedethroned by the mighty Assyrian king.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 37:8-9 WARY WARRIOR: The Assyrian army commander (the Rabshakeh) left Jerusalem and went directly to Libnah, 10 and 12 miles north of Lachish and 25 miles west (and a little south) of Jerusalem. Libnah and Lachish were cities along the Gaza strip and were strategic military positions on the Egyptian frontier. The king of Assyria probably felt he had secured Lachish and now he must secure Libnah since he apparently had received word that an Egyptian force was marching toward his deployed troops in Palestine.

Now Tirhakah was not yet king of Egypt. He was nephew of the man (Shabaka 715-701 B.C.) who was then king of Egypt. It appears from ancient records that Tirhakah was approximately 20 years of age at the time of Sennacherib’s (701 B.C.) expedition into Judah. He would be old enough, since he was royalty, to be put in charge of a military force. Tirhakah’s brother (Shabataka 701-689 B.C.) was the Pharaoh after Shabaka and then Tirhakah became Pharaoh (689-664 B.C.). Edward J. Young thinks Tirhakah is proleptically called king. That is, Isaiah, writing some years after these events occurred, when Tirhakah was in fact king, calls him king in an event that took place before he was king. This is not unusual. Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon proleptically in Daniel 1:1. Tirhakah was the third and last Pharaoh of the 25th Ethiopian dynasty. His Ethiopian kingdom was quite Egyptian in character. Sennacherib was successful against Tirhakah, but the mysterious loss of Assyrian troops forced Sennacherib back to Assyria. Tirhakah enjoyed a respite from the Assyrian threat for some years, but was defeated by Esarhaddon and later by Assurbanipal. He was driven south where he retained rule of that portion of Egypt.

Sennacherib apparently associated Tirhakah’s show of force with Hezekiah’s refusal to surrender to Rabshakeh. He evidently assumed the Egyptians were in collusion with the Hebrews and they were coming to rescue Jerusalem from Assyrian conquest. So the Assyrian king sent a written (Isaiah 37:14) message to Hezekiah.

Isaiah 37:10-13 WRITTEN WARNING: Isaiah 37:10 makes it appear as if the Assyrians have spies within the very chambers of King Hezekiah. It almost seems as if the Assyrians knew the very words Isaiah spoke in reply to Hezekiah’s request (Isaiah 37:5-6). Here the Assyrian messengers are told to speak the message to Hezekiah. In Isaiah 37:14 Hezekiah takes a letter from the messengers and reads it. Perhaps the messengers read the letter to Hezekiah upon their arrival and then he took it from their hand and read it for himself. The message from Sennacherib was a warning. It intended to remind Hezekiah of current political history. It was common knowledge in the world at that time of the ruthless, overwhelming, destructive power of the Assyrians and the extensiveness of their conquests. They had conquered or at least dominated the whole Asia Minor-Mesopotamian-Palestinian area. Sufficient power to resist the Assyrians could not be found anywhere in the world! Cities and territories which had existed for centuries were swiftly conquered. Famous kings and potentates had been deposed and taken captive and either killed or deported into slavery. Whole cities and areas had been repopulated with Mesopotamian immigrants. The political, cultural, racial face of the inhabited world was being drastically changed. And does little, weak, religiously-oriented Judah think it can stand against a military machine like Assyria?

Some of the cities and territories listed have been located by the archaeologists and historians. Some are still lost in the sands and dust of antiquity. The reader may refer to Map #1 for locations of those known and those conjecturally placed. Beth-eden is the Eden referred to in Isaiah 37:12. Since many leading scholars and archaeologists believe the Garden of Eden was in Mesopotamia (Greek for between the rivers), Beth-eden may very well have retained its name from the Garden of Eden. William F. Albright, renowned archaeologist and scholar of antiquity says, Archaeological research has thus established beyond doubt that there is no focus of civilization in the earth that can begin to compete in antiquity and activity with the basin of the Eastern Mediteranean and the region immediately to the east of it.. (Tigris-Euphrates, Mesopotamian area). Very ancient clay tablets with creation accounts written on them have been discovered in that general area. Ur and Haran are cities directly associated with Abraham. Telassar was probably a territory near the region of ancient Elam (Media).

