Isaiah 37 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 37

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. 2 He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.”

5 When King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’”

8 When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

9 Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush, was marching out to fight against him. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word: 10 “Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ 11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? 12 Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

18 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. 19 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 20 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.”

21 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word the Lord has spoken against him:

“Virgin Daughter Zion
despises and mocks you.
Daughter Jerusalem
tosses her head as you flee.
23 Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
24 By your messengers
you have ridiculed the Lord.
And you have said,
‘With my many chariots
I have ascended the heights of the mountains,
the utmost heights of Lebanon.
I have cut down its tallest cedars,
the choicest of its junipers.
I have reached its remotest heights,
the finest of its forests.
25 I have dug wells in foreign lands
and drunk the water there.
With the soles of my feet
I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.’

26 “Have you not heard?
Long ago I ordained it.
In days of old I planned it;
now I have brought it to pass,
that you have turned fortified cities
into piles of stone.
27 Their people, drained of power,
are dismayed and put to shame.
They are like plants in the field,
like tender green shoots,
like grass sprouting on the roof,
scorched before it grows up.

28 “But I know where you are
and when you come and go
and how you rage against me.
29 Because you rage against me
and because your insolence has reached my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose
and my bit in your mouth,
and I will make you return
by the way you came.

30 “This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:

“This year you will eat what grows by itself,
and the second year what springs from that.
But in the third year sow and reap,
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
31 Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.
32 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

33 “Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:

“He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield
or build a siege ramp against it.
34 By the way that he came he will return;
he will not enter this city,”
declares the Lord.
35 “I will defend this city and save it,
for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!”

36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

38 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.

Isaiah 37 Meaning

Isaiah 37 recounts the story of King Hezekiah and the Assyrian invasion of Jerusalem. It is a tale of faith, prayer, and deliverance. These verses communicate the power of trusting in God even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. They remind us that God is the ultimate source of strength and protection, and that when we turn to Him in prayer, He will fight for us and bring about a victorious outcome.

Isaiah 37 Commentary and Explanation

Isaiah 37 is a continuation of the historical account of King Hezekiah’s reign and the Assyrian invasion of Judah. As we read this chapter, we witness a powerful demonstration of faith, prayer, and God’s divine intervention.

The chapter opens with King Hezekiah’s distress upon hearing the threatening message from the Assyrian king’s representative, Rabshakeh. We can empathize with Hezekiah’s reaction as he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth, and enters the house of the Lord. This is a common practice in times of distress and anguish, showing his deep humility and reliance on God’s mercy (2 Samuel 3:31, Job 42:6).

Hezekiah’s response reflects his strong faith. He sends messengers to the prophet Isaiah, seeking guidance and asking for prayers. Hezekiah understands the importance of seeking God’s counsel and relying on the prophet as a conduit for divine wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6). This reminds us that in times of crisis, we should turn to God and seek spiritual guidance.

Isaiah responds to Hezekiah’s plea with a message from the Lord, assuring him that the Assyrian threat will not succeed. We see a powerful reminder here that God hears our prayers and intervenes in our situations when we turn to Him in faith (Psalm 34:17-18). Isaiah’s prophecy serves as a source of hope and encouragement for Hezekiah and the people of Judah.

True to God’s promise, we witness His miraculous intervention in the form of a supernatural deliverance. An angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp overnight. This miraculous event not only showcases God’s power but also fulfills His promise to protect His people (Exodus 14:14, Psalm 46:1). We can take solace in the fact that God is our protector in times of trouble.

After witnessing the destruction of the Assyrian army, King Sennacherib returns to Nineveh in disgrace, where he meets a tragic end. This serves as a stern reminder that those who oppose God’s people and defy Him will ultimately face judgment (Psalm 37:38, Psalm 73:18-20).

Isaiah 37 teaches us valuable lessons about faith, prayer, and God’s sovereignty. We are reminded of the importance of seeking God’s guidance in times of trouble, the power of prayer, and the assurance that God is our protector and defender. The downfall of the Assyrian army illustrates God’s faithfulness to His promises and His ultimate authority over all nations. This chapter encourages us to place our trust in God, knowing that He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Context of Isaiah 37

The events in Isaiah 37 take place in the context of the Assyrian invasion of Jerusalem, which occurred in the 8th century BC. The Assyrians were known for their brutal conquests and had already conquered many nations, including Israel’s sister kingdom, the northern kingdom of Israel. Now, they had turned their attention to Judah, the southern kingdom, and threatened to destroy Jerusalem.

Hezekiah, who was a righteous king, knew the importance of seeking God’s guidance in times of trouble. He had previously removed the idols and restored true worship of God in Judah. Thus, when faced with the threat of Assyria, he did not rely on his own strength or alliances with other nations. Instead, he turned to God in prayer and sought His intervention.

Bible Study on Isaiah 37

In studying these verses, we can learn several important lessons. First and foremost, we see the power of prayer. Hezekiah’s immediate response to the Assyrian threat was to seek God’s guidance and intervention through prayer. He understood that only God could save Jerusalem from destruction. As believers, we should also have the same commitment to seek God’s guidance and protection in times of trouble.

Additionally, these verses teach us the importance of trusting in God’s promises. God assured Hezekiah of his protection, and He delivered on that promise. This reminds us that God is faithful to His word and that we can trust Him to fulfill His promises in our lives as well. Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, we can have confidence that God is with us and will fight for us.

Furthermore, these verses emphasize the power and sovereignty of God. He alone has the authority to protect and deliver His people. When we acknowledge God’s sovereignty and power, we can find peace and security in His presence. We can trust that He is in control and has the ability to overcome any challenge we face.

Final Thoughts

The story of Hezekiah and the Assyrian invasion of Jerusalem serves as a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness and power. It encourages us to trust in Him, seek Him in prayer, and stand firm in our faith, even in the face of adversity.

Just as God protected Jerusalem and delivered it from destruction, He will also protect and deliver us in our time of need. Let us cling to His promises, rely on His strength, and walk confidently in His victory.