Isaiah 36:1-3 (ESV)
In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. [2] And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. [3] And there came out to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.
Isaiah 36:13-20 (ESV)
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! [14] Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. [15] Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, "The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." [16] Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, [17] until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. [18] Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, "The Lord will deliver us." Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? [19] Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? [20] Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?' "
Isaiah 37:1-7 (ESV)
As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. [2] And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. [3] They said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, 'This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. [4] It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.' "
[5] When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, [6] Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master, 'Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. [7] Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.'"
Questions for Reflection
- When have you seen high or low morale determine the outcome of a challenging situation?
- When have you been persuaded that it is fruitless to fight against some group of people, trend, or opposing opinion?
- What message did the commander address directly to the people on the wall of the city? (36:13-15)
- For what reasons did the Assyrian urge the people of Jerusalem to surrender? (36:16-17)
- Why was the Assyrian field commander convinced that God could not help the people of Jerusalem? (36:18-20)
- What was the Assyrian field commander’s purpose in approaching the city ahead of the army?
- How can Christians stand firm even when they are aware of their own weakness and the strength of an enemy?
- According to the prophet Isaiah, how did God view the words of the Assyrian field commander? (37:5-7)
Readings for the Week of Nov. 17-23
Nov. 17 Monday Isaiah 36:4-12
Nov. 18 Tuesday Isaiah 37:8-13
Nov. 19 Wednesday Isaiah 37:14-29
Nov. 20 Thursday Isaiah 37:30-38
Nov. 21 Friday Isaiah 38:1-22
Nov. 22 Saturday Isaiah 39:1-8
Nov. 23 Sunday Jeremiah 1:4-10; 7:1-11