The imposing, overwhelming, seemingly omnipotent power of the Assyrian Empire (and other ancient world empires) was beyond anything, comparatively speaking, modern geopolitics has ever experienced. No empire has completely ruled the known world since Rome. None was ever as cruel and terrifying as the Assyrian. Hezekiah could not take Assyrian threats lightly! These threats were extremely critical tests of the faith of the Judeans. So Hezekiah did the only thing he could dohe took it to the Lord!

QUIZ

Why would the king of Assyria want to conquer Libnah?

Why may we conjecture that the king of Assyria suspected a collusion between Tirhakah and Hezekiah?

Why would it seem the Assyrians had spies in the Hebrew palace?

Why would the king of Assyria remind the Hebrews of current world events?

Could the Eden of Isa 37:12 have any association with the Garden of Eden in Genesis? Why?

Why could Hezekiah not take lightly these threats of Assyria?

Isaiah 37:14-20

THE PRAYER

TEXT: Isaiah 37:14-20

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah.

And Hezekiah prayed unto Jehovah, saying,

O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, that sittest above the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear; open thine eyes, O Jehovah, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to defy the living God.

Of a truth, Jehovah, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries, and their land,

and have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.

Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art Jehovah, even thou only.

QUERIES

Why spread the letter before Jehovah?

Why say God sits above the cherubim?

Why cast the nation’s gods into the fire?

PARAPHRASE

Hezekiah took the letter from the Assyrian messengers and read it for himself. Then, taking it to the Temple, he presented it before the Lord and prayed, saying, O Lord of hosts, Great God of Israel enthroned upon Thy Mercy Seat here in this Thy Temple, Thou art the Only God, King of all kingdoms, and Omnipotent Creator of the universe. Please turn Thine ears to hear my pleas and direct Thine eyes, O Lord, to see what I have to present to Thee. See, Lord, this letter of Sennacherib; it is a mocking defiance of Thy sovereignty. Admittedly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have conquered and destroyed all those peoples listed in the letter. Yes, they have thrown their gods into the fire and proved they were not gods at all but just pieces of wood and stone carved into images by men’s hands. Of course, men can destroy gods like those. In view of this, my prayer to Thee, O Living God, is that Thou wilt save us so that all the world may know that Thou art the Only God.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 37:14-16 PRAISE: Unlike Ahaz, when threatened by the Syrian-Israeli coalition, who went to the king of Assyria for help (see comments on Isaiah 7:10-16), Hezekiah turned immediately to the Lord for help from his enemies. Hezekiah did not spread the letter before the Lord because he believed God would not know what it said had he not taken it to the Temple. His concept of God was not that of mysticism or paganism, as his prayer demonstrates. Hezekiah believed in a God who was omnipotent and omniscient.

Hezekiah’s prayer ranks alongside the great prayers of the Bible as a model men today would do well to follow. It is brief, compared to the grand prayer of Daniel (ch. 9), but equally as reverent and believing. All praying should begin and end with praise to God. Jesus taught, Pray this way, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.. The holiness, majesty, righteousness, faithfulness, and sovereignty of God should be our first concern in prayer or evangelism or worship. Our salvation, our blessedness, our development into His nature all depends upon who He isnot upon what we are or what we want. Of course, we cannot be saved or blessed unless we want it, but we could want it forever and never have it if God is not Who He Is. Too much prayer is focused on petition and not enough on praise. Too much asking has a tendency to make our wants sovereign. Let us first pray, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth just like it is in heaven..

The cherubim were the angel-like figures with wings, one on each end of the ark of the covenant, within the Holy of Holies in the Temple. They hovered over the mercy seat and were symbols to represent the place where God’s presence dwelt. Hezekiah, of course, did not think his God was a provincial God like those of the pagans, restricted to houses made with hands. He was merely reiterating his belief that Jehovah God was present where God said He would bein His Temple. He was affirming his faith that God was with the nation in their extremity.

Isaiah 37:17-19 PETITION: Hezekiah refers to God anthropomorphically. That is, he refers to God as having human attributes (ears, eyes, etc.). This is true of both Old and New Testaments. Human attributes are the highest forms or symbols within man’s experience by which he may express nonexperienced attributes! Anthropomorphism is an attempt to express the non-rational aspects of God’s being in terms of the rational. Biblical anthropomorphism is quite different from pagan concepts of their gods. The anthropomorphism of pagan religions describes their gods in forms of man and animals, trees, stars, or even a mixture of elements. To regard Jehovah God solely as Absolute Being or The Great Unknown is to refer to him or it, but if man is ever to think of God as personal, one with whom he can fellowship, man must think of God as Thou, and man can only conceive of Thou in anthropomorphic symbols. Hezekiah is praying, not to an Idea, but to a Person.

Note also Hezekiah’s preciseness in prayer. He does not pray a generalized prayer for delivery from a general enemy. He prays the Lord to take action on the very words of Sennacherib. Specific prayer for a specific need. But what is the need? Hezekiah focuses on the fact that Sennacherib has defied the living God. The primary need, as Hezekiah sees it, is not physical deliverance but vindication of the sovereignty of Jehovah God (see Isaiah 37:20). Hezekiah is well aware of the power of Assyria. He is a realist and no foolish optimist. The kings of Assyria have done all they brag about. They have laid waste the major portion of the inhabited world. They have even wreaked havoc and desolation in their own land (Mesopotamia) (cf. Isaiah 14:20). This characterizes the Assyrians as a people thriving on war and desolation. They cared not that their warlike nature brought destitution even to their own land! One concept thoroughly established by the Assyrian conquests was the demonstration that the gods of all the nations conquered by them were not gods at all. When the Assyrians conquered a nation they took that nation’s gods (idols and images) and threw them into the fire and burned (wood and metal and stone) and melted them. The Assyrians proved that the gods of other nations were powerless. But what about the gods of the Assyrians?

Isaiah 37:20 PURPOSE: Hezekiah’s primary purpose was not for himself, not even for his country, but for the glory of God. Hezekiah is concerned for the honor of God. He prays that the power, sovereignty and uniqueness of Jehovah be vindicated before the eyes of the world. He is not willing that Jehovah be considered just another one of the provincial gods of the nations. God repeats over and over in the Old Testament that He acts for his own sake, and the men of faith in the Old Testament always prayed that God would act for his own name’s sake (cf. 2 Samuel 7:21; 1 Kings 8:41; 2 Chronicles 6:32; Psalms 6:4; Psalms 31:16; Psalms 23:3; Psalms 31:3; Psalms 25:7; Psalms 25:11; Psalms 44:26; Psalms 79:9; Psalms 106:8; Psalms 115:1; Psalms 143:11; Isaiah 37:35; Isaiah 42:21; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 48:9; Isaiah 48:11; Jeremiah 14:7; Jeremiah 14:21; Ezekiel 20:9; Ezekiel 20:14; Ezekiel 20:22; Ezekiel 20:44; Ezekiel 36:22; Daniel 9:17; Daniel 9:19). This is the most important concept of the Bible. All of man’s hopes in this world or the next rest upon the vindication of the Absoluteness of God’s Person. Our every motive, desire, aim, prayer, action and concern must be that God will first act for His own sake. If His Word is not verified and confirmed and established, we are lost! The faith, once for all delivered to the saints, is the veracity, sovereignty, mercy, faithfulness, holiness of God as demonstrated and manifested in the Incarnate Son of God, who was Immanuel, God with us. (see special study, The Faith Once Delivered For All Time, p. 248.)

QUIZ

How does Hezekiah’s reaction when threatened by enemies compare with the reaction of Ahaz (Isaiah 7)?

Why is Hezekiah’s prayer great?

What is anthropomorphism and why is it necessary when speaking of God?

How does Hezekiah express his realism about Assyria?

What is the primary purpose of Hezekiah’s prayer?

Why is this purpose so important in our relationship to God?

Isaiah 37:21-35

THE PRONOUNCEMENT

TEXT: Isaiah 37:21-35

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,

this is the word which Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

Whom hast thou defied and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

By thy servants hast thou defied the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the fall cedars thereof, and the choice fir-trees thereof; and I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field.

I have digged and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.

Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field of grain before it is grown up.

But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy raging against me.

Because of thy raging against me, and because thine arrogancy is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

And this shall be the sign unto thee: ye shall eat this year that which groweth of itself, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion they shall escape: the zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.

Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come unto this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.

By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come unto this city, saith Jehovah.

For I will defend this city to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

QUERIES

When did Jerusalem laugh Assyria to scorn?

What hook will God put in the nose of Assyria?

Did the king of Assyria come to Jerusalem or not?

PARAPHRASE

Immediately Isaiah sent this message to Hezekiah: This is what Jehovah, the God of Israel says: In answer to your prayer to Me concerning Sennacherib, king of Assyria, this is the Word of Jehovah about Sennacherib: The untouchable daughter of Zion laughs and scorns you despicable Assyrians. Jerusalem shows her disdain of you by a shake of her head. Who do you Assyrians think you are defying and mocking? At whom are you railing with your loud boasting and haughtiness? You are defying the Holy One of Israel! You have sent your aides to threaten the Lord, and they have boasted, We have come over the great mountains of Lebanon with thousands of my chariots and have plundered every nation in my path of its treasures. We have taken whatever we wanted from any nation. We have conquered and occupied many nations and dug wells for our occupation forces. Egypt with its Nile River is no obstacle to meI simply walk across it as if it were dry land. How is it you do not know that it was I, The Holy One of Israel, who decreed all of this long ago? How is it you do not acknowledge that you do what you do only by My permissive will? I have allowed you to have all this power to devastate nations and cities. This is the only reason other nations have had no power against you. This is why they were as helpless as grass and tender plants before you and as dead and used-up as the dead grass on a thatched roof. I, the Lord God, know everything you do. I know when you sit down, when you go out, when you come in, and I know every word of defiance you have uttered against me. Now because of your arrogance and challenge to My sovereignty, manifested by your intimidations toward My people, I will lead you in humility and docility back to where you came from like a bull is led with a ring in its nose or a horse is led with a bit in its mouth. And I will prove that I, The Holy One of Israel, am delivering this city by giving this sign to My people: Before the year is over the Assyrians will be gone. The time will again come when you will reap abundantly from the fruits of your toil and your enemy will not plunder your fields. It will not be immediately. It is too late now to plant your crops for this year. You will harvest first only that which comes up from volunteer seed. The next year will be about the same, due to the devastation of the land by the enemy. But in the third year you will once again sow and reap good crops from this land. Those of you who are left in Judah will be firmly established in your land again without interference from foreign occupation, and you will flourish as a nation again. For I, the Lord, have purposed to always preserve, small though it may be, a Messianic people for Myself. And because I am very zealous to fulfill My Messianic covenant, I will deliver Jerusalem from the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria will not be allowed by Jehovah to make war on Jerusalem. In fact, he will not even come to the city, but he will return to his own land by the same route he entered Palestine. I, even I, will defend this city and save it for the vindication of My Name and to fulfill the promise I made to David.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 37:21-25 DEFIANCE: Perhaps some of the details of what transpired between Hezekiah and Isaiah are omitted. Perhaps Isaiah was informed in writing or by messenger of Hezekiah’s prayer. Or, perhaps God began to answer Hezekiah’s prayer even as Hezekiah was praying! (cf. Daniel 9:20-23). The Lord knows our hearts and minds better than weHe is able to answer our prayer before we ask. Whatever the case, the Lord answered in a propositional, verbal message, through a messenger, Isaiah. Hezekiah was not left to try to discern the Lord’s answer through a mystical feeling or through a providential fleece.

The expression, virgin (Heb. bethulath) daughter of Zion, is probably to symbolize Jerusalem’s untouchableness by the Assyrian king who desires to ravish the city. Virgin is sometimes used to symbolize faithfulness. It is also used to symbolize covenant relationship between Israel and God. Amos speaks of Israel’s (the northern kingdom) unfaithfulness and covenant-breaking as a fallen virgin’s behavior (Amos 5:1-2; see also Ezekiel 16:1 ff). Perhaps all of this, untouchableness, faithfulness and covenant relationship, are involved in the figure virgin here. The point may be that Jerusalem, for its persistent refusal to prostitute itself to the Assyrian intimidations and dogged determination to trust faithfully in God, is being despised by its antagonists. But God promises the reversal of that. Soon, very soon, Assyria the despiser will be despised. God’s promise is so certain it may be predicted as having already occurred! The proud, arrogant, powerful Assyrian king will soon return to his own land, his boasting unfulfilled, to die by assassination. For shaking of the head as a gesture of scorn, see Psalms 22:7; Psalms 109:25; Matthew 27:39.

The question of Isa 37:23 is rhetorical. God is not asking for information, He is challenging the arrogance of Assyria. The king of Assyria, through the servants he sent to Hezekiah, has defied the Sovereign God of the universe. Sennacherib is being warned that he is not dealing with a god of wood or stone, a provincial god of man’s making. This is Almighty God, the Only True God. This is The God who holds all kings and potentates mentally and morally responsible to Himself, whether they acknowledge him or not (cf. Amos, ch. 2-3; Isaiah, ch. 13-23; Jeremiah ch. 46-51; Ezekiel, ch. 26-32; Daniel, ch. 1-6, etc.). Even in the New Testament, rulers and men of all nations are declared morally responsible to the Sovereign God, whether they believe in Him or not (cf. Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:1-29; etc.).

The Assyrian monarch boasted that nothing could stand in his way if he decided to march with his army. Not even the mountains of Lebanon (a range of mountains 20 miles long, with two of its peaks rising to over 9000 feet, and remaining snow-capped the year round) could stop him. The mountains of Lebanon formed a formidable natural barrier against invasion of Palestine. To go over the mountains was the only alternative to going across the Arabian desert for those Mesopotamian nations who wished to conquer Palestine. Chariots are made for flat open country. To move an army of chariots over forest-laden, snow-capped mountains 10,000 feet in altitude, would be no small task. But Sennacherib did it and considered such a feat proof that he could conquer any land or people he wished. Egypt’s Nile River would not stop himhe would go across that as if he were walking on dry land. Hezekiah’s God would not stop himhe boastedhe considered himself god of the world! Nothing could stand in his way. If it were mountains, he would cross over them; if it were the absence of water, he would dig wells and sustain his army; if it were the presence of waters, he would bridge them and take his armies across. He considered himself sovereign over all circumstances and persons. That is blasphemy!

Isaiah 37:26-29 DOWNFALL: How could the king of Assyria have heard of the predetermined plan of God to use him to waste fortified cities? Perhaps God is saying, has it never occurred to you through conscience or common sense that there is Someone greater than you controlling circumstances and lives, There is abundant evidence that God spoke or revealed His will to the ancients, including pagan rulers, in direct ways. He spoke to the Assyrians once through Jonah, the prophet. He spoke to others through dreams, visions, and prophets (cf. Daniel 1-6). He also spoke of His eternal power and deity through nature (cf. Romans 1:18-32; Acts 14:14-18; Acts 17:22-29, etc.). Whatever the case, the Assyrian nation had plenty of proof (through Jonah’s demonstration of the sovereignty of Jehovah and through nature) that man does not control circumstances or destiny. God uses governments and nations as tools to carry out His sovereign purposes (cf. Jeremiah 27:5-7; Daniel, ch. 7-12; Romans 13:1-7; Rev. ch. 1-22; Isaiah 10:5-34, etc.). That the Assyrian monarch did not recognize the certainty of a Higher Power directing history, in light of all the evidence, indicates his pride overcame conscience and common sense. In other words, his unbelief was deliberate and moral. (See Special Study, Unbelief Is Deliberate, pg. 99). It was God who gave other nations into the hand of the Assyrian. They fell because God permitted it. It was the height of moral perversity for Assyria to think they controlled the world. There are men today who think by their scientific expertise (atomic or nuclear physics; genetic restructuring; space exploration) they are approaching the ability to control circumstances and destiny. That is just as intellectually dishonest and morally perverse as Sennacherib’s boasting.

Whatever the king of Assyria does is not outside the knowledge of God. God knows Sennacherib’s sitting down, and going out, and coming in, (cf. Psalms 11:4; Psalms 44:20-21; Psalms 139:1-12; Jeremiah 12:3; Jeremiah 17:9-10). God knows man’s thoughts and deeds (John 2:23-25; Mark 9:33-35; Luke 9:46-48; Matthew 25:31-46). God knows when arrogant men rage against Him and He deals with them in His own good time (cf. Daniel 4-6). The Lord declares He will put a khakhiy (a hook for animal’s noses) in the Assyrian’s nose and a mitheggiy (a bridle for animals) in the Assyrian’s mouth and turn him back to his own land.

The arrogancy that blasphemes must be dealt with by the Sovereign God. When a human ruler attempts usurpation of Divine sovereignty he must be brought low. God must show that He is still sovereign, so He will intervene through supernatural and providential actions to humiliate the Assyrian braggart and lead him around where God would have him to be. There are bas reliefs in ancient Assyrian monuments depicting prisoners being led by ropes attached to rings in their noses. God will put His own ring in Sennacherib’s nose and lead him (slaying 185,000 soldiers, and a rumor from Nineveh that he should come home).

Isaiah 37:30-35 DELIVERANCE: One must not forget that God’s central purpose in the Assyrian downfall was the deliverance of His faithful remnant and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan in them. God uses the wicked schemes of wicked men as tools to work out His redemptive purpose. When God’s people became so wicked they needed chastening, He allowed the cruel Assyrians to bring them back to dependence upon Him. Now that Hezekiah has led the nation in a turning back to God, He will punish the arrogant boasting of the Assyrian (cf. Isaiah 10:5-34) as further evidence of His power to fulfill His redemptive program.

Isaiah is predicting a complete removal of the Assyrians from the land of Palestinenot just a temporary let-up of the siege of Jerusalem. The massiveness of the Assyrian army, its need to live off the land it occupied and its complete disregard for life or property would have brought unparalleled devastation to the agricultural and economic situation of Palestine! The Assyrians had conquered 46 cities of Judah and had ravaged the whole land except Jerusalem. He had been there for more than a year. But Isaiah predicts the Assyrian will be gone and as soon as can be expected, the people left in Judah will be reaping and harvesting their own crops again. There will be no miraculous, immediate restoration of the agricultural-economic prosperity. For the immediate year and the one following the people will suffer the effects of the Assyrian devastation of their land; that is, they will eat from crops produced by volunteer seed for the first two years. There would not be enough harvest for two years to provide seed for a full sowing. But the third year would see agriculture returned to its normal processes. That would signify to them God had delivered them from the Assyrian. The remnant will be saved. God has always carried out His work with a left-over segment of mankind. The cosmic work of redemption has always been trusted to a minority. It will not be any different when God closes the historical, human part of this work. The New Testament indicates the way that leads to life is strait and narrow and few will find it. The majority will be found, at any time, on the broad way that leads to destruction. Great men like Isaiah and Hezekiah were able to persuade a few to trust God and make themselves available to Him that He might bring the Messiah into the world. The remnant of this faithful few can be traced throughout the Old Testament right up to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The zeal (kineath, in Hebrew) of the Lord will accomplish this (see comments on Isaiah 9:7). The Lord is jealous for His own work and His own people. He is jealous for His own sovereignty, so He will not let the king of Assyria carry out his boast to ravage Jerusalem. In fact, God will not even permit the king of Assyria to come to the city. No siege mound will be built up surrounding Jerusalem by the Assyrians. God is going to save it to vindicate His own power and fulfill His promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12, etc.). This is quite a prediction by Isaiah in view of the fact that the Assyrians at that moment controlled all of Palestine except the immediate city of Jerusalem! But if God is for us, who can be against us?! (cf. Romans 8:28-39).

QUIZ

What does the use of the term virgin mean in reference to Jerusalem?

Why does God ask Sennacherib who he thinks he is raging against?

How would God expect the king of Assyria to hear of His sovereignty?

Why did God have to put a hook in the nose of the Assyrian?

What is the sign that God had delivered Palestine from the Assyrians?

Isaiah 37:36-38

THE PHENOMENON

TEXT: Isaiah 37:36-38

And the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camps of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

QUERIES

How did the angel of the Lord kill so many?

Why did Sennacherib’s sons kill him?

PARAPHRASE

That night the angel of the Lord went out to the camp of the Assyrian army and killed 185,000 warriors. When those who were still alive awakened in the morning they beheld the terrible sight of all the dead bodies strewn throughout their camp. Then Sennacherib, king of Assyria, set out to leave and he went immediately, returning to his own country, Nineveh. A number of years later, while he was worshipping in the temple of Nisroch his god, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinated him with their swords. They escaped into the land of Ararat, and Esar-haddon, another of Sennacherib’s sons became king.

COMMENTS

Isaiah 37:36-37 DEPARTURE: This epilogue is an historical record of the fulfillment of all of Isaiah’s prophecies of the failure of the Assyrian empire to destroy the covenant people of God. The only possible way God could carry out His promise to deliver Jerusalem and Palestine from the Assyrian was by supernatural intervention (either directly or indirectly through providence). It is a matter of record (see also 2 Kings 19:35-37, and 2 Chronicles 32:20-23), that God intervened supernaturally and directly. An angel (Heb. maleak) of Jehovah (Heb. Yahweh) went into the Assyrian army camp and killed 185,000 soldiers. The account in 2Kings 19 records that the slaying took place the same night Sennacherib’s message of arrogant blasphemy was delivered to Hezekiah. How would the angel of the Lord perform such a herculean task? This event reminds the Bible student of the destroying angel of Exo 12:12-23 and 2 Samuel 24:1-16. The ministry of angels is spectacular and comprehensive in the Biblical record (see our special study, The Mystery and Ministry of Angels, commentary on Daniel, College Press, p. 387-404.) One angel had the power to restrain Persia and Greece (cf. Daniel 10:15-21). One angel has the power to harm a third of the earth (Revelation 8, 9). God is able to make His angels wind and fire (Hebrews 1:7), and sends them forth as ministering spirits to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Angels do not necessarily have to take human form to do God’s service. They may serve in any form, wind, fire, disease, pestilence, war, famine, or whatever suits God’s purposes. We simply do not know how the angel of the Lord smote 185,000 men in one night. The Hebrew verb yaceh generally means to smite with a disease. America suffered approximately 50,000 war deaths in the more than two years of war in Korea. There were over 55,000 American soldiers slain in the over ten years of war in Viet Nam. With all man’s modern technology and massive destructive powers 185,000 dead in a single night still seems a staggering number.

The annals of King Sennacherib make no mention of a disaster to his troops in Palestine. However, there is an interesting tradition preserved by Herodotus (II, 141) which relates that Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians and the Arabians, led a great army against Egypt. This military move seems to have been subsequent to the subjugation of Philistia and Judea, and to have been a final stroke to secure one of the ultimate objects of his expeditionthe conquest of Egypt. The tradition states that the Egyptian army was made up of traders, artisans, and merchants, and that in great fear they encamped at Pelusium, within range of the enemy (Assyrians). The Assyrian’s camp was completely overrun by an army of field mice, which gnawed apart all of their leather trappings, such as bowstrings, quivers, and shield-straps. On the next morning with only fragments of weapons, the Assyrian troops were routed, put to flight, and many of them slain. This tradition probably has some basis in fact and is an echo of some calamity to the Assyrian army. Some have suggested the mice may have carried bubonic plague, which is both swift and deadly in its working. When Sennacherib and the remainder of his army awoke in the morning the scene must have stunned them. Death on such a massive, sudden scale would cause first, dumbfoundedness, then fear, then, perhaps, chaos. The Hebrew language is forcefuland behold! all of them, corpses, dead ones! What else could Sennacherib conclude but that a Power greater than he and his army had visited during the night. This great catastrophe had happened so unexpectedly, so silently, so suddenly. No one had awakened during the night when it was happening. This was no place for Sennacherib. He would not dare go boasting to Hezekiah now. He had never before suffered such an inglorious defeat. So he left Judea. His departure is stated in the Hebrew language in short, rapid terms, And he set out, and he went, and he returned to Nineveh. Although Sennacherib subjugated the entire eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, carried off a vast amount of booty, and levied tribute on the conquered cities and provinces, there is no hint in his records during the remaining 20 years of his reign that he ever again visited this territory. Nor does the Babylonian chronicler of this period mention any such campaign. It seems that some specter haunted his memory and chilled his ambition regarding the final conquest of Egypt.

Isaiah 37:38 DEATH: Sennacherib lived another 20 years after he left Judea. Then one day as he was worshipping in the temple of his god, Nisroch (which Edward J. Young thinks is an intentional corruption of Marduk), he is slain by two of his sons who apparently are attempting an insurrection. Sennacherib’s son, Esar-haddon, in an inscription found by archaeologists at the Dog River near Beirut, Lebanon, tells of this event (see our comments, Isaiah, Vol. I, pg. 189-190). Hezekiah worshipped his God and Jehovah delivered him from his enemies. Sennacherib worshipped his god and found not deliverance but assassination. The two assassins did not gain the throne. They had to flee for their own lives to the land of Ararat (modern Armenia). Esar-haddon, another son of Sennacherib, succeeded to the throne of Assyria, eventually restored the city of Babylon, conquered Egypt, imported foreigners into Samaria, forced Manasseh (Hezekiah’s son) to pay heavy tribute to help build Esar-haddon’s palace in Nineveh, and extended the Assyrian empire to its greatest power. In a second Egyptian campaign, Esar-haddon died and his son, the famous Assurbanipal, the one who built the great library from which archaeologists get most of their Assyrian artifacts, succeeded him.

QUIZ

Where else in the Bible does God use angels to kill people?

What form may angels take to do their work of killing?

What tradition from antiquity may be a parallel to the Biblical account of the slaughter of the Assyrian army?

How did Sennacherib come to his end?

Old Green Commentaries

The College Press Bible Study Textbook Series — 59 volumes by 25 authors, published between 1961 and 1992 and affectionately known as the 'old green' commentaries for their green hardback bindings. Each volume is a commentary, workbook and teaching manual in one, written by Restoration Movement …

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